Vedhika Kumar

Vedhika Kumar, also known mononymously as Vedhika, is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films. She started her acting career with the Tamil film Madrasi. She made her breakthrough portraying Angamma in Bala's period film Paradesi (2013), winning critical acclaim and awards for her portrayal. A year later she delivered yet another big hit in Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014). In 2016, her Kannada film Shivalinga went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters in Kannada industry.[2] In 2019, she appeared in the Tamil film Kanchana 3 which became one of the highest grossing Tamil films of the year.[3]

Vedhika Kumar
Born (1988-02-21) 21 February 1988[1]
Solapur, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationActress
Years active2006-present

Early Career

Early in her career, 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 Kumar accepted the role.[4] Her role went largely unnoticed due to the film being based around Arjun's action image, with a critic labelling her performance as "adequate".[5] After the release of Madrasi, Kumar went on to sign a big budget Hindi language film, Jai Santoshi Maa, a remake of the 1975 film of the same name, but the film failed to subsequently materialize and Kumar continued acting in South Indian films.[6][7] She went on to feature in Raghava Lawrence's comedy horror Muni, but her role was minimal once again and the film went to become an average grosser commercially.[8] Her maiden Telugu venture was in Vijayadasami, a remake of the Tamil film Sivakasi, where her performance was described as "okay" and "average" by critics.[9]

Her first release in 2008, the Silambarasan-starrer Kaalai, received negative reviews and became a commercial failure.[10][11] However, the film became notable for the dance number, "Kutti Pisase" with Kumar's dancing being critically appreciated. She went on to appear in a second successive film which was panned by critics and which became a financial failure with a role in Sakkarakatti. The long-delayed film featured Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj making his debut in the lead role and A. R. Rahman providing the soundtrack, however Kumar's role was described as one of the sole positives from the project.[12][13] Later that year, she starred in a Kannada film, Sangama opposite Ganesh, and the film fetched her good reviews for her performance.[14] In 2009, she appeared as the radio jockey Anjali in A. Venkatesh's Malai Malai with the film consequently going on to become a success commercially.[15] The film had little scope for Kumar and reviews cited her role as "pure eye candy" whilst claiming she was "apt" for the role.[16][17] She made a comeback to Telugu films in the same year, with a role in the critically acclaimed Baanam.[18] 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, Kumar 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 in August 2011.[19]

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.[20] 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".[21][22] 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".[23][24] Her second release in 2013, the Malayalam film Sringaravelan, became one of the industry's biggest commercial successes of the year.[25]

Shen 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.[26][27] Portraying a character inspired by stage artist K. B. Sundarambal, Kumar noted it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" and signed the film straight after being offered it.[28] 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, for 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.[29] The film opened in November 2014 to positive reviews, with Kumar'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.com added it is a "role of substance and the big eyed actress has utilized her opportunity completely".[30][31]


Filmography
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role(s) Language(s) Notes
2006MadrasiAnjaliTamil
2007MuniPriya
VijayadasamiDeviTelugu
2008KaalaiBrindaTamil
SakkarakattiReema
SangamaLakshmiKannada
2009Malai MalaiAnjaliTamil
BaanamSubbalakshmiTelugu
2011Daggaraga DooramgaMeenakshi
2013ParadesiAngammaTamil
SringaravelanRadhaMalayalam
2014Kaaviya ThalaivanGanakokilam VadivambalTamil
CousinsArathiMalayalam
2016ShivalingaSatyabhaama alias SatyaKannada
James & AliceAliceMalayalam
Welcome to Central JailRadhika
2017Gowdru HotelRishi's girlfriendKannada
TharangamPooja PadmanabhanMalayalam
2019Muni 4: Kanchana 3PriyaTamil
The BodyRituHindi
RulerSandhyaTelugu
2020VinodhanTBATamilPost-Production
Home MinisterTBAKannadaPost Production
JungleTBATamil
Telugu		Filming

Awards and nominations
Year Film Award Category Result
2014ParadesiEdison Awards (India)Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance – FemaleWon
TechofesTechofes Award for Best ActressWon
Screen Moon AwardBest ActressWon
61st Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Actress – TamilNominated
Vijay AwardsVijay Award for Best ActressNominated
2015Kaaviya ThalaivanEdison Awards (India)Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance- FemaleWon
62nd Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Actress - TamilNominated
3rd SIIMA AwardsBest Actress TamilNominated
Vijay AwardsVijay Award for Best ActressNominated
Norway Tamil Film Festival AwardsNorway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best ActressWon
2016James & AliceAsiavision AwardsPerformer of the yearWon
2017Asianet Film AwardsBest actressNominated
6th SIIMA AwardsSIIMA Best Actress – MalayalamNominated
ShivalingaSIIMA Best Actress – KannadaNominated
gollark: There's also time and maaaaybe a whole bunch of hypothetical ones.
gollark: I said (at least).
gollark: Ah, you're one of those subversive "descriptivists".
gollark: Well, the popular meaning of dimensions is now that, but on the other hand it's annoying, confusing and wrong.
gollark: So, our universe has (at least) three spatial dimensions (up/down, left/right, forward/backward).

References
  1. "Vedhika". Times of India. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. Kohli, Sonali (21 February 2016). "Kannada Shivalinga 2nd Week 10th Day Box Office Collection Worldwide Earning". Dekh News. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  3. "Tamil film 'Kanchana 3' hits the jackpot, mints Rs 100-crore in a week". The Economic Times. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. Cinema Plus / Columns : My first break – Vedika. The Hindu (30 January 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  5. Madrasi Review – Tamil Movie Review by P.V.Sathish Kumar. Nowrunning.com (23 December 2005). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  6. Metro Plus Visakhapatnam / Cinema : Bollywood bound. The Hindu (15 April 2006). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  7. Tamil movies : ‘Madarasi’ Vedhika steps into Bollywood. Behindwoods.com (8 April 2006). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  8. Movie Review:Muni. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  9. Reviews : Movie Reviews : Vijaya Dasami – Movie Review
  10. Movie Review:Kaalai. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  11. Kaalai: A wasted effort. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  12. 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 on 18 October 2011.
  13. Review: Sakkarakkatti. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  14. Sangama Review – Kannada Movie Review by RGV. Nowrunning.com). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  15. Vedhika is married to work – Times Of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  16. Movie Review:Malai Malai. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  17. Malai Malai Review – Tamil Movie Review by Aravindan. Nowrunning.com (2 August 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  18. Interview With Vedika – Interviews. CineGoer.com (23 September 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  19. Vedika in Sumanth starrer. Sify.com (27 April 2011). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  20. "Vedika heroine of 'Eriyum Thanal'? – Tamil Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  21. "Paradesi movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  22. "Paradesi Tamil Movie Review – cinema preview stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". Indiaglitz.com. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  23. "Review: Paradesi is exceptional – Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  24. "Movie Review : Paradesi". Sify.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  25. "Vedhika to romance Dileep – Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  26. Vedhika not afraid of being typecast
  27. http://silverscreen.in/features/interviews/vedhika-interview-the-fairy-tale-princess/
  28. http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/kaaviya-thalaivan-team-interview/article6665215.ece
  29. http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Kaaviya-Thalaivan-was-a-Rewarding-Experience-Vedhika/2014/08/20/article2389285.ece
  30. http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kaaviyathalaivan/kaaviyathalaivan-review.html
  31. http://www.sify.com/movies/kaaviya-thalaivan-review-tamil-15058669.html
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