Vedhika
Vedhika | |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2010-present |
Vedhika is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Malayalam, Telugu,Tamil and kannada films. Vedhika has a degree in Business Administration and completed her masters in Marketing from "Cardiff University" in U.K. She made her breakthrough portraying Angamma in Bala's period film Paradesi (2013), winning critical acclaim and award nominations for her portrayal.
Career
Vedhika enlisted in Kishore Namith Kapoor School to learn acting and dancing skills for a career in films.[1] During her time she was involved in modelling assignments and did a notable advert for biscuits alongside prominent actor Suriya. She was subsequently approached by Arjun to essay the lead role in his production Madrasi and Vedhika accepted the role.[2] She went on to feature in Raghava Lawrence's comedy horror Muni and the film went to become a good grosser commercially.[3] Her maiden Telugu venture was in Vijayadasami, a remake of the Tamil film Sivakasi, where she was paired opposite Kalyanram.
Her next one was the Silambarasan starrer Kaalai, the film became notable for the dance number, "Kutti Pisase" with Vedhika's dancing being critically appreciated. She went on to appear in a second successive film Sakkarakatti. The long-delayed film featured Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj making his debut in the lead role and A. R. Rahman providing the soundtrack, however Vedhika's role was described as one of the sole positives from the project.[4][5] Later that year, she starred in a Kannada film, Sangama opposite Ganesh, and the film fetched her good reviews for her performance.[6] Later she appeared as the radio jockey Anjali in A. Venkatesh's Malai Malai with the film consequently going on to become a success commercially.[7] The film had good scope for Vedhika and reviews cited her role as "pure eye candy" whilst claiming she was "apt" for the role.[8][9] She made a comeback to Telugu films in the same year, with a role in the critically acclaimed Baanam.[10] Her role won her plaudits, whilst her on screen presence with Nara Rohit was praised with a critic citing she gives "good company as the naïve girl" and it is "refreshing to see them together". After the release of Baanam, Vedhika went on a sabbatical and did not sign any other films until, despite making an appearance in a notable advert with Karthi for mobile company Airtel. She signed and next featured in the Telugu film Daggaraga Dooranga opposite Sumanth, which opened to average reviews.[11]
2013-present: Breakthrough and success
The actress was signed up by director Bala for Paradesi (2013), an adaptation of the 1969 tragic novel Red Tea, set in the 1930s. She had been recommended by actress Sangeetha, signing the film in December 2011 and did not accept to appear in any other project till the release, sporting a significantly de-glamourised appearance and portraying a village character for the first time.[12] The film, which also starred Adharvaa and Dhansika opened to unanimously positive reviews in March 2013 and performed well at the box office. Critics raved about her performance as Angamma, with the critic from The Times of India noting that "after doing roles that only required her to look pretty, Vedhika gets a chance to show off her acting skills" with Indiaglitz.com citing that she "produced a memorable performance".[13][14] The critic from Rediff.com noted that "Vedhika plays the role of a young village belle to perfection," while Sify.com labelled that she delivered a "spellbinding performance".[15][16] Her second release in 2013, the Malayalam film Sringaravelan, became one of the industry's biggest commercial successes of the year.[17]
She then worked on Vasanthabalan's historical fiction film Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014), which was set in the backdrop of Madras theatre scene of the 1920s, and featured her alongside Siddharth and Prithviraj.[18][19] Portraying a character inspired by stage artist K. B. Sundarambal, Vedhika noted it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" and signed the film straight after being offered it.[20] She prepared for her role by watching early Tamil films and drama videos, but all the actors were asked to "add their personal touch to their respective characters to make everything look authentic". Moreover her part of her role, she also perfected her classical dancing skills and worked with choreographer Raghuram for an extended dance sequence in the film.[21] The film opened in November 2014 to positive reviews, with Vedhika's performance being unanimously lauded by film critics. A reviewer from Sify.com noted "it is so good to see Vedhicka in a role where she not only looks beautiful but delivers a brilliant performance as Vadivambal," while Behindwoods added it is a "role of substance and the big eyed actress has utilized her opportunity completely".[22][23] She has been nominated and also won several awards in the Best Actress Category for her roles in films like Paradesi, James and Alice, Kaaviyathalaivan and Shivalinga. Shivalinga was opposite Karnataka superstar Shivarajkumar, directed by ace director P Vasu and the film went on to complete 100 days in Karnataka. Vedhika was praised for her role of a possessed woman and she described it as the most challenging role of her career.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Madrasi | Anjali | Tamil | Debut |
| 2007 | Muni | Priya | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Vijayadasami | Devi | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Kaalai | Brintha | Tamil | |
| Sakkarakatti | Reema | Tamil | ||
| Sangama | Lakshmi | Kannada | ||
| 2009 | Malai Malai | Anjali | Tamil | |
| Baanam | Subbalakshmi | Telugu | ||
| 2011 | Daggaraga Dooramga | Meenakshi | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Paradesi | Angamma | Tamil | [24] |
| Sringaravelan | Radha | Malayalam | ||
| 2014 | Kaaviya Thalaivan | Ganakokilam Vadivambal | Tamil | |
| Cousins | Arathi | Malayalam | ||
| 2016 | Shivalinga | Satyabhaama alias Satya | Kannada | |
| James & Alice | Alice | Malayalam | ||
| Welcome to Central Jail | Radhika | Malayalam | ||
| 2017 | Tharangam | Pooja | Malayalam | Cameo |
| Gowdru Hotel | Kannada | |||
| 2018 | Kanchana 3 | Priya | Tamil | Post Production |
| Vinodhan | TBA | Tamil | Post Production | |
| 2019 | Trance | Isha | Malayalam | Filming |
| Home Minister | TBA | Kannada | Filming | |
| The Body | TBA | Hindi | Hindi Debut, Pre-production |
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Language | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Edison Awards (India) | Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance - Female | Tamil | Paradesi | Won |
| Techofes | Techofes Award for Best Actress | Tamil | Won | ||
| Screen Moon Award | Best Actress | Tamil | Won | ||
| Filmfare Awards South | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | Tamil | Nominated | ||
| Vijay Awards | Vijay Award for Best Actress | Tamil | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Edison Awards (India) | Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance- Female | Tamil | Kaaviya Thalaivan | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil | Tamil | Nominated | ||
| 3rd South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress Tamil | Tamil | Nominated | ||
| Vijay Awards | Vijay Award for Best Actress | Tamil | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Asiavision Awards | Performer of the year | Malayalam | James & Alice | Won |
| 2017 | Asianet Film Awards | Best actress | Malayalam | Nominated | |
| 6th South Indian International Movie Awards | SIIMA Best Actress - Malayalam | Malayalam | Nominated | ||
| SIIMA Best Actress - Kannada | Kannada | Shivalinga | Nominated |
References
- ^ 'Sangama' is my best – Vedhika – Kannada Movie News. IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Cinema Plus / Columns : My first break – Vedika. The Hindu (30 January 2009). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Movie Review:Muni. Sify.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ SAKKARAKATTI MOVIE REVIEW – Behindwoods.com Starring Shanthanu Bhagyaraj Ishitha Vedhika Direction Kalaprabhu Music A.R.Rahman Production Thanu hot images Tamil picture gallery images. Behindwoods.com (5 December 2007). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Review: Sakkarakkatti. Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Sangama Review – Kannada Movie Review by RGV. Nowrunning.com). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Vedhika is married to work – Times Of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Movie Review:Malai Malai. Sify.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Malai Malai Review – Tamil Movie Review by Aravindan. Nowrunning.com (2 August 2009). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Interview With Vedika – Interviews. CineGoer.com (23 September 2009). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Vedika in Sumanth starrer. Sify.com (27 April 2011). Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ "Vedika heroine of 'Eriyum Thanal'? - Tamil Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Paradesi movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Paradesi Tamil Movie Review - cinema preview stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". Indiaglitz.com. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Review: Paradesi is exceptional - Rediff.com Movies". Rediff. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Movie Review : Paradesi". Sify.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Vedhika to romance Dileep - Times Of India". The Times of India. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ Vedhika not afraid of being typecast
- ^ Neelima Menon (24 November 2014). "Vedhika Interview: The Fairy Tale Princess". Silverscreen.in. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "The taste of success". The Hindu. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ By Ians (20 August 2014). "'Kaaviya Thalaivan' was a Rewarding Experience: Vedhika". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Kaaviyathalaivan (aka) Kaaviya Thalaivan review". Behindwoods.com. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Review : Kaaviya Thalaivan". Sify.com. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Screen Moon Awards 2014 Photos". 17 February 2014.