Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress, comedian and singer, who plays supporting roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Poovellam Un Vaasam (2001) and Uliyin Osai (2008).
She has also won two Nandi Awards for Best Female Comedian also the Vijay Award and IIFA Award for Best Comedian for her performance in Kanchana (2011).
She is now part of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam Party.
Early and present life Kovai Sarala was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (then in Madras State) in a Malayali family. She developed interest in acting after watching MGR's films. She completed her studies and entered the film industry with the support of her sister and father.
She got her first film offer when she was in the 9th standard and acted with Vijayakumar and K. R. Vijaya in the film Velli Ratham(1979) and did a supporting role in Malayalam movie Thaliritta Kinakkal (1980).
She completed Class 10 and joined theatre did stage shows for few years, later she played a 32-year-old pregnant woman Mundhanai Mudichu, her second Tamil film. Two years later she acted in Chinna Veedu, where she played the 65-year-old mother of Bhagyaraj's character. She has appeared in more than 300+ films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. She has mentioned the films Karakattakkaran (1989), Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana (1994), Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Viralukketha Veekkam (1999) and Viswanathan Ramamoorthy (2001) as her personal favourites.
She has acted with all the top comedians including Vadivelu, Brahmanandam, Goundamani, Senthil and Vivek. Her comedy tracks with Vadivelu and Brahmanandam have been especially popular.
She has also worked in television series and television shows. She has hosted the reality show Paasa Paravaigal. She was a regular judge on the comedy show Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam that aired on Zee Tamil.Varuthadapatha Valibar Sangam on Zee Tamil . The Times of India. (21 May 2015). Retrieved 4 February 2017. She also hosted the kids game show Chellame Chellam on Sun TV.
Personal life Sarala is unmarried. she has stated that she chose not to marry due to family responsibilities and her commitment to supporting her siblings and their children. She considers her relatives children as her own and has been actively involved in their upbringing.
Filmography
Tamil + List of Kovai Sarala Tamil film credits Year Title Role Notes 1979 Velli Ratham 1983 Mundhanai Mudichu Arukkani 1984 Vaidehi Kathirunthal Thambikku Entha Ooru Mannukketha Ponnu Nooravathu Naal Manju 1985 Naan Sigappu Manithan Saradha Anbin Mugavari Uyarndha Ullam Engal Kural Chinna Veedu Madanagopal's mother Japanil Kalyanaraman Muppatha Udaya Geetham Police officer's daughter 1986 Marakka Matten Yaaro Ezhuthiya Kavithai Uyire Unakkaga The shoemaker's girlfriend Enakku Nane Needipathi Police Constable Kannamma Vasantha Raagam Devi Lakshmi Vandhachu Valli Mannukkul Vairam 1987 Kadhal Parisu Kanmani Kizhakku Africavil Sheela Chikki Mukki Velicham Solvathellam Unmai Geetha Ananda Aradhanai Ini Oru Sudhanthiram Per Sollum Pillai Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu Cameo appearance Ninaive Oru Sangeetham Gundulingam's wife Chellakutti Uzhavan Magan Accountant's daughter Aayusu Nooru Chellamma 1988 Melam Kottu Thali Kattu Thambi Thanga Kambi Soora Samhaaram Enga Ooru Kavalkaran Valaikaapu Poovukkul Boogambam 1989 Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Raja Chinna Roja Maid Moodu Manthiram Thangamana Purushan Valathu Kalai Vaithu Vaa Thaaya Thaarama Yogam Raja Yogam Solaikuyil Punitha Paandi Nattu Thangam Venkatasubbama Karagattakaran Female dancer Enga Ooru Mappillai Chandra Thangamani Rangamani Lakshmi Enga Veettu Deivam Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu Raaja Raajathan Dharmam Vellum Jimmy Ponnu Pakka Poren 1990 Jagathalaprathapan Maruthu Pandi Pattanamthan Pogalamadi Adhisaya Manithan Urmila My Dear Marthandan Maharani Sathan Sollai Thattathe Chitra's mother En Kadhal Kanmani Lilly Erikkarai Poonkatrey Valiba Vizhayattu Thai Maasam Poovaasam 1991 Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum Thangam Pondatti Pondattithan Janaki Pudhiya Raagam Bulbul Chithirai Pookkal Bharathi's mother Mahamayi 1992 Chinnavar Sevattamma Therku Theru Machan Ponnuketha Purushan Pondatti Rajyam Thirumathi Palanisamy School Teacher Thilagam 1993 Dhuruva Natchathiram 1994 Sethupathi IPS Vaanga Partner Vaanga Pawn Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana Elisabeth Pathavi Pramanam Pavithra Thenmozhi Nammavar Julie 1995 Sathi Leelavathi Palaniammal Sakthivel Gounder Rani Maharani 1996 Vasantha Vaasal Velu's wife Vasantham Police Constable Kaalam Maari Pochu Sundari 1997 Gopura Deepam Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Elizabeth Pasamulla Pandiyare Nattupura Nayagan Pavalakkodi Nalla Manasukkaran 1998 Udhavikku Varalaamaa Mythili's mother Kaathala Kaathala Junior Vikadanantha's wife Vettu Onnu Thundu Rendu Aval Varuvala Savithri Unnudan Thayamma 1999 Kanave Kalaiyadhe Kayal Vizhi Anantha Poongathe Saradha Kannodu Kanbathellam Akhila's mother Nesam Pudhusu Poovellam Kettuppar Dr. Bala Thirupurasundari Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa Lalitha Viralukketha Veekkam Ranjitham Minsara Kanna Flower seller Paattali Sarala Pudhu Kudithanam Sarasu Manaivikku Mariyadhai 2000 Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Ragini Magalirkkaga Constable Rosa Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai Kanagavalli Doubles Meena's mother Maayi Rakayi Unnai Kann Theduthey Budget Padmanabhan Padmanabhan's cousin Uyirile Kalanthathu 2001 Nageswari Manisha Koirala Krishna Krishna Kaveri Mitta Miraasu Bhagyam Poovellam Un Vasam Kanniga Piriyadha Varam Vendum Kannatha Shakalaka Baby Aaravalli Viswanathan Ramamoorthy Andal Veettoda Mappillai Rani Vadagupatti Maapillai Anjala Shahjahan Jingili 2002 Ennamma Kannu Simran Thenkasi Pattanam Kamala En Mana Vaanil Parvathi Panchathantiram Bharathi's wife 2004 Vaanam Vasappadum Vishwa Thulasi 2005 Priyasakhi Head Constable Kausalya Raman Mumbai Xpress Avinasi's sister 2006 Kovai Brothers Tenthara, Foursha and Bisin 2007 Muni Kannamma 2008 Uliyin Osai Sokki 2011 Muni 2: Kanchana Sarala 2012 Oru Nadigaiyin Vaakkumoolam Papi Paagan Amutha 2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Sowmiya's aunt Thillu Mullu Senthamarai Arya Surya Chandralekha Ragalaipuram Head Constable Ekavalli Chithirayil Nilachoru 2014 Malini 22 Palayamkottai Sarala Pani Vizhum Nilavu Vanavarayan Vallavarayan Vanavarayan & Vallavarayan's mother Sigaram Thodu Aishwarya Aranmanai Eshwari Rettai Vaalu Pagadai Pagadai Anbukkarasi 2015 Komban Kottaiamma Kanchana 2 Raghava's mother Adhibar Kumari Vedalam Maalu 2016 Aranmanai 2 Komalam Nayaki Saradha Uchathula Shiva Shiva's mother Voice role Thiraikku Varadha Kathai Komalam Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru Shanti Balle Vellaiyathevaa Kathai 2017 Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva Vaijayanthi Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae E. B. Rajeshwari Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan Sarala Sathura Adi 3500 Bayama Irukku Devil Devi Mersal Sarala 2018 Semma Mandhaarai Itly Twinkle Kasu Mela Kasu Myna's mother Lakshmi A. Saraswathi Utharavu Maharaja 2019 Viswasam Philomeena Kanchana 3 Raghava's mother Devi 2 Lalitha 2021 Michaelpatty Raja Raja's mother Pei Mama Serupadi Sitharamma 2022 One Way Sembi Veerathayi 2023 Ithu Kadhaiyalla Nijam Kick Pushpa 2024 Double Tuckerr Shanmugavalli Aranmanai 4 Saravanan and Selvi's aunt Also partially reshot in Telugu Kanguva Francis' mother 2025 Maareesan Assistant Commissioner Fareeda 2026 Lucky the Superstar Sarala Voice role
Telugu + List of Kovai Sarala Telugu film credits Year Title Role Notes 1987 Veera Prathap 1991 Amma Kadupu Challanga 1992 Pellam Chepithe Vinnali 1993 Pellama Majaka 1994 Kunti Putrudu Bhairava Dweepam Allari Deyyam Hello Alludu 1995 Aasthi Mooredu Aasa Baaredu God Father Lingababu Love Story Bank Manager Ambhujam 1996 Family Kasthuri Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi Julie 1997 Pelli Meena Mama Bagunnava Sundarambal Iyer 1998 Suprabhatam Chukkamma Navvulata Nurse 1999 Vaare Vah Moguda 2000 Kshemamga Velli Labamgarandi Subbalakshmi Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary Venkamma Nuvve Kavali Rukku Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa Lalitha Madhuri 2001 Mrugaraju Akka Bavaekada Mangamma Simharasi Ramma Chilakamma Simran, Simhu Darling Dual roles Athanu Hanuman Junction Sangeetha's aunt 2002 Entha Bagundo Maa Alludu Very Good A. V. Rao's mother Sandade Sandadi Fitting Parvathi O Chinadana Veena Tantula Meera Bai 2003 Fools Manga Ottesi Cheputunna Ela Cheppanu Sarala Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kaanu Sriramachandrulu Savitri Tiger Harischandra Prasad Pawan Kalyan (in male getup) 2004 Mee Intikoste Em Istaaru Maa Intkoste Em Testaaru Andaru Dongale Dorikite Chi. La. Sow. Suryakantham Vidyardhi 2005 Mahanandi Chilakamma Evadi Gola Vaadidhi Leela Rani Veerabhadra Colony resident 2006 Naidu LLB Iddaru Attala Muddula Alludu Sarala Style Ganesh's neighbour Raam Rajababu Lakshmi Aadivaram Aadavallaku Selavu Ramulamma Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw Mary Gotham Pellaina Kothalo 2007 Pagale Vennela Sarala Desamuduru Shivani Maharathi Saralamma Seema Sastri 2008 Nee Sukhame Ne Koruthunna Sawaal Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters Bommana brothers' mother Michael Madana Kamaraju Michael's fake mother Mallepuvvu Construction site worker Hero Sarala Dongala Bandi Aishwarya's sister Neninthe Urmila 2009 Bumper Offer Ramanamma Evaraina Epudaina Nurse A Aa E Ee 2010 Kothimooka Jambu Puli Inspector Madhumati 2011 Katha Screenplay Darsakatvam Appalaraju Badrinath Badrinath's mother 2012 Devasthanam Sridevi Nuvva Nena Pushpa Rebel Nandini's aunt Devudu Chesina Manashulu Lakshmi Sudigadu Kamesh's Mother / Don D 2013 Masala Anjali Devi / Chintamani Greeku Veerudu Mahalakshmi 2015 Temper Shanvi's mother Kick 2 Darling 2016 Nayaki Saradha Ghatana Sarala 2019 Abhinetri 2 Lalitha 2025 Champion Andrea 2026 Seetha Payanam
Malayalam + List of Kovai Sarala Malayalam film credits Year Title Role 1997 Poomarathanalil Ambujakshan's wife 1999 Niram Rukku 2004 Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku Parvathi Ammal 2005 Hai 2012 Maad Dad Dawini D'Zosa 2016 Girls Komalam
Kannada + List of Kovai Sarala Kannada film credits Year Title Role Notes 1986 Africadalli Sheela Chikki Mukki credited as Sarala 1993 Hendthi Helidare Kelabeku Sarala Alimayya Anantha's mother 2002 Naanu Naane 2008 Arjun Surya's wife
Singer Marugo Marugo (Sathi Leelavathi) (1995) Thekkathi Mappillai (Magalirkkaga) (2000) Rama Rama (Villu) (2009) Iravinil Aattam (Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru) (2016)
Television Sundari Soundari (Sun TV) Ellame Siripputhan (Kalaignar TV) Vanthaana Thanthaana (Kalaignar TV) Sabhash Meera (Jaya TV) Sagalakala Sarala (Vijay TV) Comedyil Kalakkuvathu Eppadi (Vijay TV) Vantintlo Wonders (Gemini TV) Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (Zee Tamil) Chellame Chellam (Sun TV) Arundhathi (Sun TV) Kutty Chutties (Sun TV) Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? – (Seasons 1–5,8–9 (Star Vijay) – Judge Devika & Danny (JioHotstar)
Awards and nominations
Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Comedian – Sathi Leelavathi (1995) Best Comedian – Poovellam Un Vasam (2001) Best Comedian – Uliyin Osai (2008)
Vijay Awards Vijay Award for Best Comedian – Kanchana (2011)
Nandi Awards(in Telugu) Best Female Comedian – Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary (2000) Best Female Comedian – Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kaanu (2003)
Nominations 60th Filmfare Awards South – Best Supporting Actress – Telugu – Sudigadu (2012)
References
External links