Saleema

Saleema Biography

Saleema is one of the well-remembered heroines of Malayalam cinema in the 1980s, though she has appeared in only a few number of movies. She is best remembered for the parallel lead of a deaf and dumb girl in Hariharan’s Masterpiece, Nakhakshathangal which gave National award for its lead actress Monisha (youngest winner of best actress). She appeared in its memorable songs like Aareyum Bhava Gayakanakkum. She also played the female lead in Hariharan’s 1988 movie, Aaranyakam, where she played the female lead. ‘Olichirikkaan Vallikudil’ – one of the nostalgic songs of 1980s sung by Chitra was pictured on her. Kurukkan Raajaavaayi, Vandanam and Mahayanam are other noted works. Despite having a promising debut in movies, this actress faded away from silver screen as a ‘mystery girl’.

Saleema was born to the popular actress and comedian of Telugu cinema – Girija, who played amazing comic roles onscreen aside Relangi Venkataramaiah in the 1950s and 1960s. Saleema was born in Sreeranga of Andhra Pradesh. Though her mother had a glorified career in the yesterdays, like many actors her last days were spent in struggles. Though she was not interested in sending her daughter to film field, when she got an offer to play the pivot role in a Hariharan movie, the mother couldn’t say no. She just dreamt that Saleema would get a big break to cinema. But unfortunately, though she played memorable roles in Nakhakshathangal, Aaranyakam and Vandanam, she was not enough lucky to get roles later. She is still remembered for these three memorable roles she played onscreen.

Nakhakshathangal – marked the debut of its lead actors Vineeth and Monisha too. Saleema played the second lead of a dumb and deaf girl who falls in love with Vineeth. Though Saleema’s role was memorable, many forgot her, when Monisha got National award for best actress for her debut movie itself, becoming the youngest winner of this category. The director of the movie, Hariharan offered her the lead role in his next movie – Aaranyakam. After a couple of movies in the late 1980s, she disappeared forever.  

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Updated: December 30, 2015