Amala Akkineni

Amala Akkineni (née Mukherjee) is an Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, and animal welfare/Environmental activist.[2] She has predominantly worked in Tamil films, in addition to Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada-language films. She was a leading actress in the Tamil film industry from 1986 to 1992 and has appeared in many blockbusters in Tamil and other languages. She has won two Filmfare Awards South, namely Best Actress – Malayalam for the 1991 film Ulladakkam[3] and Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the 2012 film Life Is Beautiful.[4] Amala is the co-founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad,[5] a non-government organisation (NGO) in Hyderabad, India, which works towards the welfare of animals and preservation of animal rights in India.[6][7]

Amala Akkineni
Akkineni in 2010
Born
Amala Mukherjee

(1967-09-12) 12 September 1967[1]
Kharagpur/Airforce Base Kalaikunda, West Bengal, India
Alma materKalakshetra, Chennai
Occupation(s)Director Annapurna College of Film &Media,Actress, animal welfare/environmental activist
Years active1986–1993
2012–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1992)​
ChildrenAkhil Akkineni (b. 1994)
RelativesFather Commodore M.K.Mukherjee retired.IN

Irish Mother J.Connolly

Brother TCM

Sister RK

Akkineni-Connolly-Mukherjee family

Early life

Amala was born in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) to a Bengali Indian Navy officer and an Irish mother.[8][9] Their family soon shifted to Madras (present-day Chennai) where she was brought up.[10] She has a brother.

Amala holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra college of fine arts, Madras now Chennai.[11] She gave many live performances worldwide.[12][13] She is fluent in English, Tamil and Telugu, and can understand Bengali.[14][15]

Personal life

Amala married Telugu actor Nagarjuna on 11 June 1992 and the couple has a son, actor Akhil Akkineni born in 1994. She is the step-mother of actor Naga Chaitanya.[16] They currently live in Hyderabad.[13]

Career

She was persuaded to join films by T. Rajendar, who visited her home with his wife Usha and convinced her mother to let her act in the film, which would be a classical film featuring her Bharatanatyam dancing.[17] That film was Mythili Ennai Kaathali (1986) which was a box office hit. After the film's success, she acted in several Tamil films such as Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986), Panneer Nadhigal (1986) and Velaikkaran (1987).[18] She acted with her future husband Akkineni Nagarjuna in hits such as Nirnayam and Siva.[19] She garnered acclaim for her role in the film Ulladakkam (1991).[20]

She quit acting in 1992 following her marriage to Nagarjuna. After a hiatus of 20 years she made a comeback in 2012 with the Telugu film Life is Beautiful.[21] She received a CineMAA Award for Best Outstanding Actress and Telugu category Filmfare Award for best supporting actress in 2013 for her portrayal.

She returned to Malayalam cinema with C/O Saira Banu after a gap of 25 years, since Ulladakkam.[22]

Filmography
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Tamil
YearFilmRoleNote
1986Mythili Ennai KaathaliMythiliTamil film debut Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil
Mella Thirandhathu KadhavuNoorjahan
Panneer NathigalMeera
Kanne KaniyamutheKavita
Unnai Ondru KetpenGita
Oru Iniya UdhayamAnju
1987VelaikaranKaushalya
Poo Poova PoothirukkuMary
Koottu Puzhukkal
Vedham PudhithuVaidehiNominated — Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Tamil
Kavithai Paada Neramillai
Idhu Oru Thodar KathaiSumathi
1988Agni NatchathiramAnjali
Kodi ParakkuthuAparna
SathyaaGeetha Nair
JeevaGeetha
IllamSaradha
Kaliyugam
NethiyadiAmalaGuest appearance
1989MappillaiGeetha
Varam
Naalai ManithanPrabhu's girlfriend
Uthama PurushanRekha
Vetri VizhaLalitha
1990Pudhu PadaganDevi
Mounam SammadhamHema
1991Vaasalil Oru VennilaKamal
Karpoora MullaiMaya Vinodini
2022 Kanam Adhi's mother Shot simultaneously in Telugu[23]

Telugu
YearFilmRoleNote
1987Kirayi DadaLataTelugu film debut
1988ChinababuMadhu
Raktha TilakamRadha
1989ShivaAsha
1990Prema YuddhamLatha
Raja VikramarkaRekha
AggiramuduManasa
1991NirnayamGeetha
1993AagrahamChitra
2012Life Is BeautifulAmma
2014ManamDance TeacherCameo appearance
2022 Oke Oka Jeevitham Adhi's mother Shot simultaneously in Tamil[23]

Hindi
YearFilmRoleNote
1988DayavanSarita
Kab Tak Chup RahungiGeeta
1989DostPooja
JurratRenu
1990ShivaAsha
2013Listen... AmayaSujata
2015Hamari Adhuri KahaniRohini RuparelCameo appearance
2018KarwaanTahira
2023Tumse Na Ho PayegaPooja

Kannada
YearFilmRoleNote
1987Pushpaka VimanaMagician's daughterSilent film Kannada film debut
1990Bannada GejjeMenaka
1991Agni Panjara
1992Ksheera Sagara
Belliyappa BangarappaMutthamma

Malayalam
YearFilmRoleNote
1991Ente SooryaputhrikkuMaya VinodiniMalayalam film debut
UlladakkamReshma
2017C/O Saira BanuAdv. Annie John Tharavadi
2021The Fall into SpringSulochana RamachandranShort film

Television
Year Title Role Language Channel
1991PennTamilDoordarshan
1992SangurshHindiDoordarshan
2010Super motherJudgeTamilStar Vijay
2014–2015UyirmeiDr. Kavitha SandeepTamilZee Tamil
2019High PriestessSwathi ReddyTeluguZEE5
2020The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke LiyeMaya's motherHindiAmazon Prime Video

Awards and honours

Film awards
Year Award Award Category Work Result Ref.
1989Cinema Express AwardsCinema Express Award for Best Actress Special JuryIllam
Agni Natchathiram		Won[24]
1991Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Actress – MalayalamUlladakkamWon[3]
2012Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – TeluguLife Is BeautifulWon[25]
CineMAA AwardsCineMAA Awards for Best Outstanding ActressLife Is BeautifulWon[26]

References
  1. "Akkineni Nagarjuna rings in 56th birthday in Thailand". The Indian Express. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. S.B.VIJAYA MARY. "Amala for a fit mind, body". The Hindu.
  3. "39th Annual Filmfare Malayalam Best Film Actress : santosh : Free Dow…". Archive.is. 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo. "Amala Akkineni : Behind the glamour of cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. "Blue Cross of Hyderabad – The Team". Blue Cross of Hyderabad. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  6. S.B. Vijaya Mary. "'I treasure my quiet time': Amala Akkineni". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. T.Lalith Singh. "Respect saniation [sic] workers, Amala Akkineni tells people". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. Subhash K Jha (17 June 2015). "Amala Akkineni on Her Return To Acting". SKJ Bollywood News. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  9. J Rao, Subha (7 December 2012). "The measure of a woman". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  10. Lakshmi, L. (3 April 1987). "I never aspired for money or fame". The Indian Express. p. 14. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  11. "Amala Akkineni, The Person with the Most Beautiful Heart". Hixic. 11 September 2018. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  12. "February '13 – Crusading for a cause". RITZ. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015.
  13. "A day in the life of Amala Akkineni". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  14. Jain, Rupam (11 July 2011). "Amala Akkineni can't speak Bengali". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  15. "When Amala Akkineni Made Sweets For The Whole Unit Of 'Kanam'". Outlook. Indo-Asian News Service. 10 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  16. Himalayan Academy. "A Kinder Vision". hinduismtoday.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  17. "Amala". Gorantha Deepam. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  18. Lakshmi, I. (3 April 1987). "I never aspired for money or fame". The Indian Express. p. 14. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  19. "Akkineni Nagarjuna and Amala celebrate 26th wedding anniversary". The Times of India. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  20. Ganesan, Rajeshwari (5 April 2021). "Daily Recco, April 5: Ulladakkam, the multi-layered mind". dailyO.
  21. "Amala Akkineni makes comeback with 'Life Is Beautiful'". Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  22. Digital Native (20 February 2017). "Amala-Manju Warrier starrer 'C/o Saira Banu' ready for release". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  23. "Amala Akkineni returns to Tamil cinema after two decades with upcoming bilingual". The News Minute. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  24. "Cinema Express readers choose Agni Nakshathiram". The Indian Express. Express News Service. 11 March 1989. p. 4. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  25. "List of Winners at the 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South)".
  26. "CineMAA Awards 2013 Winners". Idlebrain.com. 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
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