Kavitha Ranjini, known by the stage name Urvashi, is an Indian actress, dubbing artist, television host, scriptwriter and producer known for her works in the Southern film industry, predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has acted in nearly 350 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
She started her acting career as a child artist, in a Malayalam movie Kathirmandapam, released in 1979. Her first released film as heroine was Mundhanai Mudichu (Tamil, directed by K. Bhagyaraj) in 1983. She was a prominent lead actress of the 1980s and 1990s, primarily in Malayalam Films. She has written the films Ulsavamelam and Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu, the latter was also produced by her. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Achuvinte Amma (2005), which was her comeback film after a hiatus of 6 years. She has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress a record five times, which includes three consecutive wins from 1989 to 1991. She has also received two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Urvashi was born to popular drama actors Chavara V. P. Nair and Vijayalakshmi in Sooranad in Kollam district of Kerala .Her elder sisters are actors Kalaranjini and Kalpana. She married actor Manoj K. Jayan on 2 May 1998, which ended in divorce in 2008.
Filmography
As actress Malayalam films + List of Urvashi Malayalam film credits Year Title Role Notes1979KathirmandapamChild artist SayoojyamChild artist "Kaalithozhuthil" Song SceneSikharangalChild artist1980Dwik VijayamDance Student1982YaagamSnehasammanam Unreleased1983Hello Madras GirlLatha1984EthirppukalSudha First lead role 1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude ChakkiThulasi NirakkoottuSasikalaDaivatheorthuNani PathamudayamValsala KarimpinpoovinakkareChandrika 1986Yuvajanotsavam Sindhu Sunil Vayassu 20Premalatha MizhineerpoovukalAswathy Sukhamo DeviDevi Kshamichu Ennoru VakkuRajani Manasilloru ManimuthuRadhikaDesatanakkili KarayarillaDevika Onnu Randu Moonnu Indu Moonnu Masagalkku MunpuRaji Nandi Veendum VarikaDevayani1987Adimakal UdamakalIndu New DelhiUma Agni MuhurthamSudha Kottum KuravayumAnnie Oru Sindoora Pottinte OrmakkuSophie NaalkkavalaAmina Irupatham NoottanduJyothi SwargamLatha 1988AnuragiLeelamma MukthiSudharma MattoralVeni PadamudraLakshmi Ponmuttayidunna TharavuSnehalatha Simon Peter Ninakku VendinAlice Simon Oru CBI Diary KurippuAnnieAbkariSridevi 1 AugustValsala 1921Thulasi Thanthram Susanna 1989Pandu Pandoru DeshathuVarnatheruAshaSwagathamPhilomina Francis New YearRekha AkshrathettuSumathiMazhavil KavadiAnandavalliFirst State AwardChakkikotha ChankaranRoshney AdikkurippuGeetha MrigayaAnnamma1990VarthamanakalamArundhathi MenonFirst State Award Noottonnu RaavukalSudhaNammude NaaduBindu VyuhamLakshmi KuttettanRose Mary MarupuramRetnaVeena Meettiya VilangukalGeetha ThoovalsparshamMaya ThalayanamanthramKanchanaSecond State AwardNanma Niranjavan SrinivasanChandrika Kouthuka VarthakalAswathy Lal SalamAnnammaArhathaAswathy 1991VishnulokamKasthoori SouhridhamShiny Mukha ChithramSavithrikutty/LakshmikuttyThird State AwardKakkathollayiramRevathyKadinjool KalyanamHrudayakumariChanchattamYamuna BharathamDeviThird State AwardKanalkkattuAasha KoodikazhchaAlice Inspector BalramPreethi Krishna MathurBhoomikaRadha 1992Utsava MelamKanaka PrabhaStoryThiruthalvaadiLathika Soorya GayathriRugmini SnehasagaramTreesa SimhadhwaniJayasreeSathyapathijnaSreekutty Ponnaramthottathe RajavuRadhika My Dear MuthachanClaraMaloottyRajiEnte Ponnu ThampuranKavithaAparathaPrabhaArdramMary AhamRenjini YodhaDamayanthiKizhakkan PathroseChala Mary 1993VenkalamThankamani SthreedhanamVidhyaNarayamGayathri MithunamSulochana KoushalamMaya Devi KalippattamSaroja Injakkadan Mathai & SonsSherley Ithu Manju KaalamAswathy and RevathyDual roleAayirapparaParvathyPalayamJancy 1994Sukham SukhakaramSusie Pidakkozhi Koovunna NoottanduBhagyarekha/SujathaWriter & ProducerKudumba ViseshamGeethaThe CityDr. JyothyBharyaShailaja 1995ThovalapookkalChempakam SpadikamThulasi Simhavalan MenonGeethanjali 1996KazhakamRadha1997Kottapurathe KoottukudumbamSree Devi JanadhipathyamIndira Menon1999GarshomNoorjaFilm Council AwardAayiram MeniAlice NiramHerselfArchive footage2005Achuvinte AmmaK. P. Vanaja National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Amritha TV Award & Film Council Award2006MadhuchandralekhaChandramathiFifth State Award2007Ayur RekhaAliceExtended cameo2008Twenty:20HerselfArchive footageUncredited cameo2009Bharya Swantham SuhruthuMolly2010Mummy & MeClaraSakudumbam ShyamalaMinister Shyamala Vasudevan Best of LuckThamara2011Ponnu Kondoru AalroopamMollyKadhayile Nayika Nandhini Maharaja TalkiesVimala2012Lumiere BrothersHerselfArchive footageLakshmivilasam Renuka Makan RaghuramanRenukaManjadikuruSujatha 2014My Dear MummyKatrina2016VismayamLakshmiPartially reshot version of Manamantha2018Aravindante AthidhikalGirija Ente Ummante PeruAisha 2019SwarnamalsyangalHerselfArchive footage2020DhamakaAnnammaVarane Avashyamund Dr. SherlyExtended Cameo 2021 Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan Rathnamma Released on Disney+ Hotstar 2023 Charles Enterprises Gomati Jaladhara Pumpset Since 1962 Mrinalini teacher Rani: The Real StorySheela 2024 Iyer In Arabia Jansi Rani Ullozhukku Leelamma National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Her Santha Released on ManoramaMAX 2025 L Jagadamma Ezham Class B Jagadamma Also producer Prince and Family Home Minister Josephine2026Madhuvidhu SarojiniPhoto appearance Aasha Aasha
Tamil films Year Title Role Notes1983Mundhanai MudichuParimalamApoorva SahodarigalRosy 1984Dhavani KanavugalFilm actressKomberi MookanPriya Nerupukkul EeramGangaOh Maane MaaneStellaAmbigai Neril VanthaalLathaAnbe Odi VaaSeethaEzhuthatha SattangalMeenaVai PandalSanthiVengaiyin MainthanYamunaOorukku UpadesamJanaki & MadhaviShanthi MugurthamShanthi Neram Nalla NeramVadivuVellai Pura Ondru Padma Maaman MachaanShanthiNinaivukal Maraivathillai 1985Andha Oru NimidamVasanthiAduthathu AlbertRadha Naam IruvarRatha Oru Malarin PayanamKalyani Raja YuvarajaMeena DeivapiraviLalitha Panam Pathum SeyyumJayanthi1986Thodarum UravuJulie Kaidhiyin TheerpuStella & PreethiMachakaran 1987Paruva RagamRohini Guest appearance1988Patti Sollai ThattatheSeetha 1989Idhu Unga KudumbamJanakiPaasa MazhaiGomathi1990Michael Madana Kama RajanTiruppurasundariPengal Veettin KanngalRaadha1991Mookuthi Poo MeleyLatha Ramakrishnan1994Subramaniya SwamyAmudhaMagalir MattumJanakiState Award Veera PadhakkamVishalakshiVanaja GirijaChellamma 1995Naan Petha Magane Uma Maheswari Mayabazar Sujatha (Suji) / Mayamma Ayudha PoojaiVasanthaThaikulame ThaikulameJanaki PullakuttikaaranAzhaguCritics Award1996Aruva VeluMaruthayi Irattai RojaUmaFilmfare AwardVetri VinayagarPonni1997Ettupatti RasaPalaniyamma MannavaSinthamaniAravindhanGayathri VasukiVasuki / Kodeeswari1999SuyamvaramArivolimangaiThirupathi Ezhumalai VenkatesaPadminiViralukketha VeekkamGayatri Kummi PaattuKamakshi 2001Sigamani RamamaniRamamani 2002PanchathantiramAmminiGameJanakiThamizhKalaiselvi 2003Three RosesChandralekha ThennavanPushpalathaSuccessRadhaThaaye BhuvaneswariParvathiPartially reshot version of Vijayadasami2005Anbe AaruyireMaami2006Desiya ParavaiMalini2007MalaikottaiKamalaKalakkura ChandruHost2009Siva Manasula SakthiKalyaniEdison Film AwardVaamananDivya's motherPeraanmaiVictoria2010Manmadan AmbuMallika2011DooVasanth's motherVenghaiThangamVedi Dr. Radha Jeyachandran2013Vanakkam ChennaiChandra 2014Un Samayal ArayilChechi Vizhi Moodi YosithaalKG's motherPechiyakka MarumaganPechiyakka Unreleased2015Tamizhuku En Ondrai AzhuthavumVasanth's motherUthama VillainVaralakshmiSavaale SamaaliUrvashi Inji IduppazhagiRajeswariIndia PakistanKathik's mother2016Adida MelamAnnapoorniyammaUnnodu KaRajalatchumi PencilRajeshwari VaaimaiNarayani Meen Kuzhambum Mann PaanaiyumPavithra's motherBayam Oru PayanamAbhinaya's mother Kadavul Irukaan KumaruGomathi Gopalakrishnan2017ShivalingaArusuvai AnnalakshmiMagalir MattumGomatha SilkurayappanPalli ParuvathileKalai's mother 2018KoothanKalairasi2019Dhilluku Dhuddu 2 Chakra Mahadevi Pottu Mohana 2020Putham Pudhu Kaalai Lakshmi Krishnan Released on Amazon Prime Segment: Ilamai Idho IdhoSoorarai Pottru Pechi Released on Amazon PrimeMookuthi Amman PaalthangamReleased on Disney+ HotstarThiruvalar Panjangam Interviewer 2021 Murungakkai Chips Shanthi's aunt 2022 Idiot Parimalam Veetla Vishesham Krishnaveni Unnikrishnan 2023 Ghosty Aadhi Yosi Doctor Sathya Yaanai Mugathaan Malliga Kasethan Kadavulada Sharadha Appatha Kannamma Urvashi's 700th film 2024 J Baby J Baby Andhagan Sarasu Emakku Thozhil Romance Bakkiyam 2026Parimala and Co Sudhandhira
Kannada films + List of Urvashi Kannada film credits Year Title Role Notes1984Shravana BanthuUrvashi/Mary/Saraswathi 1985Naanu Nanna HendthiUrvashi Shabash VikramGayatri1986Sathya Jyothi SujathaEe Jeeva NinagagiRohini 1987Anthima GhattaSunitha PremalokaRohini1988New DelhiUma31 DecemberRadha 1996JeevanadhiDr.Priyadarshini 1999HabbaAmbi's wife2000Yaarige Saluthe SambalaSuguna 2001Kothigalu Saar KothigaluAlamelu 2003Katthegalu Saar KatthegaluUrmila Vijaya DashamiParvathy2005Rama Shama BhamaBhamamani2008Nee Tata Naa BirlaCook Draupathi Arjun Vishalakshi Jayasimha 2009IniyaKamala Raaj the ShowmanHerselfSpecial appearance2010Preethi HangamaPolice Inspector2012Golmal GayathriGayathri2014Brahma OggaraneBeautician 2015Ram-LeelaBaby 2016ShivalingaAnusooyaJaggu DadaJaggu Dada's mother2018Sur Sur BattiBaddi GowrammaRowdy Fellow Aba Jaba Daba
Telugu films + List of Urvashi Telugu film credits Year Title Role Notes1984RustumPadmaUdhdhandudu 1985Kala Rudrudu Bhale ThammuduLatha1986Jeevana PoratamMallikaVetagalluRadha1988Anthima TheerpuUma1989Chettu Kinda PleaderSujatha1998 Padutha Theeyaga Durga 1999 Mechanic Mavayya 2000VijayaramarajuRani/Sirisha2002Sandade SandadiLakshmiAllari RamuduCollector2004Intlo Srimathi Veedhilo KumariAnjali Murthy Swarabhishekam Rukminiamma2005ChakramLakshmi2010Maro CharitraDurga2014Ulavacharu BiryaniBeautician 2015JilJai's auntSize ZeroRajeswari2016Express RajaVasanthakokila Sardaar Gabbar SinghMadhumatiManamanthaLakshmi 2019 Oh! Baby Sulochana Raju Gari Gadhi 3 Rajamatha 2022 Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu Padmamma 2023Anni Manchi Sakunamule Jagadamba
Hindi films + List of Urvashi Hindi film credits Year Title Role Notes1988New DelhiUma1992Azmaakar Dhekho Unreleased
Voice credits + List of Urvashi film voice credits Year Title Role Voice to Language2002NandanamJanakiKalarenjiniMalayalam2010DrohiShruthiPoonam BajwaTamil2018ItlyLillyKalpana
In other roles + List of Urvashi film credits in other roles Year Title Role Language Notes1992UtsavamelamStory WriterMalayalam1994Pidakkozhi Koovunna NoottanduPidakkozhi Koovunna NoottanduProducerPaatta BhasthiStory WriterTelugu1995 Mayabazaar 1995SingerTamilSong-"Oru Oorile"2017 Magalir MattumSong-"Carratu Pottazhaga"
Television career