Jalaja Biography
Jalaja is a former heroine of Malayalam associated with parallel cinema in the 1980s. This extra talented actress is known for her brilliant and powerful performances and she bagged state award for best actress in the year 1981. She received both Kerala State Film Award and Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in Venal directed by Lenin Rajendran. Known for simple next door looks, she was regularly paired with silent hero of Malayalam cinema –Venu Nagavalli. Silence and sorrow shaded in most of her roles and she made audience cry with hundreds of roles she played onscreen.
Alicinte Anveshanam is another milestone movie of her career. Chakara, Shalini Ente Koottukari, Chillu, Yagam, Oru Muthassi Katha, Aparan, Elippathayam, Padayottam, Karyam Nisaram, Munnettam, Aarohanam, Vedikettu, Yavanika and Vilkkanundu Swapnangal are some of her memorable performances. Though she was one of the most wanted heroines in the 1980s, she settled with family life post her marriage in the early 1990s.
She was born in Malaysia to Indian parents in 1961. Her father worked as an English professor. She migrated to India with her family to India following a civil war. Her education was completed at Chennai and Alapuzha. Cinema was never in her dreams and she thought to choose teaching as her career. While studying at college for pre-degree, she acted with Nedumudi Venu for a play. Many of noted artists of today like Fazil were associated with that play.
When director Aravindan was in search of a new heroine, she asked Nedumudi Venu if she will suit for the role. She met the director with her photographs and she was chosen for the role. The movie was Thampu released in 1978. The movie bagged many awards including National Film Award for Best Direction. When whole film industry was busy in presenting glamorous heroines, she landed as a village girl and later on, she became one of the most appreciated actresses on Malayalam screen in the 1980s. She got married to Prakash nair in 1993 and settled abroad. Most recently she made a comeback with Mammootty starrer – Balakala sakhi.
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Updated: July 08, 2014