Mamta Mohandas (born 14 November 1984) is an Indian actress, producer and playback singer who primarily works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. Mamta is a recipient of several awards including a Kerala State Film Award and two Filmfare Awards South.[1]

Mamta Mohandas
Mamta at Red FM interview
Born (1984-11-14) 14 November 1984 (age 40)
NationalityIndian
Alma materMount Carmel College, Bangalore
Occupations
Years active2005–present
Spouse
Prajith Padmanabhan
(m. 2011; div. 2012)

Mamta made her acting debut with Mayookham (2005) and had her breakthrough with Kadha Thudarunnu (2010), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam and Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress.[2] She has since appeared in successful films such as Arike (2012), My Boss (2012), Two Countries (2015), Udaharanam Sujatha (2017), Carbon (2018), Nine (2019), Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel (2019), Forensic (2020), Jana Gana Mana (2022) and Maharaja (2024).[3]

Early life and background

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Mamta was born on 14 November 1984[4][5] to Malayali parents (Mohandas and Ganga) from Tellichery. She attended the Indian School, Bahrain until 2002.[6][7] She pursued a bachelor's degree in computer science at Mount Carmel College Bangalore.[citation needed] She modeled for print ads for companies such as IBM and Kalyan Kendra, and modeled on the ramp for the Mysore Maharajah and Raymonds. Mamta is trained in Carnatic music and Hindustani music.[8][9]

Film career

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Acting

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Mohandas debuted in the 2005 Malayalam film Mayookham, directed by Hariharan. The film did not do well at the box office.[10]

Subsequently, she acted alongside Mammootty in Bus Conductor, with Suresh Gopi in the films Adbutham (2006) and Lanka (2006), and alongside Jayaram in Madhuchandralekha (2006). She also played the female lead in Baba Kalyani with Mohanlal. Later that year, she débuted in the Tamil film industry, starring in the Karu Pazhaniappan directed film Sivappathigaram.[citation needed]

In 2007 she acted with Mammootty in the film Big B. She eventually stepped into the Telugu film industry as well, when she appeared in a supporting role in the film Yamadonga, directed by SS Rajamouli.[citation needed] She had lent her voice for a couple of songs in this film too.[citation needed] In 2008, she appeared in 7 films, predominantly in Telugu-language films. Her first release was her début Kannada film Gooli. She then starred in the film Krishnarjuna, playing the lead female role.[citation needed] Victory was her next assignment as lead actress, following which she appeared in a cameo role in her only Tamil release that year, Kuselan. Three more Telugu releases featured Mamta, including Homam, directed by JD Chakravarthy and Srinu Vaitla's King.[citation needed]

In 2009, she starred in the comedy film Guru En Aalu alongside Madhavan, and the thriller Passenger, sharing screen space with Dileep and Sreenivasan, respectively. The film Passenger, in which she played the role of a television reporter, became a turning point in Mohandas's career. She was initially approached to play the lead role in the 2009 Telugu dark fantasy Arundathi. She refused the offer, and the movie went on to become one of the highest grossers that year. In 2010, she worked with Jayaram in Kadha Thudarunnu[11] directed by Sathyan Anthikkad, for which she won her first Best Actress Award from Filmfare.[12] This film also won her the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress, the Vanitha award for best actress – Malayalam, the Mathrubhumi award for best actress – Malayalam and the Asianet award for the best actress- Malayalam. Other projects in 2010 included Musafir with Rahman, Anwar with Prithiviraj, and Kedi with Nagarjuna. Mamta's first film in 2011 was the Malayalam film Race, in which she played the role of Niya, wife of a cardio surgeon Abey (Kunchacko Boban). The film failed to do well at the box office.[13] Her next release in Malayalam was Naayika.[14] In 2012, she appeared in her third Tamil film, Thadaiyara Thaakka, directed by Magizh Thirumeni.[citation needed] In 2013 she starred in Paisa Paisa with Indrajith.[15][16] In 2014 she starred in To Noora with Love as a Muslim character.[17]

Mohandas made a comeback to Malayalam movie industry with Ranjith Shankar's Mammooty starrer Varsham.[citation needed] She shared her screen space again with Dileep in Two Countries after doing My Boss with him.[citation needed]

In 2016, Mohandas starred opposite Mammootty in Thoppil Joppan, and in early 2017, she signed Crossroad, an anthology film in which she plays an orthodox Muslim. She also appeared in an extended cameo in Udaharanam Sujatha with Manju Warrier. In mid-2017, she signed Detroit Crossing aka Ranam opposite Prithviraj, but had to opt out because she did not have fresh dates to allocate for the project.

In 2020 Mohandas acted in the crime thriller feature film Forensic in which she played the role of police officer Rithika Xavier IPS.[citation needed]

Singing

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Mohandas is trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music, and first sang playback in the Telugu film Rakhi, singing the title song under Devi Sri Prasad's direction, making her debut in the Telugu film industry as a singer before making her acting debut in Telugu. She went on to win the 2006 Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award for that song.[18]

Subsequently, she was asked to sing several songs for composer Devi Sri Prasad, including "Akalesthe Annam Pedtha" for the Chiranjeevi-starrer Shankardada Zindabad (later dubbed as Daddy Mummy in the Tamil film Villu), "36-24-36" for the film Jagadam, "Mia" for Tulasi, and "Ghanana (Funny)" and the title song for the film King. Other music directors she has worked with include M. M. Keeravani (for her own films Yamadonga and Krishnarjuna, also Chandamama), R. P. Patnaik (for Andamaina Mansulo), Chakri (for Victory), Nithin Raikwar (for her own film Homam) and Thaman (for Jayeebhava).[citation needed]

In Tamil, she sang "Kaalai Kaalai" in the film Kaalai, which starred Silambarasan in the lead role. She sang "Idai Vazhi" for the comedy film Goa under noted composer Yuvan Shankar Raja's direction. Both songs featured her singing alongside Benny Dayal. She was heard for the first time in her mother tongue, Malayalam, in the 2010 film Anwar. She has also recorded a song for her film Thriller. In the film 'Mohabath', she sang a duet with Hariharan. She sang "Iravil Viriyum" in her 2012 film Arike. She sang "Karuppana Kannazhagi" in the film Aadupuliyattam.[19]

Personal life

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Mamta got engaged to Prajith Padmanabhan, a Bahrain-based businessman, on 11 November 2011. The couple got married on 28 December 2011 in Thalassery.[20][21] They got divorced in December 2012.[22] In June 2024, Mamta revealed that she is in a relationship.[23]

Mamta is a cancer survivor, and has battled Hodgkin lymphoma since 2010.[24] In April 2013, she had a relapse of the cancer[25] and underwent cancer treatment in UCLA.[20] Since 2014, she has resided in Los Angeles.[26][27][6] In 2023, she revealed that she is diagnosed with Vitiligo.[28]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Language Notes Ref.
2005 Mayookham Indira Malayalam
Bus Conductor Celina Malayalam
Adbutham Maria Malayalam
2006 Lanka Lanka Lakshmi Malayalam
Madhuchandralekha Indulekha Malayalam
Sivappathigaram Charulatha Tamil
Baba Kalyani Madhumitha Ashokan Malayalam
2007 Big B Rimi Tomy Malayalam
Yamadonga Dhanalakshmi Telugu
2008 Gooli Ramya Kannada
Krishnarjuna Sathya Telugu
Victory Janaki Telugu
Kuselan/ Kathanayakudu Assistant director Tamil, Telugu Cameo appearance
Homam Dr. Mahalakshmi Telugu
Chintakayala Ravi Lavanya Telugu
King Swapna/Pooja Telugu
2009 Guru En Aalu Seema Tamil
Passenger Anuradha Menon Malayalam
2010 Kedi Janaki Telugu
Kadha Thudarunnu Vidya Lakshmi Malayalam [29]
Nirakazhcha Shilpa Malayalam
Anwar Ayesha Begum Malayalam
The Thriller Herself Malayalam Special appearance
Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram Gaadha Malayalam
2011 Race Niya Malayalam
Naayika Aleena Malayalam
2012 Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar Neelima Saroj Kumar Malayalam
Njanum Ente Familiyum Dr. Priya Malayalam
Arike Anuradha Malayalam
Thadaiyara Thaakka Priya Tamil
Jawan of Vellimala Anitha Malayalam
My Boss Priya S. Nair Malayalam
2013 Celluloid Janet Daniel Malayalam
Ladies and Gentleman Anu Malayalam
Musafir Anupama Gopalakrishnan Nair Malayalam
Paisa Paisa Surya Malayalam
2014 To Noora with Love Noorjahan (Noora) Malayalam
Varsham Dr. Jayasree Malayalam
2015 Two Countries Laya Malayalam
2016 Thoppil Joppan Maria Varkey Malayalam
2017 Udaharanam Sujatha Deepa M Malayalam Extended cameo
Crossroad Badarunneesa Malayalam Segment: "Badar"
Goodalochana Padma Malayalam
2018 Carbon Sameera Malayalam
Neeli Lakshmi Malayalam
Johny Johny Yes Appa Amala Jayakumar Malayalam
2019 Nine Annie Lewis Malayalam
Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel Anuradha Sudharshan Malayalam
2020 Forensic Rithika Xavier IPS Malayalam [30]
2021 Bhramam Simi Malayalam
Enemy Anisha Rajiv Tamil
Lalbagh Sara Malayalam
Sunny Dr. Anuradha Malayalam
Meow Sulekha Malayalam
2022 Jana Gana Mana Saba Mariyam Malayalam [31]
Theerppu Dr. Shwetha Malayalam Voice only
2023 Maheshum Marutiyum Gauri Malayalam [32]
Live Dr. Amala Malayalam [33]
Rudrangi Jwala Bhai Deshmukh Telugu [34]
Otta Unnamed Malayalam [35]
Bandra Sakshi Malayalam [36]
2024 Maharaja Aasifa Tamil [37]
TBA Identity TBA Malayalam Filming [38]

Television

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  • All series are in Malayalam unless otherwise noted.
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012 Kaiyil Oru Kodi Host
2016 Kerala Cancer Singer [39]
D 4 Dance Reloaded Judge [40]
2017 D 4 Dance: Junior v/s Senior Judge
Hand of God Mamta Short film
2023 Star Singer 9 Judge Launch episode only

Discography

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Year Song Film Music director Co-singer Language
2006 "Rakhi Rakhi"[41] Rakhi Devi Sri Prasad Devi Sri Prasad Telugu
2007 "Akalesthey Annam Pedatha" Shankar Dada Zindabad Devi Sri Prasad Solo Telugu
"36-24-36" Jagadam Devi Sri Prasad Solo Telugu
"Olammi Tikkareginda" Yamadonga M. M. Keeravani Jr. NTR Telugu
"Sakkubaayine" Chandamama K. M. Radha Krishnan[circular reference] Jassie Gift Telugu
"Mia" Tulasi Devi Sri Prasad Naveen Telugu
2008 "Buggalerrabada" Krishnarjuna M. M. Keeravani M. M. Keeravani Telugu
"Ghanana (Funny)" King Devi Sri Prasad Solo Telugu
"King" King Devi Sri Prasad Lesie Lewis Telugu
"Andamaina Manasulo" Andamaina Mansulo R. P. Patnaik Solo Telugu
"Sunley Zara " Victory Chakri Naveen Telugu
"Jenifer Laa" Victory Chakri Nithin, Shashank Telugu
"Yey Mister Ninne" Homam Nithin Raikwar Nihal, Shivani Telugu
"Kalai" Kaalai G. V. Prakash Kumar Benny Dayal Tamil
2009 "Gundelona" Jayeebhava S.Thaman Megha, Priya, Janani Telugu
"Daddy Mummy"[42] Villu Devi Sri Prasad Naveen Tamil
2010 Kadhalu Nidurinje Ennadiki (Album) Vijay Karun Solo Telugu
"Idai Vazhi" Goa Yuvan Shankar Raja Benny Dayal Tamil
"Njan" Anwar Gopi Sundar Prithviraj Sukumaran Malayalam
"Priyankari" The Thriller Dharan Kumar Haricharan Malayalam
"Priyankari"(Remix) The Thriller Dharan Kumar Benny Dayal Malayalam
2012 "Iravil Viriyum" Arike Ouseppachan Solo Malayalam
"Kan Thurannoru Kalyani" Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O. Ratheesh Vegha Solo Malayalam
2013 "Most Wanted" Bhai Devi Sri Prasad Narendra Telugu
2015 "Karuppana Kannazhagi" Aadupuliyattam Ratheesh Vegha Solo Malayalam
2019 Hei Diddle Aniyan Kunjinu Thannalayathu M. Jayachandran Solo Malayalam
2020 Thedal[43] Thedal (Music Video) Sachin Warrier Sachin Warrier Malayalam
Rumaal Ambili Lalbagh Rahul Raj Zia Ul Haq Malayalam
2023 Alapanam Live Alphons Joseph Solo Malayalam

Media image and other work

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Mamta is considered among the highest-paid Malayalam actresses.[44] In the Kochi Times Most Desirable Women list, she was placed 7th in 2017,[45] 5th in 2018,[46] 8th in 2019,[47] and 17th in 2020.[48] In 2011, she became the brand ambassador of Kochi International Fashion Week.[49] In 2013, she became the brand ambassador for Kerala Strikers in Celebrity Cricket League.[50]

Mohandas started working on television, by hosting the quiz show Kaiyil Oru Kodi in 2012, which was later cancelled.[39] She has also judged two seasons of D 4 Dance.[40] In 2020, Mamta launched her own production company Mamta Mohandas Productions.[51]

Accolades

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Kerala State Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Vanitha Film Awards
Asiavision Awards
  • 2016: Woman of the Year.[59]
  • 2017: Pride of South India.
Mathrubhumi - Kalyan Silks Chalachithra Awards
Asianet Comedy Awards

References

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  1. ^ India, Aaj (22 October 2024). "Mamta Mohandas Movies, Early Life, Relationships, & Education". Aaj India. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Adaminte Makan Abu adjudged best film". The Hindu. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Mamta Mohandas — Destiny's Child". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Mamta Mohandas, Soubin Shahir, Shine Tom Chacko to team up for VK Prakash's social thriller 'Live'". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. ^ "'Reports that I'm surrendering to cancer is false,' says Mamta Mohandas". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Courageous star". Gulf Weekly. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Mamta Signs Up". Bahrain This Month. 2 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Mamta Mohandas – Malayalam celebrities the stories and the gossips". Movies.deepthi.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ^ http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCo8JF0aqtag5UBNrB-KN6ElgLas1jfw857N68tgL5C4aJauXPgg [dead link]
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  25. ^ Rohit Raj (25 April 2013). "There is a relapse of cancer, but will pass: Mamta Mohandas". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  26. ^ Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (3 February 2018). "Mamta Mohandas talks 'Carbon' and a new phase in her life". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  27. ^ Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (6 September 2020). "South Indian actress Mamta Mohandas' music video shot in Dubai garners fans". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Mamta Mohandas proudly embraces her skin condition on World Vitiligo Day; says 'some chocolate to touch that Vanilla sky!'". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
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  33. ^ "First look of VK Prakash's Live out". The New Indian Express. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Rudrangi Mamta Mohandas first look poster out!". News18. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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  41. ^ "8 best songs sung by Mamta Mohandas". Radio Mirchi. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  42. ^ "7 Gorgeous South Indian actresses who are great singers as well". Radio Mirchi. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Sachin Warrier – Mamta Mohandas album 'Thedal' is a tribute to love". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  44. ^ "M-town's highest paid actresses". Times of India. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
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  50. ^ Kerala Strikers – Celebrity Cricket League
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