Renuka | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupations | Film and Television Actress |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse |
Aloha Kumaran (m. 1998) |
Renuka is an Indian actress who is known for playing the lead role Premi in K. Balachander's Tamil tele-serial of the same name. She has also acted in Malayalam and some Telugu films.[1]
Early life
Renuka's family hailed from the town of Srirangam. Due to adverse circumstances caused by the early death of her father, she was compelled to move to the city of Chennai at an early age in search of work. In a short while, she was able to get a job as a drama artiste with Komal Swaminathan's troupe.[2]
Career
She got the break in Tamil films with the 1989 movie Samsara Sangeetham directed by T. Rajender and in the year 1990, she worked in Malayalam movie Kuttettan. Renuka has worked in a few Tamil films and about 75 Malayalam movies, after she was introduced to Tamil film director K. Balachander by colleague Geetha.
Renuka was cast in a supporting role in the teleserial Kaialavu Manasu directed by Balachander. Following Kaialavu Manasu, Renuka also did a supporting role in Kadhal Pagadai, which made her very popular and lead roles in Premi, Jannal and Ganga Yamuna Saraswati. She also earned good reviews for her performance in Premi.
Personal life
Renuka is the eldest daughter in the family and has two younger brothers. In 1998, she married Aloha Kumaran, the chairman and managing director of Aloha India.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Porutham | Tamil | ||
| 1988 | Maduraikara Thambi | |||
| En Thangai Kalyani | credited as Renu | |||
| 1989 | Samsara Sangeetham | |||
| 1990 | Thangaikku Oru Thalattu | Kasthuri (Stella) | ||
| Kuttettan | Thomas Chacko's girlfriend | Malayalam | ||
| Brahma Rakshass | Karthika | |||
| 1991 | Adwaytham | Krishnan Kutty Menon's wife | ||
| Abhimanyu | Savithri | |||
| Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu | Thaayamma | Tamil | ||
| Tholi Poddu | Telugu | |||
| 1992 | Congratulations Miss Anitha Menon | Malayalam | ||
| Aval Ariyadhe | Dr. Sumam | |||
| Thevar Magan | Anni | Tamil | ||
| Chinna Marumagal | Shanthi | |||
| Sugamana Sumaigal | Kalyani | |||
| Sargam | Kunjulakshmi | Malayalam | ||
| Kudumbasammetham | Devu | |||
| Daddy | Alice | |||
| 1993 | Sthreedhanam | Vidya's sister | ||
| Mafia | Uma | |||
| Butterflies | Saradha | |||
| Vatsalyam | Ambika | |||
| Ammayane Sathyam | Parvathi's mother | |||
| Theeram Thedunna Thirakal | ||||
| Chenkol | ||||
| Porutham | ||||
| Periyamma | Tamil | |||
| Thiruda Thiruda | Seethalakshmi | |||
| Rojavai Killathe | Sathasivam's wife | |||
| Asadhyuraalu | Telugu | |||
| 1994 | Kudumba Vishesham | Urmila | Malayalam | |
| Chukkan | Leela | |||
| Rajadhani | Parvathy's sister | |||
| Pavithram | Nirmala Ramakrishnan(Nimmy) | |||
| Commissioner | ||||
| Magalir Mattum | Pandian's wife | Tamil | ||
| 1995 | Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu | Sumithra | Malayalam | |
| Nirnayam | Rajan's wife | |||
| Thakshashila | Sheela Nambiar | |||
| Chantha | Sherly | |||
| Agrajan | Kunjulakshmi | |||
| 1996 | Kalki | Karpagam | Tamil | |
| Mahathma | Ramakrishna Kurup's daughter | Malayalam | ||
| Sathyabhaamaykkoru Pranayalekhanam | Thatri | |||
| The Prince | Indhu | |||
| Meghasangeehtam | ||||
| 1997 | Guru | Ramanagan's sister | ||
| Bharatheeyam | Sebastian's wife | |||
| Aattuvela | Sugandhi | |||
| Vamsam | ||||
| 1998 | Samaantharangal | Raziya | ||
| Chitrashalabham | Geetha | |||
| Dhinamdhorum | Chandra | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu | Malar | ||
| Poi | Menaka | |||
| 2008 | Mizhikal Sakshi | Ambili's mother | Malayalam | |
| De Ingottu Nokkiye | Sathyabhama | |||
| 2009 | Quick Gun Murugan | Kidnapped Mum | English | |
| Ayan | Kaveri Velusamy | Tamil | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil | |
| Guru En Aalu | Guru's mother | |||
| 2011 | Sweet Home | Arun's mother | Short film | |
| 2012 | Chattakaari | Sasi's mother | Malayalam | |
| Gramam | Thankam | |||
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Rani | Tamil | |
| Mathapoo | Karthik's mother | |||
| Vanakkam Chennai | Ajay's mother | |||
| Kaanchi | Bhagheerathi Amma | Malayalam | ||
| 2014 | Namma Gramam | Thankam | Tamil | |
| Kerala Nattilam Pengaludane | Unnikrishnan's mother | |||
| Nalanum Nandhiniyum | Rajalakshmi | |||
| Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani | Sigamani's mother | |||
| Poojai | Manimekalai | |||
| Thirudan Police | Vishwa's mother | |||
| 2015 | Kanchana 2 | Nandhini's sister-in-law | ||
| Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga | Kamatchi | |||
| Adhibar | Sia's mother | |||
| 2016 | Vetrivel | Sharatha | ||
| 2017 | Pokkiri Simon | Mahalakshmi | Malayalam | |
| Kalavu Thozhirchalai | Yesotha Ramakrishnan | Tamil | ||
| Karuppan | Karuppan's mother | |||
| 2018 | Seyal | Karthik's mother | ||
| Koothan | Actress | |||
| Kalavani Mappillai | Deva's mother | |||
| 2019 | Dev | Geetha | ||
| Dhanusu Raasi Neyargale | Pandiamma | |||
| 2020 | Psycho | Vasantha | ||
| 2021 | Kalathil Santhippom | Anand's mother | ||
| Theerpugal Virkapadum | Dr. Aruna Stephen Raj | |||
| 2022 | Anbarivu | Arivu's aunty | ||
| Ranga | Adithya's mother | |||
| Vattam | Mano's mother | |||
| Cobra | Bhavana's mother | |||
| Therkathi Veeran | Sarath's mother | |||
| 2023 | Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam | Ayesha | ||
| Annapoorani | Saradha | |||
| 2024 | Indian 2 | Kanagalatha Thangavel | ||
| 2025 | Maareesan | Dhayalan's mother | [3] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-1997 | Premi | Premi | Sun TV |
| 1996 | Kaiyalavu Manasu | Manjula | Sun TV |
| 1996 | Air Bus | Rajasri Tamil | |
| Vaai Sollil Veeranadi | |||
| Pournami | |||
| Jannal Veettin Kankal | |||
| Sevvai Kizhamai | |||
| Oru Koodai Pasam | |||
| Vilakku Vekkum Neram (Malayalam) | DD Malayalam | ||
| Aa Amma (Malayalam) | Kairali TV | ||
| 1998 | Jannal-Sila Nijangal Sila Nyayangal | Sun TV | |
| 1996-1998 | Kadhal Pagadai | Girija | |
| 1998-2000 | Ganga Yamuna Saraswati | Raj TV | |
| 1999 | Kasalavu Nesam | Sun TV | |
| 2003-2004 | Sahana Sindhu Bairavi Part-II | Meera | Jaya TV |
| 2008 | Ganga Yamuna Saraswathy Sangamam | SUN TV | |
| 2008-2009 | Sivasakthi | Sivagami | SUN TV |
| 2011-2012 | Parinayam (Malayalam) | Second mother of heroine | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2012-2014 | Amudha Oru Aacharyakuri | Amutha (female lead role) | Kalaignar TV |
| 2013–2013 | Naduvula Konjam Thukkatha Kaanum | (Female lead role) | Singapore Tamil drama broadcast on MediaCorp Vasantham |
| 2014–2015 | Nenjathai Killadhe | Zee Tamil |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Paper Rocket | Valliamma | ZEE5 |
Plays
- Thanneer Thanneer
- Naliravil Petrom
- Irutile Thedatheenga
References
- "Renuka Chouhan". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- "My First Break". The Hindu. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009.
- Features, C. E. (24 July 2025). "Kamal Haasan says Maareesan left him "laughing and thinking", calls it "inventive and spirited"". Cinema Express. Retrieved 6 August 2025.