Lakshmi Narayan

Lakshmi Narayan Biography

Lakshmi Narayan, fondly known as Lakshmi or Laxmi was a popular South Indian actress of 70’s and 80’s. She is better known as Julie for her powerful performance on the bold subject of unmarried mother in Julie during early 70’s. Based on Pamman’s novel Chattakari, when this story was made as a movie in three Indian languages – Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu, it was considered as a trend setter of film industry new subjects. This movie became a turning point of her career as well as personal life, when she married the hero of its Malayalam version – Mohan. But they divorced later. This movie gave her the first and single Filmfare awards in Hindi as well as Bengal association awards in 1974. Its Malayalam version Chattakari also gave her Kerala state awards of best actress.

She was born in Nellore of Andra Pradesh and debut movies through Jeevamsam, Tamil in 1968. She was only 15 that time. Very soon she became busy in all south Indian languages. She beautifully carried away with the roles of village girl, house wife as well as a modern girl. However the movie Julie placed her as a glamorous girl of Bollywood, though she didn’t concentrate there. Apart from Julie, Telugu movie ‘Panthulamma’ is considered to be one among the finest performances of Lakshmi and her roles opposite Ananth Nag were appreciated most. They worked together in more than 25 movies and there were rumours about their offscreen relationship too.  

She won her first and single National awards for Tamil movie – Sila Nerangalil sila manitharkal (Some men at some times). She has won Tamil Nadu state awards for the movie – Oru nadigai nadakam paakkirai. She has done hat-trick in Malayalam movies by winning best actress Fimfare awards successively for three years from 1974 to 1976. Movies are Chattakari, Chalanam and Mohiniyattom. Other  memorable movies for which she won Filmfare include Unmaigal (Tamil), Sravana Meghalu (Telugu) and during 90’s for Hoovu Hanna (Kannada).    

Gradually she took a break from movies and made a comeback to movies through Jeans as Aiswarya Rai’s grandmother in 1997. She did the role of Kareena Kapoor’s grandmother in Hulchul – her comeback movie of Hindi. Most recently her role as the leading actress in Kannada movie Mithunam was well appreciated. Now she is busy in doing character roles.

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Updated: December 27, 2017