Menaka

Menaka Biography

Menaka, also known as Menaka Suresh is a former heroine of South Indian movies in the 1980’s. She has been one of the most sought actresses of Malayalam screen in the 1980’s and known for portraying simple village girl – type of roles. She, along with the most popular romantic hero of 1980’s – Shankar was the most successful acting pair till the mid-1980’s. She has been equally successful with Mammootty, Soman, Mohanlal etc during this period. A native of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, she acted in all other south Indian languages as well. She is married to film producer Suresh Kumar and in the short career span of 1980-1986, she acted in 116 movies. Now she is active as a film producer and appears in movies and television serials as well. Most recently her daughter Keerthi Suresh debut silver screen with Geethaanjali, directed by Priyadarshan. She has also played child artist role in 2000 movie - Kuberan.

She was born in a conservative Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family in the year 1963. Oppol released in 1980 marked her Malayalam onscreen debut as lead heroine. Before that she has already debut Tamil film industry. In this movie, she played the role of a young girl who gets married to an older man and the story revolves around a boy and herself, who claims to be her younger brother, but later reveals to be her son. The movie gave Balan. K. Nair and the child artist, Master Aravind National award for best acting and Menaka’s role was also appreciated. Very soon, she got many meaty roles and was casted opposite all young heroes of the time.

Among all heroes, her pairing with Shankar was noted most. Ente mohangal poovaninju was one of the most noticed movies of this pair. Poochakkoru Mukkuthi, Archana Aradhana, Oru nokku kaanan, Ayalvaasi oru daridravasi, Amme Narayana, Ponnum kudathinu pottu, Parayanum Vayya Parayathirikkanum Vayya, Saundharya pinakkam, Muthodu muthu and Engane nee marakkum are other noticed movies. Mohanlal acted alongside both of them in the successful movies - Engane nee marakkum, Ente mohangal poovaninju and Poochakkoru Mukkuthi. She played opposite Mohanlal in movies like Boeing Boeing, Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam, Kandu Kandarinju, Sesham Kazhchayil and Revathikkoru Paavakutti. Swanthamevide Bandhamevide, Akkare ninnoru Maran, Chilanthivala, Appunni, Ponnum Poovum and Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla are other noticed movies.   

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Updated: March 28, 2014