Pooja Umashankar
Pooja Gauthami Umashankar, mononymously known as Pooja, is an Indian-Sri Lankan actress, who has primarily appeared in Tamil, Sinhala and Malayalam language films.
Early and personal life
Pooja's mother, Sandhya, is a Sri Lankan Sinhalese and her father, H. R. Umashankar, is an Indian Kannadiga Brahmin from Sringeri, in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka.[1] Umashankar was at Valparai, working with Hindustan Unilever Limited, as a manager. Pooja can speak Kannada, Sinhala, Tamil, and English.[2] After she did her pre-schooling in Sri Lanka, she came to India and went to Poornapragnya in Aldur, Chikmagalur and then to Nirmala Convent in Mysuru.[2] Later she continued her education at Baldwin's Girls High school in Bengaluru and did graduation (B.Com.) and Post Graduation (MBA) at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.[2]
In December 2016, she married Prashan David Vethakan, who is a Sri Lankan businessman.[3]
Career
Pooja was introduced by a friend of her to cinematographer-turned-director Jeeva, who signed her for the role of Anglo-Indian girl in his Tamil venture Ullam Ketkumae.[4] Pooja said that at that time she planned to finish that film and return to her original job and did not take an acting career into consideration. She stated: "I said to myself I'd act in just this film, see what it's like, make good use of the money and get back to studying".[4] She was soon offered a role opposite R. Madhavan, which she could not decline and made her rethink her decision.[4] Ullam Ketkumae's massive delay meant that her second film, the romantic comedy Jay Jay (2004), directed by Saran, became her first official release.[5] Pooja received favorable reviews for her performance in Jay Jay;[6] G. Ulaganathan from Deccan Herald wrote: "Spirited, lively, Pooja's sparkling eyes and smile do leave an impression". She next played the romantic interest of Ajith Kumar in another Saran film, Attahasam, which, in spite of mixed critical response, went on to become a financial success.[7] Pooja, too, met with criticism, with critics citing that she had "only limited role" and was "wasted [...] in an insignificant and half-baked role".[8] Pooja's subsequent release happened to be Ullam Ketkumae that featured her in one of the five leading roles alongside Shaam, Laila, Arya and Asin. The film fetched positive remarks and emerged as a sleeper hit.[9] She went to appear in commercial Tamil films such as Thambi and Pori. In 2007, Pooja also appeared in a Malayalam film, Panthaya Kozhi, before landing the lead female role in Bala's Naan Kadavul. Her portrayal of Hamshavalli, a blind beggar, was critically appreciated and earned her several accolades, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Character Artiste. Following Naan Kadavul, Pooja went on a sabbatical, appeared just in cameo roles in TN-07 AL 4777, Drohi and the Telugu film Orange.
Her big budget film Kusa Pabha released in early 2012 and became the highest grosser ever in the history of Sri Lankan film industry. Critics praised Pooja for her role of Pabawathi.
Television
She was one of the judges in the reality dance show Aatam Paatam Kondatam Kalaignar TV, Sun TV.[citation needed]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Jay Jay | Seema | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Attahasam | Sapna | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Ullam Ketkumae | Irene | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Jithan | Priya | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Anjalika | Anjalika, Uththara | Sinhala | |
| 2006 | Pattiyal | Sandhya | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Thambi | Archana | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Thagapansamy | Marikozhundhu Shanmugam | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Pori | Pooja | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Panthaya Kozhi | Shenbagam | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Asai Man Piyabanna | Ranmalee / Maleesha | Sinhala | |
| 2007 | Oram Po | Rani | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Yahaluvo | Manorani | Sinhala | |
| 2009 | Naan Kadavul | Hamshavalli | Tamil | |
| 2009 | TN-07 AL 4777 | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 2010 | Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe | Rashmi | Sinhala | |
| 2010 | Drohi | Roja | Tamil | Guest appearance |
| 2010 | Orange | Meenakshi | Telugu | Guest appearance |
| 2011 | Smoking Kills | Pooja | English | Short film |
| 2012 | Kusa Pabha | Pabawathi | Sinhala | |
| 2012 | Mirage | Priya | English | Short film |
| 2013 | Vidiyum Munn | Rekha | Tamil | |
| 2015 | Kadavul Paathi Mirugam Paathi | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 2016 | Paththini | Kannagi (Paththini) | Sinhala | |
| 2016 | Sarigama | Mariya | Sinhala |
Television
| Show | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daskon | Princess Pramila | Sinhala | Teledrama |
| Derana city of dance session 5 | Judge | Reality show | |
| Aatam Paatam Kondatam | Judge | Tamil | Reality show |
| Derana city of dance session 6 | Judge | Sinhala | Reality show |
| Dance Jodi Dance | Judge | Tamil | Reality show |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Sarasaviya Awards | Most Popular Actress | Anjalika | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Nominated | ||||
| 2007 | Asai Man Piyabanna | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Actress | Nominated | ||||
| 2009 | Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Naan Kadavul | Won | |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Won | ||
| Vijay Awards | Best Actress | Won | |||
| 2013 | Derana Film Awards | Most Popular Actress | Kusa Pabha | Won | |
| Best Actress | Nominated | ||||
| Hiru Golden Film Awards | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | |||
| Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards | Best Actress | Vidiyum Munn | Won | ||
| Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Won | ||||
| 2014 | Filmfare Awards South | Nominated | |||
| Vijay Awards | Nominated | ||||
| SIIMA - Tamil | Nominated | ||||
| 2016 | SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Awards | Most Popular Actress | Won | ||
| Sarasaviya Awards | Best Actress | Sarigama | Won | ||
| 2017 | Derana Film Awards | Most Popular Actress | Paththini | Won | |
| Janabhimani Honorary Award | Won | Honor From Sri Lankan Government[10] | |||
| 2018 | Hiru Golden Film Awards | Most Popular Actress | Won |
References
- ^ "Pooja Umashanker: About Me". Pooja Umashankar. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ a b c . The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ^ "Actress Pooja gets married - Times of India". The Times of India. 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b c . The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007.
- ^ . The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007.
- ^ "Jay Jay – Tamil Movie Review". thiraipadam.com
- ^ "Ajith tastes success!". Ia.rediff.com. 23 November 2004. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ . Sify.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ . Sify.com. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Honorary Award". poojaumashankar.tumblr.com.