Latha (actress)

Latha
Latha
Born	Nalini Sethupathi; 7 June 1953 (age 73); Tamil Nadu, India
Other name	Latha
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1973–1984; 1992–2012; 2016–present
Spouse	Sabapathy (married in 1983)
Children	2
Father	Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi
Relatives	Rajkumar Sethupathi (brother)

Latha Sethupathi, also known as Latha, is an Indian actress who starred in leading roles in South Indian films from 1973 to 1983. Latha became popular through her roles opposite MGR. She is also known for her roles in various Tamil television series.^[1]

Early life

Latha Sethupathi was born into the Sethupathi clan, the royal family of Ramnad, in Tamil Nadu, India. She is the daughter of politician Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi; her mother was named Leelarani. As her mother was not her father's official wife, Latha's status within the family was considered illegitimate. She has a brother, actor Rajkumar Sethupathy, and half-brothers Dasarathan Sethupathi and Ramanatha Sethupathi. Latha's fluency in both Tamil and Telugu stemmed from her mother's origin in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.^[2] Her father died in 1967, when she was still a young girl.

Career

She started her career at the age of fifteen with encouragement from her aunt, actress Kamala Kotnis.^[3] Her first film was Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973), starring and produced by M. G. Ramachandran.^[4]^[5] M.G Ramachandran recommended her for the role alongside Akkineni Nageswara Rao for Andala Ramudu (1973), marking her debut in Telugu films.^[6]

She specialized playing roles in Tamil and Telugu films. She played Zeenat Aman's role in the two remakes of Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973): the Telugu film, Annadammula Anubandham (1975) and the Tamil film Naalai Namadhe (1975). She played Jaya Bhaduri's role from Zanjeer (1973) in the Telugu remake Nippulanti Manishi (1974), and the Tamil remake, Sirithu Vazha Vendum (1974). She won a Filmfare Award for her performance in Vattathukkul Sadhuram (1978).^[7]

She was also briefly involved in politics, following her father Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi, the Raja of Ramnad.^[8]^[3]

After a hiatus of 14 years, she began acting again in Tamil and Telugu series. In 2002, she played a mother-in-law role in the Telugu television series Eenati Ramayanam,^[9] Pavithrabandham, and Matti Manishi.^[10] Latha had impressed audience with her act on the small screen as well, and has been part of many TV soaps, including Chithi, Selvi, Arasi and Chandrakumari.^[11]

Politics

She was one of the founding member of AIADMK. When MGR founded the party, Latha joined and donated money.^[12]

Personal life

She married Sabapathy, a businessman from Singapore, in 1983. She has two sons, Karthik and Srinivas.^[4]^[13] Following her marriage, she gradually reduced her acting commitments, focusing more on her personal life. Despite stepping away from the limelight, she has remained a well-known figure in Tamil cinema.

Notable filmography

Year	Film	Role	Language
1973	Ulagam Sutrum Valiban	Lilly	Tamil
1973	Gandhi Puttina Desham		Telugu
1973	Veettukku Vandha Marumagal		Tamil
1973	Andala Ramudu	Sita	Telugu
1974	Netru Indru Naalai	Sumathi	Tamil
1974	Sirithu Vazha Vendum	Mala	Tamil
1974	Urimai Kural	Radha	Tamil
1974	Chamundeshwari Mahime		Kannada
1974	Sorgathil Thirumanam		Tamil
1974	Sivakamiyin Selvan	Kavitha	Tamil
1974	Nippulanti Manishi	Lakshmi	Telugu
1974	Intinti Katha		Telugu
1974	Ammayi Pelli	Padmini / Puppy	Telugu
1975	Pallandu Vazhga	Saroja	Tamil
1975	Naalai Namadhe	Rani	Tamil
1975	Ninaithadhai Mudippavan	Mohana	Tamil
1975	Niramaala		Malayalam
1975	Anbu Roja		Tamil
1975	Rakta Sambandhalu		Telugu
1975	Annadammula Anubandham	Sunitha / Sony	Telugu
1976	Padi Pantalu^[14]	Leela	Telugu
1976	Needhikku Thalaivanangu	Vimala	Tamil
1976	Uzhaikkum Karangal	Muthamma	Tamil
1976	Manamaara Vazhthungal		Tamil
1976	Magaadu	Geeta	Telugu
1977	Meenava Nanban	Kamali	Tamil
1977	Navarathinam	Manikkum	Tamil
1977	Kurukshetram	Satyabhama	Telugu
1978	Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan	Kayalvizhi	Tamil
1978	Devadasi	Manjari	Kannada
1978	Shankar Salim Simon	Vasanthi	Tamil
1978	Vayasu Ponnu		Tamil
1978	Prathyaksha Daivam		Malayalam
1978	Prema Paga		Telugu
1978	Kumara Raja		Telugu
1978	Simha Garjana		Telugu
1978	Aayiram Jenmangal	Savithri	Tamil
1978	Ahalya		Malayalam
1978	Varuvan Vadivelan	Uma	Tamil
1978	Vayanadan Thamban		Malayalam
1978	Vattathukkul Chaduram	Anu	Tamil
1978	Kannamoochi		Tamil
1979	Andadu Aagadu	Latha	Telugu
1979	Sankhu Teertham		Telugu
1979	Pancha Bhoothalu		Telugu
1979	Neeya?	Latha	Tamil
1979	Gnana Kuzhandhai	Ponni	Tamil
1979	Suprabatham		Tamil
1979	Urvashi Neene Nanna Preyasi		Kannada
1979	Urvasi Neeve Naa Preyasi		Telugu
1979	Malligai Mohini		Tamil
1979	Needhikku Mun Neeya Naana		Tamil
1979	Srungara Ramudu	Shanti	Telugu
1979	Ramabanam		Telugu
1979	Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren	Vani	Tamil
1979	Pancha Bhoothalu		Telugu
1980	Love in Singapore	Sudha	Malayalam
1980	Ramudu Parasuramudu		Telugu
1980	Love in Singapore	Sudha	Telugu
1980	Raman Parasuraman		Tamil
1980	Anna Paravai		Tamil
1981	Oru Iravu Oru Paravai		Tamil
1981	Pinneyum Pookkunna Kadu		Malayalam
1981	Deiva Thirumanangal	Parvathy / Meenatchi	Tamil
1981	Devi Dharisanam		Tamil
1981	Parvathy	Parvathi Bhai	Malayalam
1981	Antha	Rajni	Kannada
1981	Samskaram		Malayalam
1982	Erattai Manithan	Kannamma	Tamil
1982	Ilaya Magan		Tamil
1992	Amaran		Tamil
1994	Raja Pandi		Tamil
1997	Vasuki	Parvatham	Tamil
1997	Rettai Jadai Vayasu	Anjali's mother	Tamil
1998	Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi	ushpa's mother	Tamil
1999	Pudhu Kudithanam	Seethalakshmi	Tamil
1999	Thachiledathu Chundan		Malayalam
2000	Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela	Parvathi amma	Tamil
2004	Jana	Jana's aunt	Tamil
2006	Kusthi		Tamil
2010	Vallakottai	Easwara Pandian's mother	Tamil
2018	Nagesh Thiraiyarangam	Dr. Sakuntala	Tamil
2022	The Legend	Saravanan's mother	Tamil

Television

Series

Year	Title	Role	Language	Channel
1999–2000	Idhi Katha Kadu		Telugu	ETV
2000	Chithi	Rajeshwari	Tamil	Sun TV
2000–2001	Matti Manishi		Telugu	Doordarshan
2001-2002	Kelunga Mamiyare Neengalum Marumagal Than	Rajeshwari	Tamil	Sun TV
2001–2003	Pavithrabandham	Sasirekha	Telugu	Gemini TV
2002–2003	Eenati Ramayanam		Telugu	Gemini TV
2005–2006	Selvi	Thangam	Tamil	Sun TV
2006–2012	Kasthuri	Radha		Sun TV
2007-2009	Arasi	Thangam		Sun TV
2010–2012	No: 23 Mahalakshmi Nivasam	Rajeshwari	Telugu	Gemini TV
2016–2019	Valli	Rajeshwari	Tamil	Sun TV
2019	Chandrakumari			Sun TV
2019–2020	Siva Manasula Sakthi	Rajalakshmi		Star Vijay
2019–2020	Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum	Vijayalakshmi		Star Vijay
2019–2020; 2021	Roja	Canada Kamakshi		Sun TV
2020–2023	Abhiyum Naanum	Rajeshwari		Sun TV
2021–2022	Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal	Amuthanayaki		Star Vijay
2023–2024	Mr. Manaivi	Maragatham		Sun TV

Shows

Year	Title	Role	Language	Channel
2020	Vanakkam Tamizha	Guest	Tamil	Sun TV
2020	Vanakkam Tamizha	Guest
2020	Yarappa Inda Ponu	Herself
2021	Mathappu Sondhangal
2022	Puthandu Saval

References

↑ "This Leading Lady Once Donated Rs 30 Lakh To MG Ramachandran's Election Funds". News18. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
↑ "நடிப்பு, நடனம் லதா பயிற்சி பெற எம்.ஜி.ஆர். ஏற்பாடு" [MGR helped Latha for practising acting and dance]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
↑ "உலகம் சுற்றும் வாலிபனில் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அறிமுகம் செய்த லதா" [Latha was introduced by MGR through Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
↑ "Andala Ramudu (1973)". Telugu Cinema. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
↑ "List of Winners Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil". Imdb.
↑ "Sonia act fails to help Cong men retain even their deposit in TN". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
↑ ^{[dead link]}
↑ "Telly beckons top stars". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 August 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
↑ "Latha signs yet another fiction show". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
↑ "Rediff on the NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician".
↑ "சிங்கப்பூர் தொழில் அதிபரை மணந்தார் லதா" [Latha was married to Singapore businessman]. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
↑ "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

External links

Latha at IMDb

[1] "This Leading Lady Once Donated Rs 30 Lakh To MG Ramachandran's Election Funds". News18. Retrieved 11 December 2024.

[2] "நடிப்பு, நடனம் லதா பயிற்சி பெற எம்.ஜி.ஆர். ஏற்பாடு" [MGR helped Latha for practising acting and dance]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

[rediff.com-3] 1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

[rediff.com1-4] 1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

[5] "உலகம் சுற்றும் வாலிபனில் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அறிமுகம் செய்த லதா" [Latha was introduced by MGR through Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

[6] "Andala Ramudu (1973)". Telugu Cinema. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2010.

[7] "List of Winners Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil". Imdb.

[8] "Sonia act fails to help Cong men retain even their deposit in TN". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.

[9] {[dead link]}

[10] "Telly beckons top stars". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 August 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

[11] "Latha signs yet another fiction show". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 July 2019.

[12] "Rediff on the NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician".

[13] "சிங்கப்பூர் தொழில் அதிபரை மணந்தார் லதா" [Latha was married to Singapore businessman]. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.

[14] "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

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v t e Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress
1972–1979	J. Jayalalithaa (1972) J. Jayalalithaa (1973) Lakshmi (1974) Sujatha (1975) Sujatha (1976) Sujatha (1977) Latha (1978) Shoba (1979)
1980–1999	Saritha (1980) Sridevi (1981) Poornima Jayaram (1982) Lakshmi (1983) Saritha (1984) Radha (1985) Radhika (1986) Radhika (1987) Archana (1988) Bhanupriya (1989) Radhika (1990) Gautami (1991) Revathi (1992) Revathi (1993) Revathi (1994) Manisha Koirala (1995) Shruti (1996) Meena (1997) Kausalya (1998) Ramya Krishnan (1999)
2000–2019	Jyothika (2001) Laila (2002) Simran (2003) Laila (2004) Sandhya (2005) Asin (2006) Bhavana (2007) Priyamani (2008) Parvathy Thiruvothu (2009) Anjali (2010) Anjali (2011) Samantha (2012) Nayanthara (2013) Malavika Nair (2014) Nayanthara (2015) Ritika Singh (2016) Nayanthara (2017) Trisha (2018)
2020–present	Lijomol Jose (2020–2021) Sai Pallavi (2022) Nimisha Sajayan (2023) Sai Pallavi (2024)

v t e Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
1967–1980	K. R. Vijaya (1967) Padmini (1968) B. Saroja Devi & Sowcar Janaki (1969) K. R. Vijaya (1970) — (1971) — (1972) — (1973) — (1974) — (1975) — (1976) Latha (1977) Lakshmi (1978) Saritha (1979) Suhasini (1980)
1981–2000	Sridevi (1981) Saritha (1982) — (1983) — (1984) — (1985) — (1986) — (1987) Saritha (1988) Radhika (1989) Revathy (1990) Khushbu Sundar (1991) Sukanya (1992) Meena (1993) Rajashree (1994) Khushbu Sundar (1995) Shruti (1996) Meena & Devayani (1997) Roja (1998) Simran (1999) Devayani (2000)
2001–present	Sneha (2001) Meena (2002) Laila (2003) Jyothika (2004) Jyothika (2005) Priyamani (2006) Jyothika (2007) Sneha (2008) Padmapriya Janakiraman (2009) Amala Paul (2010) Ineya Lakshmi Menon (2012) Nayanthara (2013) Aishwarya Rajesh (2014) Jyothika (2015) Keerthi Suresh (2016) Nayanthara (2017) Jyothika (2018) Manju Warrier (2019) Aparna Balamurali (2020) Lijomol Jose (2021) Sai Pallavi (2022)