Quick Facts
Biography
Asha Kelunni, known by the stage name Revathi, is an Indian film actress and film director, known for her works predominantly in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. She has won several accolades, including three National Film Awards in three different categories, and Filmfare Awards South. Revathi is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, having studied since the age of seven and performed her arangetram in Chennai in 1979.
Apart from films, Revathi has been involved in a variety of social organisations, the most notable being the Banyan, Ability foundation, Tanker foundation and Vidyasagar, and has also served as a member of several film festivals including the Chennai International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of India.
Early life
Revathi was born Asha Kelunni Nair in Kochi to Kelunni Nair, a major in the Indian Army who hails from Kallikkad, Palakkad,and Lalitha Kelunni. She has a younger sister Bindu. Malayalam actress Geetha Vijayan is her cousin.
Personal life
Revathi married cinematographer and director Suresh Chandra Menon in 1986. The couple didn't have any children. However following differences between them, they started living separately from 2002 and were granted divorce on 23 April 2013 by Chennai Additional Family Court. Revathi said in an interview that they would remain good friends even after the divorce. On July 8, 2014, she publicly announced that she had adopted a daughter and named "Mahee".
Filmography
As an actress
In order of languages in which she acted the most to least number of films.
Tamil
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Mann Vasanai | Muthupechi | Filmfare Special Award – South |
| 1984 | Ponnu Pudichirukku | ||
| 1984 | Kai Kodukkum Kai | Seetha | |
| 1984 | Pudhumai Penn | Seetha | |
| 1984 | Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal | Vaidhegi | |
| 1984 | Unnai Naan Santhithen | Indumathi | |
| 1985 | Pournami Alaigal | Deepa | |
| 1985 | Oru Kaidhiyin Diary | Sharada | |
| 1985 | Kanni Rasi | Dhanalakshmi | |
| 1985 | Selvi | Selvi | |
| 1985 | Udhaya Geetham | Shanthi | |
| 1985 | Pagal Nilavu | Jyothi | |
| 1985 | Aagaya Thamaraigal | Shenbagam | |
| 1985 | Kunguma Chimizh | Rukmani | |
| 1985 | Prema Paasam | ||
| 1985 | Thiramai | Bhanu | |
| 1985 | Aan Paavam | Revathi | |
| 1986 | December Pookal | Poornima aka Annam | |
| 1986 | Marumagal | Radha | |
| 1986 | Maragatha Veenai | Kokila | |
| 1986 | Revathy | ||
| 1986 | Mouna Ragam | Divya | |
| 1986 | Lakshmi Vanthachu | Lakshmi | |
| 1986 | Punnagai Mannan | Malini | |
| 1987 | Lankeswaran | Seetha | |
| 1987 | Gramathu Minnal | Valli Mayilu | |
| 1989 | Uthama Purushan | Lakshmi | |
| 1990 | Idhaya Thamarai | Manju | |
| 1990 | Arangetra Velai | Asha | |
| 1990 | Kizhakku Vaasal | Thaayamma | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress |
| 1990 | Anjali | Chitra | |
| 1990 | Sathriyan | Jaya | Guest Appearance |
| 1990 | Raja Kaiya Vacha | Radha | Guest Appearance |
| 1991 | Ayul Kaithi | Nithya | |
| 1992 | Chinna Pasanga Naanga | Marikolunthu | |
| 1992 | Deiva Vaakku | Hamsaveni | |
| 1992 | Thevar Magan | Panchavarnam | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
| 1993 | Marupadiyum | Thulasi | |
| 1993 | Pudhiya Mugam | Anjali | |
| 1994 | Paasamalargal | Asha | |
| 1994 | Magalir Mattum | Sathya | |
| 1994 | Priyanka | Priyanka | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil, Shared with Nagma |
| 1994 | En Aasai Machan | Thayamma | |
| 1994 | Chinna Pulla | Valliammai | |
| 1995 | Avatharam | Ponnamma | |
| 1995 | Thamizhachi | Guest appearance | |
| 1995 | Gandhi Pirantha Mann | Lakshmi | |
| 1995 | Thotta Chinungi | Bhuvana | |
| 1996 | Meendum Savithri | Manju | |
| 1996 | Subash | Savithri | |
| 1997 | Iruvar | Maragatham | |
| 1997 | Praner Cheye Priyo | Bengali ( Bangladesh) | |
| 1998 | Thalaimurai | Naachchiyaa | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actress |
| 1998 | Rathna | ||
| 1999 | Taj Mahal | Manoj's mother | |
| 2001 | Maayan | ||
| 2002 | Red | Janaki | |
| 2002 | Thamizhan | Jaya | |
| 2004 | Vaanam Vasappadum | Karthik's mother | |
| 2005 | Ponniyin Selvan | Ponni | |
| 2005 | Kanda Naal Mudhal | Maragatham | |
| 2006 | Kaivantha Kalai | ||
| 2008 | Thoondil | Dr. Jayanthi | |
| 2009 | Vannathupoochi | ||
| 2011 | Osthe | Velan's & Balan's mother | |
| 2012 | Konjam Koffee Konjam Kaadhal | Unreleased | |
| 2015 | Inji Iduppazhagi | Herself | Cameo appearance |
| 2016 | Amma Kanakku | Dr.Nandhini | |
| 2017 | Power Paandi | Poonthendral | |
| 2017 | Azhiyatha Kolangal | Filming |
Malayalam
| Year | Film | Character | Co-stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Kattathe Kilikoodu | Asha Thampi | Mohanlal, Bharat Gopi |
| 1985 | Ente Kaanakkuyil | Anuradha | Rahman, Mammooty |
| 1987 | Aankiliyude Tharattu | Sunitha Menon | Rahman, Mammooty |
| 1988 | Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal | Lakshmi/Kakkothi/Vavachi | Ambika, M.S. Tripunitra |
| 1988 | Puravrutham | Devi | Om Puri |
| 1988 | Moonnam Mura | Mini Johnson | Mohanlal |
| 1989 | Varavelpu | Rama | Mohanlal |
| 1989 | Najangalude Kochu Doctor | Mini | Balachandra Menon |
| 1990 | Ottayadipathakal | Sathi | Madhu, Srinath |
| 1991 | Kilukkam | Nandini | Mohanlal |
| 1992 | Advaitham | Lakshmi Menon | Mohanlal |
| 1993 | Devasuram | Bhanumathi | Mohanlal |
| 1993 | Maya Mayuram | Nanda | Mohanlal |
| 1994 | Padheyam | Radha | Mammooty, Chippi |
| 1995 | Agni Devan | Sudarshana | Mohanlal |
| 1997 | Mangamma | Mangamma | Nedumudi Venu |
| 2001 | Raavanaprabhu | Bhanumathi | Mohanlal |
| 2002 | Nandanam | Thankam | Prithviraj, Navya Nair |
| 2002 | Kaiyethum Doorath | Dr. Omana Babunath | Fahad Fazil, Nikita |
| 2002 | Krishna Pakshakkilikal | Mary | Pradeep |
| 2003 | Gramaphone | Sara | Dileep, Meera Jasmine |
| 2003 | Mizhi Randilum | Sridevi | Dileep, Kavya Madhavan |
| 2005 | Anandabhadram | Gayathri | Prithviraj, Kavya Madhavan |
| 2009 | Nammal Thammil | Lakshmi | Prithviraj, Geetu Mohandas |
| 2010 | Paattinte Palazhy | Raziya | Meera Jasmine |
| 2010 | Penpattanam | Girija | Kailash |
| 2011 | Indian Rupee | Dr. Sheela Koshy | Prithviraj, Rima |
| 2012 | Father's Day | Seethalekshmy | Shehin, Indu Thampi |
| 2012 | Molly Aunty Rocks! | Molly Mamen | Prithviraj, Lalu Alex |
Hindi
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Love | Maggie Pinto | |
| 1992 | Raat | Manisha Sharma (Mini) | |
| 1992 | Muskurahat | Nandini | |
| 1994 | Tarpan | Sumitra | |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Manga | |
| 2003 | Dhoop | Savita Kapoor | |
| 2003 | Darna Mana Hai | Pramila's mother | |
| 2004 | Ab Tak Chhappan | Namita Agashe | |
| 2004 | Phir Milenge | Dr. Raisingh | |
| 2005 | Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... | Sandhya Sinha | |
| 2007 | Nishabd | Amrita | |
| 2014 | 2 States | Radha Swaminathan | |
| 2015 | Margarita, With a Straw | Aai |
Telugu
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Manasa Veena | Veena | |
| 1984 | Seetamma Pelli | Seethamma | |
| 1988 | Rao Gari Illu | Chanti | |
| 1989 | Prema | Maggie | |
| 1989 | Lankeshwarudu | Swapna | |
| 1991 | Mrigathrushna | ||
| 1992 | Ankuram | Sindhura | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu |
| 1993 | Gaayam | Anitha | |
| 1998 | Ganesh | Rangamma | |
| 2002 | Eeshwar | Sujatha | |
| 2010 | Gaayam 2 | Anitha | |
| 2014 | Anukshanam | Shailaja | |
| 2015 | Loafer | Lakshmi | |
| 2015 | Size Zero | Herself | |
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Ajay's mother |
Kannada
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Idu Saadhya | Indu | |
| 1998 | Nishyabda | Dr. Vinitha |
As director
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mitr, My Friend | English | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English |
| 2004 | Phir Milenge | Hindi | |
| 2009 | Kerala Cafe | Malayalam | "Makal" segment |
| 2010 | Mumbai Cutting | Hindi | "Parcel" segment |
| 2011 | Red Building Where the Sun Sets | English | Short film National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare |
As dubbing artist
- Pasumpon (for Saranya Ponvannan)
- Devaraagam (for Sridevi)
- Minsara Kanavu (for Kajol)
- Megham (for Pooja Batra)
- Kandukondain Kandukondain (for Tabu)
- Chandrolsavam (for Kushboo)
- Punyakoti (for Cow)
Television
| Year | Program | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Iravil Oru Pagal | Tamil | Doordarshan |
| 1991 | Penn | Tamil | Doordarshan |
| 1994 | Revathy | Tamil | Sun TV |
| 1997 | Doctors | Tamil | Sun TV |
| 1999–2000 | Nirangal | Tamil | Sun TV |
| 1999 | Chinna Chinna Aasai | Tamil | Sun TV Episode: 15 August 1947 |
| 2000 | Boom Boom Shaka Laka | Tamil | Sun TV |
| 2001 | Kadhai Kadhaiyaam Karanamaam | Tamil | Vijay TV Episode: DNA |
| 2002 | Sindhanaigal | Tamil | Jaya TV |
| 2003 | Pudumai Penngal | Tamil | KTV |
| 2011 | Kanamarayathu | Malayalam | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2013 | Malayalee House | Malayalam | Surya TV |
| 2013-2014 | Champions | Tamil | Champions Sun TV |
| 2016 | Samvidhanam Revathy | Malayalam | Mazhavil Manorama |
Awards
List of awards and nominations received by Revathi