Ramya
Ramya in 2010
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
August 2013 – 18 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byN. Chaluvaraya Swamy
Succeeded byC. S. Puttaraju
ConstituencyMandya
Personal details
Born
Divya Spandana

(1982-11-29) 29 November 1982
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Profession
  • Film actress
  • Film producer
  • politician

Divya Spandana (born 29 November 1982), better known by her screen name Ramya, is an Indian actress, producer and politician. She served as the Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Mandya, Karnataka. She primarily works in Kannada, and Tamil language films. Ramya was the recipient of two Filmfare Awards South, an Udaya Award, and a Karnataka State Film Award.

Ramya made her acting debut in the 2003 Kannada-language film Abhi. Although she has sporadically worked in Tamil and Telugu films her work in Kannada film industry garnered her greater attention.[1][2] She won the Udaya Award and Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the Amrithadhare (2005) and Tananam Tananam (2006) respectively. Her performance as the eponymous heroine in the 2011 romantic drama Sanju Weds Geetha garnered her further critical success and a Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress. Ramya has also starred in the 2011 blockbuster fantasy film Katari Veera Surasundarangi and other commercially successful films including the 2016 epic-fantasy Nagarahavu. After a brief hiatus from acting, she made a comeback to films by producing the film Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye in 2023 under the "AppleBox Studios" banner.[3]

Ramya joined the Indian National Congress in 2012 as a member of its youth wing; she later won a 2013 by-election to become a Member of Parliament for Mandya constituency in Karnataka, but was defeated in the general elections the following year.

Early life

Ramya was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, on 29 November 1982.[4][5][6] Her parents are from Mandya; mother Ranjitha is a senior member of the Congress Party in Karnataka while her foster father, R. T. Narayan, was an industrialist.[7][8] He fostered her since she was five and died in 2013.[9] In 2004, Ramya claimed that she was the granddaughter of politician and former Chief minister of Karnataka S. M. Krishna. Ramya studied at St. Hilda's School, a residential school, in Ooty, and at Sacred Heart School (Church Park), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Ramya was pursuing a career in modeling and hoped to join Mumbai-based Sheetal Designer Studio after completing her graduation with a bachelor's degree in commerce from St. Joseph's College of Commerce, Bangalore. She had taken part in ramp shows and was crowned Miss Country Club in 2001. Around this time, film offers came her way, and was considered for Ninagagi, Dumbee and Appu, before being cast opposite Puneeth Rajkumar in Abhi.[10] It was here that she was given the screen name Ramya by the film's producer Parvathamma Rajkumar.[11][12]

Film career

Ramya at the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2006)

Ramya made her feature film debut with Puneeth Rajkumar's 2003 Kannada film Abhi.[13][14][15] She made her first appearance in the Tamil film industry with the stage name Ramya, with the 2004 film Kuththu. The film had a successful run at the box office, as did her next Tamil film, Giri. Her debut film, however, gave her the name 'Kuthu' Ramya, by which she was then popularly known in Tamil Nadu, she had major box-office success with three Kannada films – Aakash, Gowramma and Amrithadhare – garnering critical acclaim for her performances and establishing her as a leading actress.[16][17][18]

In 2006, she starred in Julie, a remake of the 1975 Hindi-language film, but it failed to attract audiences.[17] After her following release, Datta, her next Kannada release, Jothe Jotheyali, was a successful venture[19] in spite of unfavorable reviews by critics.[20][21] Her final 2006 release, Tananam Tananam, an average performer that released to mixed reviews,[22][23] gained Ramya her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She had described her role in the film as "little complex" and "challenging".[24] In 2007, Ramya starred in three feature films; the first of these, Arasu, was a huge hit.[25] She then appeared as a sex worker in a film made to create awareness about AIDS as part of Mira Nair's AIDS Jaago project.[26][27] Her last 2007 film was Polladhavan, released during Deepavali; it was considered a commercial success and her breakthrough in Tamil.[28] Rajinikanth was all praises for the entire crew of Polladhavan.[29]

Her first 2008 release, the Kannada film Mussanjemaatu, was a big hit, and gained her a nomination for a Best Actress Award at the 56th Filmfare Awards South. She followed this with the Tamil film Thoondil. Ramya later stated that she regretted accepting the film.[30] Later that year, she starred in the films Bombaat and Anthu Inthu Preethi Banthu, the former performing well at the box office.[31] Her final release in 2008 was Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vaaranam Aayiram, which also won that year's National Award for the best feature film in Tamil. She was credited as Divya in Vaaranam Aayiram.[32] She dubbed her own voice for this film, which became a critical and commercial success. She did not have any releases in 2009, since both her films, Bhimoos Bang Bang Kids and Jothegaara, were delayed due to financial problems.

Her first release of 2010, Just Math Mathalli, received rave reviews, with appreciation for her role. She had two more releases that year, the long-delayed Jothegaara and Kiccha Huccha. Her next release was the Tamil film Singam Puli, followed by the romantic drama Sanju Weds Geetha. This film opened to positive reviews, with Ramya being praised by critics for her performance, which was considered among the best in her career.[33][34]

Her first release in 2012 was a comedy drama, Sidlingu, in which she portrayed the role of a school teacher.[35] This was followed by a light-comedy movie, Lucky. She appeared in the semi-mythological movie Katari Veera Surasundarangi. In August 2013, Ramya announced that she was considering quitting acting to pursue a career in politics.[36]

Following her brief political career, Ramya made her acting comeback in 2016 with Nagarahavu, a film which placed deceased actor Vishnuvardhan in the lead role through visual effects. The film received negative reviews upon the release and failed to attract an audience.[37]

After nearly 7 years of sabbatical, Ramya returned to the film industry with her own production company, AppleBox Studios.[38] As the first assignment, she produced the film Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye (2023) which was directed by Raj B. Shetty. Her goal with this venture is to showcase powerful narratives centered around strong women.[39]

Political career

Ramya joined the Indian Youth Congress in 2012.[40][41] She became the Indian National Congress (INC) Member of Parliament from Mandya constituency in Karnataka by winning the by-election in 2013. In the 2014 Indian general election, she again contested from Mandya but was defeated by C. S. Puttaraju by a margin of 5,500 votes.[42] In March 2017, there was speculation that she might follow her political mentor S M Krishna and join BJP, but she continued with Congress.[43]

In May 2017 she was given the task of reviving INC's social media wing and was made national head of Congress's digital team at national level.[44][45] She took over the social media team from Deepender Singh Hooda. According to various newspapers and media houses, she is instrumental in turning around Rahul Gandhi's and INC's social media image.

In August 2017, Ramya created the online campaign #AintNoCinderella to support Varnika Kundu, a woman who was "chased and almost kidnapped"[46] one night in Chandigarh. Senior Haryana state BJP politician Ramveer Bhatti told press the attack was Kundu's fault for being out so late: "The girl should not have gone out at 12 in the night. Why was she driving so late in the night? The atmosphere is not right. We need to take care of ourselves."[47][48]

The campaign started when Ramya and friends began posting photos of themselves out late at night with the hashtag #AintNoCinderella. "Why shouldn't women go out after midnight?" Ramya told the BBC. "I'm asking people like Mr Bhatti who are they to set curfew hours for us? I want to ask him who is he to question us? This is such a regressive mindset."[47][49]

On 3 October 2018, there was a rumor that she was reportedly upset with Congress Party and there was a speculation that she had stepped down as its social media head.[50]

Filmography

As actor

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2003AbhiBhanuKannada
Excuse MeMadhumitha
AbhimanyuSaira BanuTelugu
2004KuththuAnjaliTamil
Ranga S. S. L. C.PadmaKannada
KantiReema
GiriDevakiTamil
2005AadiAishwaryaKannada
AakashNandini
GowrammaGowri Chandan
AmrithadhareAmritha
2006Sevanthi SevanthiSevanthi
JulieJulie
Dattha
Jothe JotheyaliDivya
Tananam TananamVanaja
2007ArasuShruthi
PrarambhaSex workerShort film[51]
Meera Madhava RaghavaMeera
PolladhavanHemaTamilCredited as Divya Ramya
2008ThoondilPooja/Divya
MussanjemaatuThanuKannada
MeravanigeRamyaKannadaGuest appearance
BombaatShalini
Anthu Inthu Preethi BanthuPreethi
Vaaranam AayiramPriyaTamil
2010Just Math MathalliNandini Appaiah "Tanu"Kannada
JothegaraPriya
Kiccha HucchaAishwarya
2011Singam PuliSwethaTamil
Sanju Weds GeethaGeethaKannada
Dandam DashagunamMaya
Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera KaamPriya
2012SidlinguMangala
LuckyGowri
Katari Veera SurasundarangiIndraja
Crazy LokaHerselfSpecial appearance
2014AryanShwetha
2016NagarahavuManasa / Nagakanika
2023Hostel Hudugaru BekagiddareDivyaCameo appearance[52]
2023Uttarakhanda†TBAFilming[53]

As producer

YearFilmLanguageNotes
2023Swathi Mutthina Male HaniyeKannada

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award Category Result Ref.
2003 Abhi 51st Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Nominated
2005 Amrithadhare Udaya Film Awards Best Actress Won
53rd Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Nominated [54]
2006 Tananam Tananam 54th Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Won [55][56]
South Indian Cinematographers Association Awards Best Actress Won [57]
Udaya Film Award Best Actress Nominated
2008 Mussanje Maatu 56th Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Nominated [58]
Suvarna Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Udaya Film Awards Best Actress Won
Suvarna Film Awards Suvana Favorite Heroine Won
2010 Just Maath Maathalli 58th Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Nominated [59]
Suvarna Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Udaya Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Suvarna Film Awards Suvana Favorite Heroine Won
2011 Sanju Weds Geetha Udaya Film Awards Best Actress Won
59th Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Won [60]
2010–11 Karnataka State Film Awards Best Actress Won [61][62][63]
Suvarna Film Awards Best Actress Won
Suvarna Film Awards Suvana Favorite Heroine Won
1st SIIMA Awards SIIMA Best Actress Won [64][65]
2012 Sidlingu 60th Filmfare Awards South Best Actress Nominated [66]
Udaya Film Award Best Actress Nominated
Suvarna Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2nd SIIMA Awards SIIMA Best Actress Nominated [67]

References

  1. ↑ "Living by her own rules: Sandalwood Queen Ramya's journey through acting and politics". The News Minute. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. ↑ S, Sridevi. "Sandalwood queen Ramya announces comeback with a bang; collaborates with Raj B Shetty". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ramya gets the title rights for Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye, rules city court". The Times of India. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Shyam Prasad, S. (23 July 2009). "No filmy husband for me". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "No filmy husband for me - Bangalore Mirror -". bangaloremirror.com.
  6. ↑ "Yes, I'm seeing someone, says Ramya". Daily News and Analysis. 29 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Mother campaigns for daughter". 14 August 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Actor loses foster father". 3 August 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Why Kannada Actress Ramya Didn't Want to Live Anymore". News18. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ↑ Srivatsa, Srikanth (16 March 2003). "Stars in her eyes". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 22 December 2003. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Living by her own rules: Sandalwood Queen Ramya's journey through acting and politics". The News Minute. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Caste war heats up as Sadananda isn't Gowda enough".
  13. ↑ "Ramya rules". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011.
  14. ↑ rediff.com: Ramya: Golden girl of Kannada cinema. Specials.rediff.com (April 2006). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  15. ↑ "Just can't wait for Ramya". The Times of India. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ravising Ramya – Darling of Producers". IndiaGlitz. 30 November 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  17. 1 2 K., Bhumika (17 May 2008). "Metro Plus Bangalore: Ramya rules". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  18. ↑ "Full of life". IndiaGlitz. 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "Kannada films – 2006 part II". IndiaGlitz. 29 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 January 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  20. ↑ Vijayasarathy, R. G. (25 September 2006). "Jothe Jotheyali is just silly". Rediff. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  21. ↑ Jothe Jotheyali. kannada.indiavilas.com
  22. ↑ Vijayasarathy, R. G. (28 November 2006). "Tananam Tananam disappoints". Rediff. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  23. ↑ Shiva Kumar, S. (1 December 2006). "Friday Review Bangalore / Cinema : Down the drain". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  24. ↑ "The Bangalore Times Film Awards 2011". The Times of India. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  25. ↑ "Happy 38th birthday Puneet Rajkumar: Best films of the Kannada superstar". News18. India: News18. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  26. ↑ "'Prarambha' by bill gates". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  27. ↑ Daihota, Madhu (1 February 2007). "All stars for AIDS awareness film". Times of India. Indiatimes.com. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  28. ↑ "Polladhavan Divya gets bolder". Behindwoods. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  29. ↑ 'Kuthu' Ramya aka Divya is on the moon with the success of "Polladhavan". Bolly Treat (21 November 2007). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  30. ↑ Suresh, Sunayana (29 November 2010). "Yes, I'm seeing someone, says Ramya". DNA. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  31. ↑ Kannada Box-Office (Sep1-5). Sify.com (5 September 2008). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  32. ↑ "Ramya comes back with name changed". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  33. ↑ Review: Sanju Weds Geetha – Rediff.com Movies. Rediff.com (1 April 2011). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  34. ↑ Movie Review : Review: Sanju Weds Geetha. Sify.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  35. ↑ "'Sidlingu' starts". IndiaGlitz. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  36. ↑ "May quit acting if I win: Ramya". The New Indian Express. MANDYA. Express News Service. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "Nagarahavu movie review: Even Vishnuvardhan can't save this film". The Indian Express. 14 October 2016.
  38. ↑ "Kannada actress Divya Spandana to venture into film production with 'AppleBox Studios'". The Economic Times. 1 September 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  39. ↑ Suresh, Sunayana. "Exclusive: I want to tell compelling stories, especially of women: Ramya". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  40. ↑ Ramya joins Youth Congress. Sify.com (19 April 2011). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  41. ↑ Ramya joins Youth Congress. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  42. ↑ "Constituencywise-All Candidates". Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "Ramya to join BJP?". 16 March 2017.
  44. ↑ "For More Aggressive Online Brand, Rahul Gandhi Makes New Choice". 6 January 2018. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018.
  45. ↑ "Meet Divya Spandana who plays crucial role in Rahul Gandhi's social media team - Catch News". 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017.
  46. ↑ "Varnika Kundu". Retrieved 28 September 2018 – via Facebook.
  47. 1 2 Pandey, Geeta (9 August 2017). "Why Indian women are no Cinderellas". BBC News. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  48. ↑ Livsey, Anna (9 August 2017). "#AintNoCinderella: Indian women mock politician who blamed stalking victim". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  49. ↑ Gallucci, Nicole. "#AintNoCinderella: Why women in India are sharing midnight selfies on social media". Mashable. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  50. ↑ "Divya Spandana Reportedly Upset with Congress, Skips Work".
  51. ↑ "AIDS Jaago's Tamil version launched". The Hindu. August 2010.
  52. ↑ "Actress Ramya To Star As A Professor In The Film Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare". News18. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  53. ↑ "I feel like I'm making my debut all over again, says actor Ramya". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  54. ↑ "53rd Annual South Filmfare Awards Winners". CineGoer.com. 9 September 2006. Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
  55. ↑ "54th Filmfare Awards South Winners". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  56. ↑ "Movies : Movie Tidbits : Filmfare Awards presented". 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  57. ↑ "Ramya has won!". The Times of India.
  58. ↑ "56th Filmfare Awards South". ReachoutHyderabad.com. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  59. ↑ "The 58th Filmfare Award (South) winners". CNN-News18. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  60. ↑ Filmfare Editorial (9 July 2012). "59th Idea Filmfare Awards South (Winners list)". Filmfare. Times Internet Limited. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  61. ↑ "Kannada State Film Awards list 2010-11". The Times of India. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  62. ↑ "'Maagiya Kala' is best film; Ramya, Puneeth best actors". The Hindu. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  63. ↑ "State film awards announced, Puneeth, Ramya bag top honours". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  64. ↑ "SIIMA Awards 2012: Winners List". The Times of India. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  65. ↑ "SIIMA Awards 2012 Winners". South Indian International Movie Awards. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  66. ↑ Filmfare awards list of winners Archived 10 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  67. ↑ "Stars in Sharjah for 2nd SIIMA". The Hindu. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
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