Devayani | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Devayani at Mumbai International Film Festival, 2014 | |
| Born | Sushma Jaidev 22 June 1973 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse(s) | ( m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Nakul (brother) |
| Awards | Kalaimamani |
Sushma Jaidev (born 22 June 1974), professionally known as Devayani Rajakumaran, is an Indian actress known for her works primarily in Tamil and Malayalam films. She has also appeared in a few Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Bengali films.
She has received several awards for her performances in Kadhal Kottai (1996), Suryavamsam (1997) and Bharathi (2000).
She was honoured with a Kalaimamani Award in 2000. She won the Best Supporting Actress for the movie Azhagi (2002). She also won the Best Television Actress for her role in the serial Kolangal (2003–2009).
Personal life
Devayani was born on 22 June 1974 in Mumbai, Maharashtra to a Konkani father from Mangalore and a Malayali mother.<ref>"Devayani latest interview: Actress shares the love story". Samayam Malayalam (in മലയാളം). 28 April 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.</ref><ref>https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUc0_gRF6IC/</ref> She has two younger brothers Nakkhul and Mayur. The former is working as an actor and singer in the Tamil film industry.<ref>"I never gave her a gift: Nakul". The Times of India. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.</ref><ref>"I want to earn a good name: Nakul". The Times of India. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.</ref> She married director Rajakumaran on 9 April 2001.<ref>"The Hindu: Tinsel to TV". The Hindu. 6 December 2003. Archived from the original on 30 May 2004.</ref><ref>"Devayani's wedding". Tamil Movies. 19 April 2001. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008.</ref> They have two daughters.<ref>"Taking care of children, my first priority: Devayani". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012.</ref><ref>"Former South Actress Devayani is Now a School Teacher". NDTV.com. 5 December 2014.</ref>
Career
Devayani began her career in the Hindi film Koyal, which was later cancelled during its production stage.<ref>"The Hindu: Cinema Plus / Columns: My first break – Devayani". The Hindu. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008.</ref> She later appeared in Bengali film Shaat Ponchomi (1993).<ref>"Actress Devayani acted in Hindi, Bengali and Marathi films before making her Tamil debut". The Times of India. 21 May 2018.</ref> She also acted in a Marathi film before debuting in the South with lead roles in Malayalam films as Kinnaripuzhayoram (1994).
Devayani made her debut with the film Thotta Chinungi (1995). Flaunting her glamorous avatar, the actress gained popularity in 1996 with the film Kadhal Kottai. She starred opposite Ajith in the film which was directed by Agathiyan. The film received positive acclaim among the audience.<ref>"Actress Devayani Rajakumaran's Pictures With Daughters The Cutest Thing On Internet Today". 10 January 2024.</ref> The movie was successful in establishing Devayani as the most successful actress in South Indian Cinema.<ref>"Actress Devayani Rajakumaran's Pictures With Daughters The Cutest Thing On Internet Today". 10 January 2024.</ref> Devayani, later, appeared in many films opposite several renowned names in the film industry.<ref>"Actress Devayani Rajakumaran's Pictures With Daughters The Cutest Thing On Internet Today". 10 January 2024.</ref>
She was a part of several successful films, including Surya Vamsam (1997), Marumalarchi (1998), Ninaithen Vandhai (1998), Nee Varuvai Ena (1999), Bharathi (2000), Thenali (2000), Friends (2001), Aanandham (2001) and Azhagi (2002).
The late 90s and early 2000s were the golden years for Devayani as she delivered over 50 films, and most of them were blockbusters.<ref>"UnforgettableOnes: Actress Devayani". The Times of India. 25 May 2022.</ref>
Devayani over the years played powerful female characters until 2001 when she fell in love with Rajakumaran who directed her Vinnukum Mannukum. She has also played small cameos in hit movies like Panchathantiram (2002) alongside Kamal Haasan.
She has become a virtual cult figure in Tamil Nadu after the success of the Mega Serial Sun TV's serial Kolangal (2003–2009).
She has produced a few films that her husband directs, a notable one being Thirumathi Thamizh (2013) where she played an important role.<ref>"Devayani's comeback in Thirumathi Thamizh". The Times of India. 15 January 2017.</ref>
In the late 2010s she was a judge on a reality show on Mazhavil Manorama titled Ugram Ujwalam. In 2021, she acted in Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal, a Tamil serial of Zee Tamil.<ref>"Devayani Rajakumaran set to make her TV comeback with Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal; details inside". The Times of India. 9 March 2021.</ref> Later, she slowly took up the role of mother.<ref>"Senior actress-Devyani-turns-school-teacher-for a-private-school". India Herald.</ref>
Devayani has directed a short film named Kaikuttai Rani (2024).<ref name="Devayani interview: On directing short film, ‘Kaikuttai Rani’, and how ‘Kolangal’ changed her life">"Devayani interview: On directing short film, 'Kaikuttai Rani', and how 'Kolangal' changed her life". The Hindu. 3 February 2025. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.</ref> The film won Best Children's Short Film at the 7th Jaipur International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in Devayani's transition from acting to filmmaking.<ref>"Devayani's directorial debut 'Kaikuttai Rani' earns global reception". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 January 2025.</ref>
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Shaat Ponchomi | Bengali | Credited as Sushma | |
| Dhusar Godhuli | Moulika | Credited as Koel | ||
| 1994 | Kinnaripuzhayoram | Indhu | Malayalam | Malayalam Debut |
| 1995 | Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu | Alice | ||
| Three Men Army | Shubha | |||
| Kakkakum Poochakkum Kalyanam | Latha.S.Pillai | |||
| Dil Ka Doctor | Dolly | Hindi | Credited as Koyal and Hindi cinema debut | |
| Thotta Chinungi | Ramya | Tamil | Tamil Debut | |
| 1996 | Kalloori Vaasal | Nivetha | ||
| Chhota Sa Ghar | Vidya | Hindi | Credited as Koyal | |
| Kadhal Kottai | Kamali | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize<br />Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | |
| Poomani | Vijaya | |||
| Sivasakthi | Guest Appearance | |||
| Mahathma | Saraswathi | Malayalam | ||
| Kinnam Katta Kallan | Anju | |||
| Mr. Clean | Nirmala | |||
| Kaathil Oru Kinnaram | Megha | |||
| Ajay | Anjali | Hindi | ||
| 1997 | Vivasaayi Magan | Jyothi | Tamil | |
| Kaadhali | Soubhagyavathi | |||
| Periya Idathu Mappillai | Lakshmi | |||
| Surya Vamsam | Nandhini | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress<br />Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | ||
| 1998 | Suswagatham | Sandhya | Telugu | Telugu Debut |
| Kizhakkum Merkkum | Malli | Tamil | ||
| Marumalarchi | Jayanthi | |||
| Udhavikku Varalaamaa | Mythili | |||
| Swarnamukhi | Swarnamukhi | |||
| Ninaithen Vandhai | Savithri | |||
| Moovendhar | Vaidegi | |||
| Poonthottam | Sundari | |||
| Senthooram | Otta Rosa (Megala) | |||
| Srimathi Vellostha | Archana | Telugu | ||
| En Uyir Nee Thaane | Janaki | Tamil | ||
| Pudhumai Pithan | Aarthi | |||
| 1999 | Thodarum | Seetha Anand | ||
| Kummi Paattu | Amaravathi | |||
| Nee Varuvai Ena | Nandhini | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | ||
| Oruvan | Nandhini | |||
| Premotsava | Chandana | Kannada | Kannada Debut | |
| Nilave Mugam Kaattu | Kasthuri | Tamil | ||
| Paattali | Sakunthala | |||
| Manikyam | Meenakshi | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Vallarasu | Anjali Vallarasu | Tamil | |
| Appu | Seetha | |||
| Ennamma Kannu | Gayathri | |||
| Bharathi | Chellamal Bharathi | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress<br /> Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | ||
| Thenali | Jalaja Kailash | |||
| Kannukku Kannaga | Devi | |||
| 2001 | Friends | Padmini | ||
| En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maadhiri | Maheswari | |||
| Vinnukum Mannukum | Devayani | |||
| Aanandham | Bharathi | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | ||
| Ninaikkaadha Naalillai | Kavitha | |||
| Sundara Purushan | Jyothika Menon | Malayalam | ||
| Kottai Mariamman | Rajeswari | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Vivaramana Aalu | Pappu | ||
| Azhagi | Valarmathi Shanmugham | ITFA Best Supporting Actress Award<br />Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil | ||
| Panchathantiram | Nirmala | |||
| Thenkasi Pattanam | Sangeetha | |||
| Guruvamma | Guruvamma | |||
| Samasthanam | Divya | |||
| Padai Veetu Amman | Samundi | |||
| Chennakesava Reddy | Chennakesava Reddy's sister | Telugu | ||
| 2003 | Kadhaludan | Kavitha | Tamil | Also producer |
| Bheeshmar | Gowri Bheeshmar | |||
| Balettan | Radhika | Malayalam | ||
| 2004 | Naani | Indira Devi | Telugu | Simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil |
| New | Indira | Tamil | ||
| Sivaram | Nandhini | Telugu | ||
| Giri | Suryaprakash's wife | Tamil | ||
| Sema Ragalai | Devi | |||
| Senthalam Poovae | ||||
| Soumyam | Malayalam | |||
| 2005 | Naran | Janaki | ||
| 2009 | Aiyantham Padai | Kalpana Gunasekaran | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Oru Naal Varum | Rajalekshmi | Malayalam | |
| 2011 | Sarkar Colony | Padmini Shivaramakrishnan | ||
| 2013 | Thirumathi Thamizh | Jothi | Tamil | Also producer |
| 2015 | Sagaptham | Lakshmi | ||
| Strawberry | Shanthi Aadhiraj | |||
| 2016 | Janatha Garage | Prabha Sathyam | Telugu | |
| 2017 | My School | Mahalakshmi | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava | Suguna | Telugu | |
| Ezhumin | Bharathi | Tamil | ||
| Kalavani Mappillai | Rajeswari | |||
| 2019 | NTR: Kathanayakudu | Akkineni Annapurna | Telugu | |
| 2021 | Love Story | Mounica's mother | Telugu | |
| Madhagaja | Rathnamma | Kannada | ||
| 2023 | Anuragam | Mercy | Malayalam | <ref>"Gautham Vasudev Menon's Malayalam Film Anuragam To Be Released On This Date". News18. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.</ref> |
| 2024 | Devaki Nandana Vasudeva | Devaki | Telugu | |
| 2025 | Nizharkudai | Jothi | Tamil | <ref>M, Narayani (30 April 2025). "Nizhar Kudai Trailer: Devayani becomes entangled in a tale of love and longing". Cinema Express. Retrieved 1 May 2025.</ref> |
| 3BHK | Shanthi Vasudevan | |||
| Kiss | Daisy Marcus |
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television
Serials
| Year | Serial | Role | Language | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2009 | Kolangal | Abinaya(Abi) | Tamil | Sun TV |
| 2007–2008 | Manjal Magimai | Soundarya/Neeraja | Kalaignar TV | |
| 2010–2011 | Kodi Mullai | Anna Kodi/Malar Kodi | Raj TV | |
| 2011–2013 | Muthaaram | Ranjini Devi / Sivaranjani | Sun TV | |
| 2019–2020 | Rasaathi | Illavarasi Soundaravalli | ||
| 2021–2022 | Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal | Lakshmi | Zee Tamil | |
| 2021 | Sembaruthi | Amman (Cameo) | ||
| 2023 | Maari | Muthupechi (Cameo) |
Shows
| Year | Serial | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | Ugram Ujjwalam season 2 | Judge | Malayalam | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2016–2017 | Jodi Number One | Tamil | Vijay TV | |
| 2017 | Junior Super Stars Season 2 | Zee Tamil | ||
| 2022 | Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal Niraivu Vizha | Lakshmi |
As director
Short film
| Year | Film | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kaikuttai Rani | <ref>https://asianlite.com/2025/films/film-review/devayanis-directorial-debut-kaikuttai-rani-wins-best-short-film-award/</ref> |