Vinodhini

Vinodhini
Born
Lakshmi K. R.

India
Other namesVinothini, Vinodini, Shwetha, Baby Lakshmi
OccupationActress
Years active1982–Present

Vinodhini, also known as Swetha, (in Kannada films) is an Indian actress who appears in Tamil and Kannada films, and Tamil television shows. Beginning her acting career as a child artist, she went on to become one of the popular actress of 90's .apart from lead she also played supporting roles before acting in television series as well.[1]

Career

Vinodhini began her acting career as a child artist, appearing in films including Manal Kayiru, Puthiya Sagaptham and Mannukkul Vairam,[1] before going on to enact lead roles in Tamil films. In 1992, she was directed by Balu Mahendra in Vanna Vanna Pookkal. Although the film was critically as well as commercially successful—it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and completed a 100-days run in theatres[2]—it failed to propel Vinodhini's career.[3] That year, she debuted in Malayalam cinema with Soorya Manasam and the Kannada film industry with Chaitrada Premanjali, where she took on the stage name Shwetha. Both films were successes.[4][5] After appearing in several Tamil films, including Balu Mahendra's Marupadiyum, Visu's Pattukottai Periyappa, Rama Narayanan's Vaanga Partner Vaanga,[6] and two K. S. Ravikumar films, Suriyan Chandiran and Muthukulikka Vaariyala, most of them featuring her in secondary characters, she shifted her focus to Kannada films by the mid-1990s, where she continued to play lead roles. Her work in Tamil films in the late 90s was limited to minor supporting roles and guest appearances. Films in she made brief appearances include Praveen Gandhi's action film Ratchagan,[7] Sundar C's comedy flick Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga [8] and N. Mathrubootham's Puthira Punithama.[9]

Vinodhini soon started acting in television serials, such as the drama series Chithi, Agal Vilakku[1] and Kannadi Kathavugal,[10] and the comedy series Vidathu Sirippu by Crazy Mohan.[11] Besides, she hosted a television show for eight years.[1] She made a return to Tamil films with a supporting role as the female lead's (Meera Jasmine) sister in Kasthuri Maan in 2005. In its review, The Hindu stated that she gave a "very appealing performance" in the film.[12] Since, she has appeared in minor roles in two Karu Pazhaniappan films.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Language Notes
1982 Manal Kayiru Tamil Credited as Baby Lakshmi
1985 Puthiya Sagaptham Shanthi
1986 Mannukkul Vairam Young Chinnathayee Credited as Baby Lakshmi
1987 Nayakan Young Tara Credited as Baby Lakshmi
1991 Chithirai Pookkal Bharathi
Aatha Un Koyilile Easwari
En Aasai Rasathi Rasathi
1992 Chaitrada Premanjali Anju Kannada
Vanna Vanna Pookkal Manoranjitham Tamil
Senbaga Thottam
Soorya Manasam Susi Malayalam
Abhirami Maheshwari Tamil
Annai Vayal
Kizhakku Veedhi
Chevalier Michael Monu Malayalam
1993 Marupadiyum Priya Tamil
Suriyan Chandiran
Athma Pathma
Gejje Naada Kannada
Ponnu Chami Maya Malayalam
1994 Vaanga Partner Vaanga Vairam Tamil
En Rajangam Sugandhi
Chinna Madam Chithra
Pattukottai Periyappa
Njan Kodiswaran Maya Malayalam
1995 Kalyanam Tamil
Ilavarasi Special appearance
Muthukulikka Vaariyala
Thondan Selvi
1996 Veettukulle Thiruvizha Krishnaveni
Azhakiya Ravanan Malayalam
Hettavaru Seetha Kannada
Karpoorada Gombe Yashodha
Minugu Thare
Muddina Aliya
1997 Nodu Baa Nammoora
Mavana Magalu
Baduku Jataka Bandi Mala
Lakshmi Mahalakshmi Anitha
Ratchagan Priya Tamil
Thadayam Jyothi
1998 Agni Sakshi Kannada
1999 Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga Lakshmi Tamil
2000 Puthira Punithama
2001 Kotigobba Lakshmi Kannada
Namma Samsara Ananda Sagara
2004 Kutumba Megha
2005 Kasthuri Maan Prema Tamil
2008 Pirivom Santhippom Visalakshi's neighbor
2011 Sadhurangam Sandhya's Sister in law
2017 Konjam Konjam Kodumudi Babu's Wife
2021 Calls Shailaja Deputy Director
2025 Vattakhanal [13]
2026 Chowkidar Sudha Kannada

Television

Year Title Role Network
Udal Porul Anandhi Doordarshan
Kannadi Kadhavugal Doordarshan
Virodhi
Penn Bommaigal
Sukhavasam Malayalam serial
Vaa Vathiyare Vaa Polimer TV
1996 Chinna Chinna Aasai-Ganga Manju Sun TV
2000–2001 Chithi Charulatha
2000–2001 Kudumbam
2000–2001 Anandha Bhavan Durga
2002–2003 Agal Vilakkugal
2003–2004 Vidathu Sirippu Janaki Jaya TV
2004–2006 Sorgam Sun TV
2005–2006 Alli Raajiyam Sonu
2006 Selvangal
2009–2011 Solvathellam Unmai Host Zee Tamil
2012–2013 Siri Siri Crazy Janaki Kalaignar TV
2016 Vani Rani Shanti Sun TV
2019 Agni Natchathiram Nalini
2020 Roja Pachaikili / Thangapavanu
2021 Anbe Vaa Vandhana
2022–2023 Kannana Kanne Yamuna
2022 Maari Janaki Zee Tamil
2023–2024 Seetha Raman Uma Maheswari
2024–2025 Lakshmi Nivasa Lakshmi Zee Kannada

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Comic interlude". The Hindu. 17 April 2004. Archived from the original on 7 November 2004.
  2. ^ Dhananjayan, G. (3 November 2014). "PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013". google.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Young and mature at once". The Hindu. 15 February 2002. Archived from the original on 25 March 2002.
  4. ^ "Raghuveer passes away!". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Chaitrada Premanjali actor Raghuveer no more". The Times of India.
  6. ^ Mannath, Malini (21 January 1994). "Parting kick". The Indian Express.
  7. ^ "A-Z (V)". Indolink Tamil. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Unkkage Ellam Unakkaga". itgo.com.
  9. ^ "Thambathyam Puthira Punithama". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Kannaadi Kadhavugal". The Hindu.
  11. ^ "Crazy robot". The Hindu. 28 March 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ "The Hindu : Entertainment Chennai / Film Review : Wholesome treat for the festive occasion". thehindujobs.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010.
  13. ^ Kumar, Akshay (15 September 2025). "Singer Mano's son Duruvan headlines Vattakanal". Cinema Express.