| Menaka | |
| Birth Name: | Padmavathi Iyengar |
| Birth Place: | Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, India |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Years Active: | 1980–1987 2005–present |
| Children: | 2 (incl. Keerthy Suresh) |
Padmavathy Iyengar, better known by her stage name, Menaka, is an Indian actress and film producer.[1] She made her debut in the 1979 Tamil film Ramayi Vayasukku Vanthutta. In an acting career spanning from 1980 to 1987, Menaka appeared in over 125 films as a heroine, mostly in Malayalam. She also appeared in few Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. She married Malayalam film producer G. Suresh Kumar.[2] After 19 years, she made a comeback through the television serial Kaliveedu.[3] At 8th SIIMA, she received SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award.[4]
Menaka, whose real name is Padmavathy, was born into a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, India.[5] She was the only daughter among the four children of Rajagopal and Saroja. Both her parents were school teachers. Her mother Saroja taught at the Lourdes Girls' Higher Secondary School in Perambur, Madras.[6] [7]
Menaka had become one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema when she decided to retire from acting post-marriage.[6] After 24 years, she made a comeback as a film actress in 2011 with Fazil-directed Living Together, in a character role.[8]
Menaka married film producer G. Suresh Kumar at Guruvayur Temple on 27 October 1987. They have two daughters — Revathy and Keerthy Suresh.[5] Initially they settled in Chennai and later moved to Thiruvananthapuram. Keerthy is a film actress and Revathy is an assistant director.[9] [10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Bhramam | Uday's yesteryear co-star | ||
| 2021 | Herself | Documentary | ||
| 2017 | Ima | Raadhu | Short film | |
| 2015 | Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum | Shobha | ||
| 2013 | Abhiyum Njanum | Devika | ||
| 2013 | Kutteem Kolum | Subadra | ||
| 2013 | Pakaram | Parvathi | ||
| 2012 | Orkut Oru Ormakoot | Veni | ||
| 2012 | Vaadhyar | Subhadra | ||
| 2011 | Living Together | Valsala | ||
| 1994 | Chanakya Soothrangal | Leela | ||
| 1987 | Kottum Kuravayum | |||
| 1987 | Kilippattu | |||
| 1987 | Neeyethra Dhanya | Shobha | ||
| 1987 | Onnaam Maanam Poomaanam | Rema | ||
| 1986 | Amme Bhagavathi | Parvathy | ||
| 1987 | Kottum Kuravayum | Vimala | ||
| 1987 | Poovittu Poovittu (Thammil Kandappol) | |||
| 1986 | Varshangal Poyathariyathe | Lakshmi | ||
| 1986 | Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam | Sujatha | ||
| 1986 | Snehamulla Simham | Vilasini | ||
| 1986 | Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi | Kaveri | ||
| 1986 | Naale Njangalude Vivahum | Indu | ||
| 1986 | Ponnum Kudthinu Pottu | Sethubhai | ||
| 1986 | Revathikkoru Pavakkutty | Indu | ||
| 1986 | Yuvajanotsavam | Nirmala | ||
| 1986 | Aalorungi Arangorungi | Marykutty | ||
| 1986 | Viswasichalum Illenkilum | - | ||
| 1986 | Oppam Oppathinoppam | Rajamma | ||
| 1986 | Bharya Oru Manthri | Jayadevi | ||
| 1986 | Malarum Kiliyum | Maya | ||
| 1986 | Bhagavaan | |||
| 1986 | Hello My Dear Wrong Number | Shobha | ||
| 1986 | Kulambadikal | Susan | ||
| 1985 | Akkare Ninnoru Maran | Nandini | ||
| 1985 | Boeing Boeing | Sreekutty | ||
| 1985 | Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya | Shalini | ||
| 1985 | Mounanombaram | Indu | ||
| 1985 | Vellam | Ambika | ||
| 1985 | Mukhyamantri | Anu | ||
| 1985 | Ormikkan Omanikkan | - | ||
| 1985 | Sammelanam | Shalini | ||
| 1985 | Oru Nokku Kanan | Sandhya | ||
| 1985 | Archana Aaradhana | Aradhana | ||
| 1985 | Edanilangal | Bhanu | ||
| 1985 | Anakkorumma | Devi | ||
| 1985 | Soundarya Pinakkam | Malini | ||
| 1985 | Principal Olivil | Malathi | ||
| 1985 | Ambada Njaane! | Devayani | ||
| 1985 | Ee Thalamura Ingane | - | ||
| 1985 | Ozhivukalam | |||
| 1985 | Oro Poovilum | |||
| 1985 | Kandu Kandarinju | Ammini | ||
| 1984 | Muthodumuthu | Achimol (Aswathy) | ||
| 1984 | Engane Undasane | Sunanda | ||
| 1984 | Mainakam | Jaya | ||
| 1984 | Manase Ninakku Mangalam | Sobha | ||
| 1984 | Piriyilla Naam | Sherly | ||
| 1984 | Poochakkoru Mookkuthi | Revathi | ||
| 1984 | Appunni | Ammu | ||
| 1984 | Swanthamevide Bandhamevide | Indulekha | ||
| 1984 | Thirakil Alppam Samayam | Saphiya | ||
| 1984 | Ethirppukal | Lakshmi | ||
| 1984 | Amme Narayana | |||
| 1984 | Sooryane Mohicha Penkutty | |||
| 1984 | Oru Thettinte Katha | - | ||
| 1984 | Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram | Prameela | ||
| 1984 | Velichamillatha Veedhi | Lekha | ||
| 1984 | Onnum Mindatha Bharya | Asha Thampi | ||
| 1984 | Aagraham | - | ||
| 1984 | Krishna Guruvayoorappa | Unni's wife | ||
| 1984 | Paavam Poornima | Poornima | ||
| 1984 | Vepralam | Beena | ||
| 1984 | Aayiram Abhilashangal | - | ||
| 1984 | Odaruthammava Aalariyam | Shobha Govind | ||
| 1984 | Karimbu | Princy | ||
| 1984 | Vellam | Ambika | ||
| 1984 | Koottinilamkili | Radhika | ||
| 1984 | Adiyozhukkukal | Madhavi | ||
| 1984 | Thirakal | Rekha | ||
| 1983 | Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla | Herself | ||
| 1983 | Rathilayam | Makutty | ||
| 1983 | Engane Nee Marakkum | Sobha | ||
| 1983 | Pourusham | Janu | ||
| 1983 | Justice Raja | Thulasi | ||
| 1983 | Thalam Thettiya Tharattu | Sindhu | ||
| 1983 | Thavalam | Ramani | ||
| 1983 | Arabikadal | – | ||
| 1983 | Astapahi | Radha | ||
| 1983 | Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare | Thulasi | ||
| 1983 | Shesham Kazhchayil | Lathika | ||
| 1983 | Eettillam | Abitha | ||
| 1983 | Rugma | Elizabeth | ||
| 1983 | Kolakomban | Dr.Leela | ||
| 1983 | Kathi | - | ||
| 1983 | Oru Mottu Virinjappol | - | ||
| 1983 | Arunayude Prabhatham | |||
| 1982 | Ponnum Poovum | Subhadra | ||
| 1982 | Ente Mohangal Poovaninju | Sridevi | ||
| 1982 | Drohi | - | ||
| 1982 | Kanmanikkorumma/Ushnabhoomi | Usha | ||
| 1982 | Kaalam | Jaya | ||
| 1982 | Rakthasakshi | Geetha | ||
| 1982 | Aayudham | Usha | ||
| 1982 | Adarsham | Malathy | ||
| 1981 | Veshangal | - | ||
| 1981 | Kolangal | Kunjamma | ||
| 1981 | Ahimsa | Safiya | ||
| 1981 | Munnettam | Indu | ||
| 1981 | Guha | Suvarna | ||
| 1981 | Visham | Shobha | ||
| 1981 | Veliyettam | Jaanu | ||
| 1981 | Oppol | Malu |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ramayi Vayasukku Vanthutta | Ramayi | Debut movie | |
| 1980 | Savithri | Savithri | ||
| 1980 | Oli Pirandhathu | Kalyani | ||
| 1981 | Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum | Gayathri | ||
| 1981 | Kaalam | Jaya | ||
| 1981 | Netri Kann | Menaka | ||
| 1981 | Mayil | - | ||
| 1982 | Om Shakti | Kanniamma / Amman | ||
| 1982 | Thooku Medai | Bhavani | ||
| 1982 | Nijangal | Menaka | ||
| 1982 | Iniyavale Vaa | Shakunthala | ||
| 1982 | Nirantharam | Rani | ||
| 1982 | Nalanthana | Raji | ||
| 1982 | Panchavarnam | |||
| 1983 | Neethibathi | Geetha | ||
| 1983 | Urangatha Ninaivugal | Menaka | ||
| 1985 | Maappillai Singam | Gouri | ||
| 1985 | Engirunthalum Vazhga | |||
| 1985 | Kadivalam | Revathi | ||
| 1986 | Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren | Shakunthala | ||
| 2012 | Mattuthavani |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Punnami Naagu | Poornima | |
| 1982 | Subbarao ki kopam vacchindhi | ||
| 1988 | Indra Dhanussu | ||
| Year | Title | Director | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Vaashi | Vishnu G. Raghav | ||
| 2009 | Seetha Kalyanam | T. K. Rajeev Kumar | starring Jayaram, Jyothika, Indrajith Sukumaran and Geethu Mohandas.[11] [12] | |
| 2002 | Kuberan | |||
| 2002 | Shivam | Shaji Kailas | ||
| 2001 | Achaneyanenikkishtam | Suresh Krishna | Guest appearance by Mohanlal | |
| 2000 | Pilots | Rajiv Anchal | ||
| 2000 | Cover Story | G. S. Vijayan | ||
| 1997 | Aaram Thamburan | Shaji Kailas | ||
| 1995 | Thakshashila | Sreekuttan | ||
| 1994 | Kashmeeram | |||
| 1993 | Butterflies | Rajiv Anchal | ||
| 1992 | Australia | Unreleased film | ||
| 1991 | Vishnulokam |
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Scooter | DD Malayalam | ||||
| 2005 | Kaliveedu | Surya TV | ||||
| 2006 | Ammathottil | |||||
| 2007 | Chitrasalabham | |||||
| 2007-2008 | Ammakkayi | |||||
| 2009 | Monoottante Onam | Telefilm | ||||
| 2013 | Rajakumari | Durga Sivalingam | Sun TV | Tamil serial | ||
| 2016 | Sundari | Sethu Lakshmi | Mazhavil Manorama |
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samagamam | Herself | |||
| 2010 | Thillana Thillana | Judge | ||
| 2011 | Vivel Big break | |||
| 2011 | Hairomax Mrs.Kerala | |||
| 2012 | Lunars Comedy Express | Asianet Plus | ||
| 2013 | Veruthe Alla Bharya 2 | Mazhavil Manorama | ||
| 2013 | Travel to Kanchipuram | Manorama News | Host | |
| 2013 | Varthaprabhatham | Asianet News | Herself | |
| 2013 | Jeevitham Ithuvare | Jaihind TV | Herself | |
| 2013 | Manassiloru Mazhavillu | Kairali TV | Herself | |
| 2014 | JB Junction | Kairali TV | Herself | |
| 2017 | Komady Circus | Mazhavil Manorama | Jury | |
| 2017 | Onnum Onnum Moonu | Mazhavil Manorama | Herself | |
| 2018-2020 | Comedy stars season 2 | Asianet | Judge | |
| 2018 | Comedy stars Plus | Asianet Plus | ||
| 2021 | Red Carpet | Amrita TV | Mentor | |
| 2022 | MY G Flowers Oru Kodi | Flowers TV | Participant | |