Meera Jasmine
Meera Jasmine
Born
Jasmine Mary Joseph[1]

(1982-02-15) 15 February 1982[2]
OccupationFilm actress
Years active2001–present
AwardsNational Film Award for Best Actress
Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
HonoursKalaimamani (2009)

Jasmine Mary Joseph, known professionally as Meera Jasmine, is an Indian actress who appears primarily in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language films. Meera made her debut in 2001 with the Lohithadas film Soothradharan. She went on to star in various commercial and critically successful films in south Indian languages making her one of the most bankable and noteworthy actresses of the 2000s.

She won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2004 for her role in Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam, and is a two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.[3] She also received the Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamil Nadu.[4]

Early life

Meera Jasmine was born in Kuttapuzha village, Thiruvalla,[1][5] Kerala to Joseph and Aleyamma.[6] She was the fourth of five children.[7] She has two sisters, Jiby Sara Joseph and Jeny Susan Joseph,[8] who has also acted in films,[9][10][11] and two brothers, one of them, George worked as an assistant cinematographer.

She completed her schooling in Bala Vihar, Thiruvalla and Marthoma Residential School, Thiruvalla. She appeared for her Higher Secondary Exams in March 2000. She had enrolled for a BSc degree in Zoology at Assumption College, Changanassery and completed nearly three months when she was spotted by director Blessy (who was then an assistant director to director Lohithadas) and offered a role in Soothradharan.

Meera had initially wanted to study and become a doctor and never had dreamed of becoming a film star.[1] She stated, "I was just an ordinary girl. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine being in films. I had not acted even in school plays. I never was the artistic type, I never thought I could dance, and I had not even thought of myself as being beautiful".[12] She also said that Lohithadas "is like a father figure and my guru. He initiated me into films with Soothradharan and I owe it all to him".[5]

Career

Malayalam

Meera Jasmine made her debut in the Malayalam film Soothradharan.[13] Her second film was Gramophone, directed by Kamal, in which she appeared alongside Navya Nair and Dileep.[13] Her role as a Jewish girl was appreciated by Malayalam critics. Her third film was Swapnakkoodu, a romantic comedy alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kunchako Boban, Jayasurya, and Bhavana under director Kamal. Her performance was appreciated and the film was a high commercial success.[1] Among the five main characters, the one who scored the most was again Meera.[14]

She rose to fame in Malayalam cinema with the film Kasthooriman directed by her mentor Lohithadas,[15] where she played a happy go lucky yet emotionally complex character. She received her first Filmfare award for her performance in Kasthooriman. The film was a success at the box office, running for 100 days. The same year, she acted in T. V. Chandran's acclaimed Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam. She played a 15-year-old Muslim girl who was forced to marry an older man, for which she was awarded a State Award and the National Award in addition with several other awards.[16] It was followed by her performance as Raziya in Perumazhakkalam alongside Kavya Madhavan.

In the film Achuvinte Amma (2005), she enacted the young, adorable character Achu.[17] She then paired with Mohanlal in Rasathanthram (2006). She played as a girl pretending to be a boy due to the pressure of circumstances in the first half of the film . The film went on to become a commercial success. Her next film with Dileep – Vinodayathra, which again was directed by Sathyan Anthikkad. She was next featured opposite Mammootty in the critically acclaimed film Ore Kadal. The film was showcased in film festivals and won awards. Her performance as an innocent middle-class woman won praise from audiences. Media quoted her as, "Matching step with the megastar in this histrionic race is Meera Jasmine, who amazes you with a stunning delineation of her difficult role" . Her next film was Calcutta News with Dileep. Blessy, who introduced her to film field, was the director of Calcutta News. In Innathe Chintha Vishayam (2008), she collaborated with Sathyan Anthikkad for his fourth consecutive film, again opposite Mohanlal, but failed to succeed. Her next films Minnaminnikoottam with Kamal and Rathri Mazha with Lenin Rajendran, which released after a long post-production delay, were box office failures.

More than a year later, she played the role of a playback singer in Rajeev Anchal's Paattinte Palazhy.[18] Though the film was commercially not successful, her character was noted and her performance gave her a comeback. Her next film, Four Friends, was a multi-starrer directed by Saji Surendran. She played the role of a cancer patient in this film. In the 2011 film Mohabbat, she played the lead role opposite Anand Michael and Munna.

After a brief hiatus, she began committing films by late 2012. She was keen in choosing more women-centric roles and in Babu Janardhanan's Lisammayude Veedu, a sequel to the 2006 film Achanurangatha Veedu, her role was that of a serial rape victim. She acted opposite Mohanlal in Siddique's comedy film Ladies and Gentleman. Her latest project is Shajiyem's Ms. Lekha Tharoor Kanunnathu, a fantasy film.[19] In 2014, she starred opposite Jayaram in Sugeeth's family film, Onnum Mindathe, but the film failed at the box office. She signed up for Ithinumappuram, a period film based in the 1970s, in which she plays a highly orthodox and rich Nair woman who falls in love with someone from a lower caste and gets married against her parents' will.[20]

After that, she acted in the movie Mazhaneerthullikal directed by V. K. Prakash but the movie was not released. In 2016, she co-starred with Anoop Menon, Joju George and Kaniha in the crime thriller 10 Kalpanakal directed by Don Max, but the film was not a theatrical success. However, the film received rave reviews from critics and was praised for its script, direction and cast.

In 2018, Meera made a comeback after a gap of two years with a guest appearance in Kalidas Jayaram starrer Poomaram directed by Abrid Shine. After a long hiatus, in 2022 Meera joined hands with Sathyan Anthikad for a family entertainer 'Makal' alongside Jayaram. The film received decent reviews and Meera was praised for her subtle act.

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada

Meera Jasmine's Tamil debut was Run, directed by Lingusamy, which became a high success in Tamil Nadu and made her a sought-after actress.[1] The success of Run and gave her the chance to work with the established actors of the Tamil film industry.Though her successive films did not fare as well,[1] she was noticed by director Mani Ratnam who gave her a role in Aayutha Ezhuthu.[1] She later appeared in N. Lingusamy's Sandakozhi and SS Stanley's Mercury Pookkal.[21] Her latest Tamil film, Mambattiyan got released in December 2011.[22][23]

Meera Jasmine became noted in the Telugu film industry with Run, the dubbed version of the same-titled Tamil film. She was seen in the Telugu films in 2004 with Ammayi Bagundi and Gudumba Shankar, also entered Kannada cinema by co-starring with Puneet Rajkumar in Maurya. Her Kannada film Arasu again with Puneet Rajkumar and Ramya was a hit. Her other Kannada films include Devaru Kotta Thangi and Ijjodu. Ijjodu, in which she played Chenni, a Basavi woman, who ends up becoming a sex worker, was screened at four prestigious domestic film festivals and garnered critical acclaim.[24]

Meera Jasmine's biggest commercial success in Telugu remains Bhadra with Ravi Teja in the male lead. Her other Telugu films are Raraju, Maharadhi, Yamagola Malli Modalayindi, Gorintaku and Maa Ayana Chanti Pilladu, in which she is paired for a second time with Sivaji.

Personal life

In 2008, she said in an interview that she will be marrying Mandolin Rajesh, "but not for the next two or three years".[25] Meera married to Anil John Titus on 9 February 2014 who works as an engineer in Dubai.[26]

Controversy

In 2006, she offered prayers at Rajarajeshwara Temple at Taliparamba in Kerala where the entry of non-Hindus is prohibited. This led to a controversy and sparked off a protest by Hindu devotees. Later, she paid 10,000 (US$130) as penalty to the temple authorities to conduct the purification rituals.[27][28]

In 2008, she faced an unofficial ban in the Malayalam film industry issued by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), after she refused to shoot for Twenty:20, a film distributed by actor Dileep for AMMA.[29][30] Meera however said that she was not aware of a ban and that she was continuing shooting for Malayalam films.[25]

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
List of Meera Jasmine film credits
Year Title Role Language Notes
2001SoothradharanShivaniMalayalamDebut
2002RunPriyaTamilDebut in Tamil cinema
BalaAarthiTamil
2003KasthoorimannPriyamvadaMalayalam
Pudhiya GeethaiSushiTamil
GramophoneJennifer/ JennyMalayalam
SwapnakkooduKamalaMalayalam
AnjaneyaDivyaTamil
Paadam Onnu: Oru VilapamShahinaMalayalam
JootMeeraTamil
ChakramIndraniMalayalam
2004Ammayi BagundiJanani,
Satya
TeluguDebut in Telugu cinema
Aayutha EzhuthuSasiTamil
MauryaAlameluKannadaDebut in Kannada cinema
Gudumba ShankarGowriTelugu
PerumazhakkalamRaziyaMalayalam
2005Achuvinte AmmaAshwathy/ AchuMalayalam
BhadraAnuTelugu
Kasthuri MaanUmaTamil
SandakozhiHemaTamil
2006Mercury PookkalAnbu ChelviTamil
RasathanthramKanmani/ VelayuthankuttyMalayalam
RarajuJyothiTelugu
2007ArasuAishuKannada
MaharadhiKalyaniTelugu
ThirumaganAyyakkaTamil
VinodayathraAnupama/ AnuMalayalam
Parattai Engira Azhagu SundaramShwetaTamil
Yamagola Malli ModalayindiAishwaryaTelugu
Ore KadalDeeptiMalayalam
2008Calcutta NewsKrishnapriyaMalayalam
Innathe Chintha VishayamKamalaMalayalam
NepaliPriyaTamil
MinnaminnikoottamCharulatha/ CharuMalayalam
Rathri MazhaMeeraMalayalam
GorintakuLakshmiTelugu
Maa Ayana Chanti PilladuRajeswariTelugu
2009MariyadhaiChandraTamil
Bangaru BabuMeeraTelugu
A Aa E EeKalyani ChandramTelugu
Devaru Kotta ThangiLakshmiKannada
2010Aakasa RamannaTaraTelugu
Sivappu MazhaiSamyukthaTamil
IjjoduChenniKannada
Pen SingamMeghalaTamil
HooJasmineKannada
Paattinte PalazhyVeenaMalayalam
Four FriendsGowriMalayalam
2011IlaignanMeeraTamil
MohabbatSajnaMalayalam
MambattiyanKannaathalTamil
2012Aathi NarayanaLailaTamil
2013Lisammayude VeeduLisammaMalayalam
Ladies and GentlemanAswathy/AchuMalayalam
MokshaMokshaTelugu
Ms Lekha Tharoor KaanunnathuLekhaMalayalam
2014Inga Enna SolluthuRajeshwariTamil
VingyaniKaveriTamil
Onnum MindatheSyamaMalayalam
2015IthinumappuramRukminiMalayalam
2016Pathu KalpanakalShazia AkbarMalayalam
2018PoomaramHerselfMalayalamCameo
2022MakalJulietMalayalam
2023VimanamAir Hostess Shwetha PanditTeluguCameo[31]
Queen ElizabethElizabeth Angel SimonMalayalam[32] [33]
2024The TestTBATamil Filming[34] [35]

Awards and honours

List of Meera Jasmine awards and honours
Award Year Award Category Awarded Work Ref.
National Film Awards2004Best ActressPaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam
Kerala State Film Awards2004Best ActressPaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam, Kasthuri Maan
2007Best ActressOre Kadal
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards2005Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special PrizeKasthuri Maan
Tamil Nadu Government Honour2009KalaimamaniArt - Various movies in Tamil Cinema Industry
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards2005Best ActressPaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam
Filmfare Awards South2006Filmfare Award for Best ActressAchuvinte Amma
2007Filmfare Award for Best ActressKasthoorimann
2008Filmfare Award for Best ActressOre Kadal[36]
Asianet Film Awards2003Best Actress AwardPaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam
2004Best Actress AwardPerumazhakkalam
2005Best Actress AwardAchuvinte Amma
2007Best Actress AwardOre Kadal
Vanitha Film Awards2004Vanitha-Chandrika Film Award For Best ActressPerumazhakkalam
2007Vanitha-Nipon Paint Film Award for Best ActressOre Kadal
Mathrubhumi Film Awards2004Mathrubhumi – Medimix Award for Best ActressPerumazhakkalam
2007Mathrubhumi – Medimix Award for Best ActressPaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam
V. Shantaram Awards2007V Shantaram Award for Best ActressOre Kadal
Bharathan Award2001Best Female Debut ActorSoothradharan[37]
Dinakaran Award2002Best Female DebutRun[38]
Thikkurissi Award2005Best ActressPerumazhakkalam
Srividya Puraskaaram2007Best ActressOre Kadal[39]
Amrita TV Film Awards2008Best ActressOre Kadal[40]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Meera Jasmine: Destiny's child Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, rediff.com; 1 August 2004.
  2. "Happy Birthday Meera Jasmine: कभी डॉक्टर बनना चाहती थीं एक्ट्रेस, अब 40 साल की उम्र में पर्दे पर वापसी करने के लिए तैयार". News Room Post. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. State Awards for the year 2005 Archived 9 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. "70 artists get Kalaimamani awards". The Hindu. 25 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Scent of the Jasmine". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 November 2004. Archived from the original on 6 April 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  6. "Error 404 - Not found". www.desiscreen.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011.
  7. "Mature portrayal". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 September 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  8. "Meera Jasmine's sisters seek anticipatory bail". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 19 October 2004. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  9. Tamil movies: Meera Jasmine's patch up with her family Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, behindwoods.com; accessdate 28 January 2018.
  10. Meera's sister to produce a movie Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  11. Epitomising the sibling bond Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, newindianexpress.com, 23 November 2013.
  12. Shining star Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, DeccanHerald.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Meera Jasmin". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 November 2002. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  14. "Youth Stuff". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 September 2003. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  15. "Looking back at Malayalam writer-director AK Lohithadas and his women characters". The News Minute. 27 June 2020.
  16. "'Shwaas' adjudged the best film". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 August 2004. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  17. മനസുകൊണ്ട് ഞാനിപ്പോഴേ ഒരു കുടുംബിനി – articles, infocus_interview, mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018. Archived 10 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Striking the right chord". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  19. Parvathy Nambidi (14 May 2013). "Following Ms Tharoor". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  20. "Meera Jasmine in women centric film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  21. "Review: Sandakozhi (2005)". Sify. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019.
  22. "Mambattiyan Movie Online Review". KollyInsider.com. 16 December 2011.
  23. "Mambattiyan Movie Review". GetCinemas.com.
  24. "Sathyu's back with Ijjodu". The Times of India. 18 April 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  25. 1 2 "I will be marrying Mandolin Rajesh: Meera". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  26. "Meera Jasmine gets married to Anil John Titus amid police protection | India.com". www.india.com.
  27. "Jasmine sparks row by entering temple". The Times of India. 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  28. "Tryst with god costs Meera dear". DNA. Retrieved 2 July 2006.
  29. "Meera banned in Malayalam films?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  30. "Meera Jasmine carves a niche for herself & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Daily News and Analysis. 7 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  31. "Meera Jasmine is making a comeback in Tamil and Telugu with Vimanam". The Indian Express. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  32. "Meera Jasmine to team up with Narain for 'Queen Elizabeth'; see pics". The Times of India. 4 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  33. "Shooting of Meera Jasmine's Queen Elizabeth wrapped up". CinemaExpress. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  34. "Meera Jasmine to join hands with Madhavan after two decades for Test". The Indian Express. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  35. "'Test': Meera Jasmine joins Madhavan, Nayanthara for S Shashikanth's sports drama". The Hindu. 9 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  36. "55th annual Tiger Balm South Filmfare Awards-Chennai-Cities". The Times of India. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  37. "News". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008.
  38. "'Dinakaran' Cinema Awards For The Year - 2002". 26 May 2008. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008.
  39. "Meera Jasmine bags Sreevidya best actress award". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008.
  40. "Amrita film awards announced". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 March 2008. Archived from the original on 25 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.