| Tara | |
| Birth Name: | Anuradha |
| Birth Date: | 4 March 1973 |
| Birth Place: | Bangalore, Mysore State, India |
| Office: | Member (nominated) of Karnataka Legislative Council |
| Term Start: | 10 August 2012 |
| Term End: | 2018 |
| Office2: | President of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy |
| Term Start2: | 15 March 2012 |
| Term End2: | June 2013 |
| Office3: | President of The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child RightsBe |
| Term Start3: | January 2020 |
| Occupation: | Actress, politician |
| Party: | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Children: | 1 |
Anuradha (born 4 March 1971), known by her stage name Tara, is an Indian politician and actress active in the Kannada cinema. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2009 and is currently a nominated member of the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Tara made her debut in film in 1984 with the Tamil film Ingeyum Oru Gangai. Her Kannada film debut came in 1986 with Thulasidala and has since portrayed many author-backed roles. Her notable performances came in films such as Krama (1991), Munjaneya Manju (1993), Kanooru Heggadithi (1999), Munnudi (2000), Mathadana (2001), Hasina (2005), Cyanide (2006) and Ee Bandhana (2007), Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014). Her performance in Hasina won her the National Film Award for Best Actress.[1] She has also won numerous Filmfare and State awards for her performance.
After joining BJP, she was elected as the president of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy in 2012 and held the position for a year.[2] In the same year, she was nominated as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, the upper house of the legislature of Karnataka.[3]
Tara made her first appearance on screen for a Tamil film Ingeyum Oru Gangai directed by noted actor, Manivannan, in 1984 which also featured Murali in the lead. Followed by this, she featured in her first Kannada film Thulasidala in 1985. However, she got the big break of her career through a Rajkumar starrer Guri in 1986 and thereafter she has acted in several movies as a leading lady and mainly as supporting actress.
Tara worked with almost all of the leading male co-stars in the 1980s and 1990s including Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Ananth Nag, Ravichandran, Shashikumar, Tiger Prabhakar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Murali, Karthik, Sunil and Devaraj.
Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition. She received her first ever award as best actress for the Kannada movie Krama (1991), directed by debutant director Asrar Abid. In the late 1980s, she appeared in Mani Ratnam's blockbuster Tamil films, Nayakan and Agni Natchathiram, as a supporting actress. Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition for which she also received her second "best actress" state award. She received the "best supporting actress" award for Munjaneya Manju. She received wide critical acclaim for the female centric film Munnudi which received multiple National Film Awards, including the Best Film on Other Social Issues.[4] [5]
In 2005, she was cast by Girish Kasaravalli in Hasina, for which she won the National Award. Subsequently, her role in the Kannada movie Deadly Soma was appreciated. Then came another breakthrough performance in Cyanide. In 2007, Tara received her third Best Actress award.[6]
Beside acting, she produced Hasina, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, and she has also announced an intention to direct films as well.[7]
Tara married the cinematographer H. C. Venugopal in 2005. They have a son (b. 2013).[8]
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Ingeyum Oru Gangai | Maruthayi | Tamil | |
| January 1 | Tamil | |||
| 1985 | Thulasidala | Kannada | ||
| Bullet | Telugu | |||
| Brahmastra | Mala | Kannada | ||
| 1986 | Anand | |||
| Guri | ||||
| Maneye Manthralaya | ||||
| Samsarada Guttu | ||||
| Sundara Swapnagalu | ||||
| Ella Hengasarinda | ||||
| Satkaara | ||||
| 1987 | Nayakan | Shakila | Tamil | |
| Sankeertana | Telugu | |||
| Ravana Rajya | Kannada | |||
| Thulasi | Ponni | Tamil | ||
| Shubha Milana | Kannada | |||
| 1988 | Agni Natchathiram | Mallika | Tamil | |
| Ranaranga | Bhavana | Kannada | ||
| Sangliyana | Forest officer's wife | |||
| Mutthaide | ||||
| Avale Nanna Hendthi | Gayathri | |||
| Pelli Chesi Choodu | Seeta | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Hendthighelbedi | Srinivas's wife | Kannada | |
| Sarvabhoumudu | Usha | Telugu | ||
| Bidisada Bandha | Aruna | Kannada | ||
| En Swamy Aliyandre | ||||
| Deva | Sujatha | |||
| Anthintha Gandu Nanalla | Kamala | |||
| Doctor Krishna | Chanchala | |||
| Poli Huduga | ||||
| C.B.I. Shankar | Herself | Guest appearance | ||
| 1990 | Nigooda Rahasya | |||
| Maheshwara | ||||
| Policena Hendthi | ||||
| Raja Kempu Roja | ||||
| Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar | Muthappa's wife | Tamil | ||
| Kaliyuga Abhimanyudu | Padma | Telugu | ||
| Neti Siddhartha | Rekha | Telugu | ||
| Maa Inti Katha | Telugu | Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| 1991 | C. B. I. Shiva | Ranjini | Kannada | |
| Krama | Kannada | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress | ||
| Brahmarshi Viswamitra | Sakunthala's friend | Telugu | ||
| Aranyadalli Abhimanyu | Kannada | |||
| Ibbaru Hendira Muddina Police | ||||
| Karnana Sampathu | ||||
| Golmaal Part 2 | Meera | |||
| 1992 | Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda | Rukmini | ||
| Halli Meshtru | Teacher's first wife | Cameo | ||
| Belli Kalungura | Tunga | |||
| Nagaradalli Nayakaru | ||||
| Vajrayudha | ||||
| Malashree Mamashree | ||||
| Prema Sangama | ||||
| 1993 | Munjaneya Manju | Hema | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| Karimaleya Kaggathalu | ||||
| Muddina Maava | ||||
| Bhagavan Sri Saibaba | Lakshmi | |||
| 1994 | Prana Snehitha | |||
| Sammilana | ||||
| Gandhada Gudi Part 2 | Marappa's wife | |||
| 1995 | Operation Antha | |||
| Thumbida Mane | Geetha | |||
| Mana Midiyithu | ||||
| Mister Abhishek | Revathi | |||
| 1996 | Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata | |||
| Sipayi | ||||
| Dhani | ||||
| Aadithya | Inspector | |||
| Jeevanadhi | ||||
| 1997 | Amrutha Varshini | Vimala | ||
| Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda | ||||
| 1998 | Yaare Neenu Cheluve | Mary | ||
| 1999 | Kanooru Heggadithi | Subbamma | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada Suprabhata Award for Best Actress | |
| Premotsava | Shanti | |||
| 2000 | Galate Aliyandru | |||
| Devara Maga | Sundari | |||
| Munnudi | Rukhiya | |||
| Swalpa Adjust Madkolli | ||||
| 2001 | Diggajaru | Gowri | ||
| Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu | An actress | |||
| 2002 | Mathadana | Lakshmi | ||
| Ninagagi | Rukkamma | |||
| Karmugilu | Gowri | |||
| 2003 | Paris Pranaya | Seetha | ||
| Ondagona Baa | ||||
| 2004 | Nalla | Dr Sarala Desai | ||
| Aagodella Olledakke | ||||
| Jyeshta | ||||
| 2005 | Deadly Soma | |||
| Karnana Sampathu | ||||
| Siddhu | ||||
| Namma Basava | ||||
| Hasina | Hasina | National Film Award for Best Actress | ||
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar | ||||
| Pandu Ranga Vittala | Sarala | |||
| 2006 | Mata | Chandra's lover | ||
| Cyanide | Mridula | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress | ||
| Pandavaru | ||||
| Care of Footpath | Saraswati | |||
| 2007 | Shri Kshetra Kaivara Thathaiah | Suvarna Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige | ||||
| Ee Bandhana | Sukanya | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada | ||
| 2008 | Aramane | Savitri | ||
| Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu | Tamil | |||
| Jnanajyothi Sri Siddaganga | Kannada | |||
| Ganga Kaveri | Ganga's mother | |||
| 2009 | Birugaali | |||
| 2010 | Modalasala | Paaru | ||
| School Master | ||||
| Eradane Maduve | ||||
| 2011 | Mathond Madhuvena | |||
| Kirataka | Nandisha's mother | |||
| Jolly Boy | Lakshmi | |||
| Panchamrutha | Shanthi | segment: "Ondu Kanasu: a dream" | ||
| 2012 | Bhageerathi | Udaya Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| Maattrraan | Sudha | Tamil | ||
| Samsaaradalli Golmaal | Kannada | |||
| Kempe Gowda | Kavya's mother | |||
| 2013 | Galaate | |||
| Shravani Subramanya | Anuradha | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada | ||
| 2014 | Ulidavaru Kandanthe | Ratna | ||
| 2015 | Octopus | |||
| 2016 | CBI Sathya | |||
| Madamakki | Ratna | |||
| Golisoda | ||||
| 2017 | Sathriyan | Niranjana's mother | Tamil | |
| Bharjari | Nimmi | Kannada | ||
| 2018 | Hebbet Ramakka | Ramakka | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Nominated—Filmibeat Award for Best Actress – Kannada | |
| Atharva | ||||
| 2019 | Sinnga | Janakamma | ||
| Aadi Lakshmi Puraana | Shanthamma | |||
| Ellidde Illi Tanaka | Lakshmi | |||
| Bharaate | Jagan's mother | |||
| 2020 | Shivarjuna | Shiva's mother | ||
| 2021 | Tom And Jerry | |||
| Mugilpete | Raja's mother | |||
| Badava Rascal | Shankar's mother | |||
| 2023 | Tagaru Palya | Shantha | ||
| Bad Manners | Lakshmamma | |||
| 2024 | Kotee | TBA | ||
| TBA | Vaamana |
| Year | Serial | Channel | Role | Language | Notes | ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Mikhaelinte Santhathikal | Asianet TV | Malayalam | ||||
| 2002 | Parva | Kannada | [9] | ||||
| 2021 | Raja Rani | Colors Kannada | Judge | Kannada | |||
| 2021-2022 | Nannamma Super Star | Colors Kannada | Judge | Kannada |