Janani (actress) explained

Janani
Birth Place:Kathivakkam, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India (present-day Chennai)
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:2009present

Janani (formerly known as Janani Iyer) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil and Malayalam movies.[1] She made noticed for her role in the Tamil feature film Avan Ivan (2011).[2] Her notable films including Thegidi (2014) and 7th Day (2014).[3] She is the 3rd runner up of the reality show Bigg Boss Tamil 2 which aired in 2018.

Early life

Janani Iyer was born in Kathivakkam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She did her schooling at DAV Gopalapuram and graduated with B.E. Computer Science and Engineering at Saveetha Engineering College, Chennai.[4] [5] After her undergraduate studies, she got seat in Wollongong University, Australia. She dropped her studies plan and became a part of the cast of Avan Ivan.[6] In 2014, she dropped Iyer from her name due to caste reasons.[7]

Career

After her studies, she ventured into modeling and appeared in over 150 regional television advertisements.[8] However, Janani stated that she had always dreamt of becoming an actress, considering acting to be her "passion in life". During her modelling career, she appeared in cameo roles as a model in Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru (2009) and as an assistant director to K. S. Ravikumar in Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010). She had earlier signed Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa to play the second lead actress, but her role was later shot featuring Samantha Ruth Prabhu.[9] In early 2010, following the recommendation of director A. L. Vijay, Janani went to audition for director Bala, who was looking for a Tamil-speaking newcomer for the lead female character for his film project, Avan Ivan (2011). Upon seeing her audition, Bala signed her for the role, saying he felt that she "fits into the role". The comedy-drama film featured Janani in the role of an innocent police constable opposite Vishal, and her performance won her positive reviews from critics.[2] Her next release was Paagan (2013), in which she was paired opposite Srikanth.[10] A critic from Sify wrote, "Janani Iyer looks beautiful and it is a relief to watch a Tamil girl speaking in her own voice."[11] She also made her debut in Malayalam cinema with 3 Dots though the film did not perform well commercially.[12]

In 2014, she appeared alongside Ashok Selvan in the crime thriller Thegidi, which won positive reviews and became a surprise success at the box office. A critic from IndiaGlitz.com noted "Janani Iyer is sweet and plays her part perfectly as Madhu the innocent girl".[13] [14] While waiting for better offers from the Tamil film industry, she prioritised working on Malayalam films and notably starred in films such as 3 Dots (2013) opposite Kunchacko Boban, 7th Day (2014) opposite Prithviraj which was a commercial success and Koothara (2014) alongside Mohanlal and Bharath. She also featured opposite actor Asif Ali in successive ventures, Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal (2014) and Ithu Thaanda Police (2016).[15] During the period, a further Malayalam film, Edison Photos opposite Nivin Pauly was cancelled.[16] [17]

Janani made a return to Tamil films in 2017 by featuring in the mystery film Adhe Kangal and the horror comedy Balloon. The following year, the long-delayed Vidhi Madhi Ultaa (2018) had a theatrical release, but went unnoticed at the box office. In 2018, she appeared on the Tamil television reality show Bigg Boss Tamil 2 hosted by Kamal Haasan, which is telecasted on Star Vijay.[18]

Filmography

style="background:#ffc;"
Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearTitleRole(s)Language(s)Notes
2009 Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru Commercial model Uncredited role
2010 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Uncredited role
2011 Avan Ivan Baby
2012 Paagan Mahalakshmi
2013 3 Dots Lakshmi [19]
2014 Thegidi Madhushree Tamil [20]
7th Day Jessy Malayalam
Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal Deena
Koothara Noora
2016 Ithu Thaanda Police Niya Menon [21]
Ma Chu Ka Nivedita Haran Malayalam
Tamil
[22]
2017 Adhe Kangal Sadhana Tamil
Mupparimanam Herself Cameo appearance
Balloon Shenbagavalli
2018 Vidhi Madhi Ultaa Divya Also singer for "Un Nerukkam (Shimmr Mix)" [23]
2019 Dharmaprabhu Vaishnavi Cameo Appearance [24]
2022Koorman Stella [25]
Vezham Preethi [26]
2023BagheeraRubha Reddy [27]
KarungaapiyamKajal
2024 Ippadiku Kadhal Ramya [28]
Hot Spot Anitha segment: "Thakkali Chutney"
ThollaikatchiFinished
Delayed
Yaakai Thiri Filming [29]
Munnarivaan Filming [30]

Television

YearName of Television ShowRoleNetwork
2024Super Singer Season 10GuestStar Vijay
2020Ananda Vikatan Cinema AwardsGuestSun TV
20198th South Indian International Movie AwardsCo-HostSun TV
2019Bigg Boss Tamil 3GuestStar Vijay
2018Bigg Boss Tamil 2[31] 3rd Runner UpStar Vijay

Web series

Notes and References

  1. News: Nikhil Raghavan . Etcetera: A steady climb up . The hindu . 13 July 2013 . 30 May 2014.
  2. News: I'm God's favourite child: Janani Iyer . 25 February 2011 . 1 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928111728/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-25/news-interviews/28633206_1_bala-sir-avan-ivan-janani-iyer . 28 September 2013 . . dead.
  3. Web site: An interview with Thegidi, Avan Ivan actress Janani Iyer . behindwoods.com . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715001523/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-actress/an-interview-with-thegidi-avan-ivan-actress-janani-iyer.html . 15 July 2018 . live.
  4. Web site: Bala's new Tamil heroine! . . 31 January 2010 . 2 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100203205152/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14929562 . 3 February 2010 . dead.
  5. Web site: Janani Iyer- Bala's new heroine . IndiaGlitz.com . 8 February 2010 . 13 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130715071922/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/54271.html . 15 July 2013 . live.
  6. News: Luck by chance . Malathi . Rangarajan . The Hindu . 19 May 2012 . 21 April 2019.
  7. Web site: Now, Janani Iyer changes her name . The Times of India.
  8. News: A dream start for Janani Iyer . 4 February 2010 . 1 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131228052627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-04/news-interviews/28141821_1_avan-ivan-bala-sir-debut . 28 December 2013 . . dead.
  9. Web site: Janani Iyer was to play Samantha's role in VTV . The Times of India . 21 April 2019.
  10. Web site: Srikanth – Janani Iyer in 'Paagan' . IndiaGlitz . 29 August 2011 . 29 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111113192848/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/70350.html . 13 November 2011 . live.
  11. Web site: Paagan Movie Review . 18 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140122233108/http://www.sify.com/movies/paagan-review-tamil-15007193.html . 22 January 2014 . dead.
  12. Web site: Janani's journey begins here . Deccan Chronicle . 28 November 2012 . 30 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112211441/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121128/entertainment-mollywood/article/janani%E2%80%99s-journey-begins-here . 12 November 2013.
  13. Web site: Thegidi Movie Review . 28 February 2014 . 7 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190234/http://www.indiaglitz.com/thegidi-review-tamil-movie-review-18353 . 24 September 2015 . live.
  14. Web site: Free Style: The Janani Iyer Interview . Vandhana . 27 January 2015 . silverscreen.in . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160406080439/http://silverscreen.in/features/free-style-the-janani-iyer-interview/ . 6 April 2016 . live.
  15. Web site: Prithviraj to play a middle-aged cop! . The Times of India . 13 December 2013 . 30 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213085958/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Prithviraj-to-play-a-middle-aged-cop/articleshow/27240742.cms . 13 December 2013 . live.
  16. Web site: Janani to play a Tulu Brahmin girl in Edison Photos . The Times of India . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704003529/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Janani-to-play-a-Tulu-Brahmin-girl-in-Edison-Photos/articleshow/32793617.cms . 4 July 2015 . live.
  17. Web site: I am in no hurry, says Janani Iyer . Sify . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180925065110/http://www.sify.com/movies/i-am-in-no-hurry-says-janani-iyer-news-malayalam-od1jXtcjfjasi.html . 25 September 2018 . dead.
  18. News: பிக்பாஸ் போட்டியாளரான பாலா பட கதாநாயகி! . Lee . Dharmik . 17 June 2018 . Vikatan . 17 June 2018 . ta . https://web.archive.org/web/20180617220123/https://www.vikatan.com/news/cinema/127956-janani-iyer-enters-big-boss-house-as-contestant.html . 17 June 2018 . live.
  19. Web site: Janani Iyer in 'Three Dots' . https://web.archive.org/web/20121030030903/http://www.sify.com/movies/janani-iyer-in-three-dots-news-malayalam-mk2tR9hgiid.html . dead . 30 October 2012 . Sify . 24 January 2013.
  20. Web site: Ashok Selvan and Janani Iyer starrer Thegidi has been wrapped up . Behindwoods.com . 12 November 2013 . 30 May 2014.
  21. Web site: Janani Iyer all set to romance Asif, again! . The Times of India . 29 June 2014 . 9 April 2015.
  22. Web site: Janani Iyer back with a bold role . 8 June 2017 . Deccan Chronicle.
  23. Web site: Rameez Raja, Janani Iyer team up for a dark comedy . The Times of India.
  24. Web site: Janani Iyer to play a cameo in Dharmaprabhu . Cinema Express.
  25. Web site: Koorman Movie Review: Koorman is an amateurish crime thriller . The Times of India . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220210160051/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/koorman/movie-review/89483880.cms . 10 February 2022.
  26. News: Bigg Boss Janani Iyer to romance Ashok Selvan again . Ist . India Today . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190201132749/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/bigg-boss-janani-iyer-to-romance-ashok-selvan-again-1438199-2019-01-24 . 1 February 2019 . live.
  27. Web site: I play a modern girl from Hyderabad in Bagheera: Janani . The Times of India.
  28. Web site: Ippadiku Kadhal trailer - Bharath torn between two love interests in this romance drama | Watch here. OTTPlay.
  29. Web site: Bharath, Janani Iyer rom-com titled Yaakai Thiri . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104010104/https://www.dtnext.in/News/Cinema/2021/01/04004939/1269623/Bharath-Janani-Iyer-romcom-titled-Yaakai-Thiri.vpf . dead . 4 January 2021 . 4 January 2021 . dtNext.in.
  30. Web site: Bharath signs a psychological thriller movie next! - Tamil News . 25 February 2021 . IndiaGlitz.com.
  31. Web site: Bigg Boss Tamil 2 Written update, June 19th, 2018 : Janani Iyer finishes the luxury budget task successfully . The Times of India.
  32. Web site: 22 August 2023. ‘MY3’: First look of Hansika, Shanthnu, Mugen’s web series out . www.thehindu.com. en.