Sasha Selvaraj, better known by her stage name Ranjini, is a Singaporean actress known for her roles in Indian cinema, specifically Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. Ranjini made her debut in the 1985 Tamil film Muthal Mariyathai directed by Bharathiraja.[1] In 1987, she acted in Lenin Rajendran's Swathi Thirunal, a biopic on the Travancore ruler of the same name. Her third Malayalam film Chithram (1988), written and directed by Priyadarshan, went on to become a huge box office success which is still holding the records for numerous feats in the Malayalam movie industry.[2] Koothara, directed by Srinath Rajendran, marked her comeback to acting after a hiatus of two decades.
Ranjini | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sasha Selvaraj |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1985–1992 2014–present |
| Spouse | Pierre Kombara |
Career
editRanjini was born in Singapore as Sasha to Selvaraj and Lilly, belonging to fourth generation residents of Singapore, with roots from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.[3] She was introduced to films by famous director Bharathiraja, a friend of her father. Bharathiraja gave her the screen name of "Ranjini" for his 1985 film Muthal Mariyathai. Ranjini, whose family was in Singapore then had flown down to Chennai taking a break from studies with the hope that the shooting would get over within two weeks.[4]
Her first Malayalam film was Swathi Thirunal in 1987, a National Film Awards feature directed by Lenin Rajendran. The film was a critical success and she won The Cinema Express Award for Best Actress. She went on to act in Malayalam films like Chithram, Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) and Kottayam Kunjachan (1990). Ranjini quit acting in films at the peak of her career to move to London, where she continued her studies.[5] Her last film was Customs Diary (1993), directed by TS Suresh Babu.
Ranjini was in the committee of "Nirbhaya-Kochi", an initiative of district administration under Ernakulam District Collector, M. G. Rajamanickam IAS (The Welfare for Women & Children Safety) in 2014. She was also in the founding committee of "Stree", a project for Women and Health under Maradu municipality in 2016. She regularly appears as a panelist on TV debates for various social topics on National, Malayalam and Tamil channels. In 2018, she was one of 12 elite panelists invited by The National Commission for Women to a discussion on sexual harassment in the workplace and she head of Hema Committee report.
Ranjini is known for her voice against the Supreme Court verdict on women-entry at Sabarimala. She was also instrumental in stopping TV counselling shows i.e. Nijangal & Solvathellam Unmai.
In 2023, she made her debut in television series through Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakantham airing on Asianet.[6]
Ranjini moves High Court of Kerala against the order to release Hema Committee report stating that there is an infringement of hers and others who appeared before the committee of their confidentiality and privacy and they have the legal right to see this report and asking to give their consent for the publication.[7][8]
Personal life
editShe married Malayali businessman Pierre Kombara.[4] In London, she also did a degree in credit management and later acquired a law degree. She also worked for the BBC for a short time.[4] She is a graduate lawyer and is currently working as a joint director in an overseas education institution in Kochi, Kerala.
Ranjini is also an avid wildlife and environmental activist.
Filmography
editTamil films
edit| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Mudhal Mariyathai | Sevuli | Tamil debut |
| 1986 | Avalai Cholli Kutramillai | ||
| Kadalora Kavithaigal | Gangamma | ||
| Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum | Saras | ||
| Paru Paru Pattanam Paru | |||
| Needhana Andha Kuyil | |||
| Nalellam Pournami | |||
| Mannukkul Vairam | Chittu | ||
| 1987 | Kudumbam Oru Koyil | ||
| Aayusu Nooru | |||
| Paasam Oru Vesham | |||
| Muthukkal Moondru | |||
| Parisam Pottachu | |||
| Arul Tharum Ayyappan | |||
| Velicham | |||
| 1988 | Thaimel Aanai | Meena | |
| Urimai Geetham | Ganga | ||
| 1989 | Puthu Mappillai | ||
| Poruthadhu Podhum | Rosy | ||
| Neruppu Nila | |||
| Sariyana Jodi | |||
| Dilli Babu | |||
| Sakalakala Sammandhi | Jhansi | ||
| Ellame En Thangachi | |||
| Samsarame Saranam | |||
| 1990 | Kalyana Rasi | ||
| 1991 | Sir...I Love You | Lalitha | |
| 1991 | En Mamanukku Nalla Manasu |
Malayalam films
edit| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Swathi Thirunal | Sugandhavalli | Her debut film in Malayalam |
| 1988 | Chithram | Kalyani | |
| Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu | Sumitra | ||
| Adholokam | |||
| 1989 | Varnam | Ammu | |
| News | Megha | ||
| Kaalal Pada | Maya Menon | ||
| 1990 | Kauthuka Varthakal | Rose Mary | |
| Rajavazhcha | Mini | ||
| Anantha Vruthantham | Lateesha | ||
| Prosecution | Jyothi | ||
| Orukkam | Radha | ||
| Mukham | Usha | ||
| Nanma Niranjavan Srinivasan | Mary | ||
| Pavakkooth | Krishna | ||
| Thooval Sparsam | Sujatha | ||
| Khandakavyam | |||
| Kashandikku Marumarunnu | |||
| Vacation | |||
| Sandram | Police Officer's wife | ||
| Sunday 7 PM | Dilip's stepmother/Dilip's lover | ||
| Kottayam Kunjachan | Mollykkutty | ||
| Vembanad | Abused/Lead role | ||
| 1991 | Agni Nilavu | Rekha | |
| 1992 | Kingini | Nandhini | |
| 1993 | Customs Diary | Priya | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 (film) | Ranjini | Archive footage |
| 2014 | Ring Master | Elizabeth | Comeback film |
| 2014 | Koothara | Ram's mother | |
| 2016 | Pa Va | Lillykutty | |
| 2018 | Mohanlal | Herself | Photo only /Archive footage/Uncredited role |
| 2019 | Thankabhasmakuriyittu Thampuratti | Herself | Photo only /Archive footage/Uncredited role |
Telugu
edit| Year | Film | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Brahma Rudrulu | Jyothi |
| 1988 | August 15 Rathri | Sheela |
| 1989 | Police Report | Lakshmi |
| 1989 | Maa Inte Maharajalu | |
| 1989 | Paape Maa Pranam | Mary |
Kannada
edit| Year | Film | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Agni Kanye |
Television
editShows
edit| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Lunars Comedy Express | Judge | Asianet Plus | Malayalam |
| Comedy Stars Season 2 | Asianet | |||
| Gruhalakshmi | Jaihind TV | |||
| Patturumaal | Kairali TV | |||
| Veruthey Alla Bharya | Mazhavil Manorama | |||
| 2015 | Yuvatharam | Jaihind TV | ||
| 2017 | Malayali Veettamma | Flowers TV | ||
| 2018 | Makkal Mandram | Panelist | Thanthi TV | Tamil |
| 2019-2020 | Sharp Shoot | Debate Moderator | Jaihind TV | Malayalam |
| 2022 | Flowers Oru Kodi | Participant | Flowers TV | |
| 2022 | Red Carpet | Mentor | Amrita TV | |
| 2024 | Star Magic | Mentor | Flowers TV | |
| 2024 | News Hour'" | Panelist | Asianet News |
Soap Opera
edit| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-present | Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakantham | Arundhati Devi Amma | Asianet | Malayalam |
Beauty Pageants as Judge
edit- Miss India/Kerala 2010 (Miss World-Femina)
- Miss South India 2012 (Miss Asia-Manappuram)
- Mrs. Malayali 2019
References
edit- ^ "Interview with Ranjini". Vanitha (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ "People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Ranjini - Mangalam Varika". Mangalam. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "Will she? Won't she?". Deccan Chronicle. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini (Navamy Sudhish) 24 September 2013 [1]
- ^ "Ranjini makes Malayalam TV debut with 'Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakantham'". The Times of India. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "Women working in Malayalam cinema face sexual harassment, discrimination, lack of safety at workplace: Hema Committee report". The Indian Express. 19 August 2024.
- ^ "After division bench dismissal, HC's single bench rejects Ranjini's appeal to stay Hema Commission report's release". Onmanorama.