Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress and comedian, who plays supporting roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Poovellam Un Vasam (2001) and Uliyin Osai (2008). She has also won two Nandi Awards for Best Female Comedian and the Vijay Award for Best Comedian for her performance in Kanchana (2011). She is now part of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam Party. She has acted with all the top comedians including Vadivelu, Brahmanandam, Goundamani, Senthil and Vivek. Her comedy tracks with Vadivelu and Brahmanandam have been especially popular.
Early and present life
Kovai Sarala was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (then in Madras State) in a Malayali family. She developed interest in acting after watching MGR's films. She completed her studies and entered the film industry with the support of her sister and father.
She got her first film offer when she was in the 9th standard and acted with Vijayakumar and K. R. Vijaya in the film Velli Ratham(1979) and did a supporting role in Malayalam movie Thaliritta Kinakkal (1980).
She completed Class 10 and joined theatre did stage shows for few years, later she played a 32-year-old pregnant woman Mundhanai Mudichu, her second tamil film. Two years later she acted in Chinna Veedu, where she played the 65-year-old mother of Bhagyaraj's character. She has appeared in more than 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. She has mentioned the films Sathi Leelavathi, Viralukketha Veekkam, Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana, Karakattakkaran and Viswanathan Ramamoorthy as her personal favourites.
She has also worked in television series and television shows. She worked as a regular guest judge on Asatha Povathu Yaaru? and has hosted the reality show Paasa Paravaigal. In 2013, she was the judge on the Tamil comedy show "Comedyil Kalakkuvathu Eppadi" that airs on Vijay TV. Now she is regular judge on the Tamil comedy show "Varuthapadatha valibar sangam" that airs on Zee Tamil. Also hosting kids game show "Chellame chellam" on Sun TV.
Personal life
Sarala is not married. She looks after the children of her relatives, as she considers them to be her own.
Filmography
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Kannada
Singer
- Marugo Marugo (Sathi Leelavathi) (1995)
- Thekkathi Mappillai (Magalirkkaga) (2000)
- Rama Rama (Villu) (2009)
- Iravinil Aattam (Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru) (2016)
Television
- Sundari Soundari (Sun TV)
- Ellame Siripputhan (Kalaignar TV)
- Vanthaana Thanthaana (Kalaignar TV)
- Sabhash Meera (Jaya TV)
- Sagalakala Sarala (Vijay TV)
- Comedyil Kalakkuvathu Eppadi (Vijay TV)
- Vantintlo Wonders (Gemini TV)
- Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (Zee Tamil)
- Chellame Chellam (Sun TV)
- Arundhathi (Sun TV)
- Kutty Chutties (Sun TV)
- Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? – (Seasons 1–5,8–9 (Star Vijay) – Judge
Awards and nominations
Awards
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- Best Comedian – Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
- Best Comedian – Poovellam Un Vasam (2001)
- Best Comedian – Uliyin Osai (2008)
- Vijay Awards
- Vijay Award for Best Comedian – Kanchana (2011)
- Nandi Awards
- Best Female Comedian – Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary (2000)
- Best Female Comedian – Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kaanu (2003)
Nominations
- 60th Filmfare Awards South – Best Supporting Actress – Telugu – Sudigadu (2012)
References
External links
- Kovai Sarala at IMDb
