MayraBarnett41 at 14:38, 6 May 2026

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{{Short description|Indian film and television actress|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abitha
| image = Abitha-1.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Jenila
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername = Janeesha
| spouse = Sunil
| children = 2
| website =
| known_for =
| occupation = Actress
}}

'''Abitha''' is an Indian actress who appears in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil language films]] and television serials. She appeared in notable productions including [[Sethu (film)|''Sethu'']] alongside [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]. She is famous for her role as Archana in the serial ''[[Thirumathi Selvam]]'', which aired from 2007 to 2013 in Sun TV starring opposite [[Sanjeev (Tamil actor, born 1975)|Sanjeev]]. She was the winner of [[Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal for Best Actress]] twice by [[Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal]] for ''Thirumathi Selvam'' in the years 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metromasti.com/kollywood/news/Sun-TV-Sun-Kudumbam-Awards-2012-Sun-Kudumbam-Awards-Jan-6-2013/23704 |title=Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal 2012 Winner List |website=metromasti.com}}</ref>

==Career==
As a teenager, Abitha used to go and see the television serial, ''Nancy'' starring [[Sanghavi]], being filmed near her house in [[Thiruvottiyur]]. The director of that serial recognised her and spoke to her parents, roping her in to play the heroine's sister in their next TV serial ''Criminal''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/23/stories/2006112317840200.htm |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=I was thrilled when 'Sethu' was a big hit |date=23 November 2006}}</ref> After doing a couple of serials, she did a low-budget film titled ''[[Golmaal (1998 film)|Golmaal]]'' as the sister of the lead lady and then B-Grade film titled ''Devadasi'' in Malayalam. At that time, director Bala roped her in for a leading role in ''[[Sethu (film)|Sethu]]'' alongside [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], which she signed after [[Keerthi Reddy]] and Rajshri had dropped out.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/98/Mar/news3.htm |title=Tamil Movie News: March edition |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430054302/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/98/Mar/news3.htm |archive-date=30 April 2016 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> [[Bala (director)|Bala]] renamed her Abitha from her original name of Jenila for the film, after the character she was portraying. The film opened in December 1999 at a single noon show at a suburban theatre but built up through word-of-mouth publicity and ran for over one hundred days at several cinema halls across [[Chennai]], becoming a critical and commercial success. ''Sethu'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] and secured wins in the Best Film category at [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|the Filmfare Awards]] and the [[Cinema Express Award for Best Film – Tamil|Cinema Express Awards]], while Abitha won critical acclaim for her role of a [[Tamil Brahmin]] girl.<ref name="redwin">{{cite web |author=Warrier, Shobha |date=17 August 2004 |title=Vikram's obsession gets its reward |publisher=[[Rediff]] |accessdate=31 July 2011 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/aug/17vikram.htm}}</ref> After ''Sethu''{{'}}s success, Abitha was flooded with offers but chose to complete her studies and finish her PG in Sociology from [[Annamalai University]]. She revealed that by the time she decided to come back she had lost her contacts in the industry and was thereafter seen in only a couple of insignificant projects.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article439435.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Grill Mill - Abitha |date=27 May 2010}}</ref>

She appeared alongside veteran actor [[Ramarajan]] in ''[[Seerivarum Kaalai]]'' before starring in ''[[Poove Pen Poove]]'' alongside newcomer Ishaq Husseini. After the failure of those films she played the role of [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]]'s sister in ''[[Arasatchi]]''. Other films in the period, such as ''Pirantha Naal'' with [[Prakash Raj]], ''Kashmir'' with [[Abhinay]] and ''Kandhavel'' with [[Murali (Tamil actor)|Murali]] were not completed and indefinitely shelved.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/ntamil.asp |title=New Tamil films in the making |date=5 August 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030805141304/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/ntamil.asp |archive-date=5 August 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilmovies.com/cgi-bin/news/archives.cgi?category%3D1%26view%3D7-00 |title=Tamil Movies Online ::::: News |accessdate=24 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011030225/http://tamilmovies.com/cgi-bin/news/archives.cgi?category=1&view=7-00 |archivedate=11 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/location/birthday.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824054915/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/birthday.asp |archivedate=24 August 2004 |title=Location news - Pirantha naal |date=24 August 2004}}</ref> In 2005, she got another breakthrough and signed on to play the lead role in ''[[Kannamma (film)|Kannamma]]'' scripted by [[Karunanidhi]], but to do so she unceremoniously opted out of another film titled ''Ullakadathal''. Subsequently, the producers of that film complained and got her banned by the Producer's Council, leaving her out of both films.<ref>[http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/14007.html Archived copy] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130126120327/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/14007.html|date=26 January 2013}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10549.html Archived copy] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130126061844/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10549.html|date=26 January 2013}}</ref> Later that year she featured in ''[[Unarchigal (2006 film)|Unarchigal]]'' alongside [[Abbas (actor)|Abbas]] and [[Kunal Singh|Kunal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/02122005-5.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205004946/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/02122005-5.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2005 |title=டோடோவின் ரஃப் நோட்டு — Tamil Kavithai - தமிழ் கவிதைகள் - நூற்று கணக்கில்! |publisher=Cinesouth.com |accessdate=17 August 2019}}</ref>

Abitha was selected the best actress of Sun TV in the first two editions of Sun Kudumbam awards held in the years 2010 and 2012 for her performance as Archana in the show. She also starred in the serial ''Thangamana Purushan.'' She got married in 2009 and continued to work in serials following her marriage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/news-interviews/28186478_1_wedding-bells-sethu-small-screen |work=The Times of India |title=Wedding bells for Abitha |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207064819/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/news-interviews/28186478_1_wedding-bells-sethu-small-screen |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Ettupatti Rasa]]'' || Ponrasu's daughter || rowspan="2"|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] || rowspan="4"| Credited as Janeesha
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Golmaal (1998 film)|Golmaal]]'' || Reshma
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Masmaram]]'' || Jasmine|| Malayalam
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999 || ''[[Devadasi (1999 film)|Devadasi]]'' || Mala || [[Malayalam]]
|-
| ''[[Sethu (film)|Sethu]]'' || Abithakuchalambal (Abitha) || rowspan="5"|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] || Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2001 || ''[[Seerivarum Kaalai]]'' || Kamakshi ||
|-
|''[[Poove Pen Poove]]'' || ||
|-
| 2002 || ''Puthiya Alai'' || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|2004 || ''[[Arasatchi]]'' || Shwetha Ashok Mehta ||
|-
| ''Aagodella Olledakke'' || || [[Kannada]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2006 || ''[[Unarchigal (2006 film)|Unarchigal]]'' || Amrutha || rowspan="5"|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||
|-
| ''[[Suyetchai MLA]]'' || Lakshmi ||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Nam Naadu (2007 film)|Nam Naadu]]'' || Sathya's wife ||
|-
| 2017 || ''En Kadhal Devathai'' || ||
|-
| 2023 || ''[[Thee Ivan]]'' || ||
|}

== Television ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Channel !! Language
|-
|1997||''Criminal''|| || [[DD Podhigai|Doordarshan]] || rowspan="3"|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|-
|1998||''Gokulam Colony'' ||
|-
|2002|| ''Varam'' || Swarna || [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|-
|2002{{Endash}}2006 || ''[[Nagamma (TV series)|Nagamma]]'' || || [[Gemini TV]] || [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|-
|2003|| ''Kungumam'' || || Sun TV || Tamil
|-
|2003–2005|| ''Priyanaka'' || || [[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] || Telugu
|-
|2005|| ''[[Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV series)|Kadamattathu Kathanar]]'' || Unnimaya || [[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] || [[Malayalam]]
|-
|2006–2007|| ''Raja Rajeshwari'' || Raja Rajeshwari || rowspan="3"|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] || rowspan="15"|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|-
|2006–2007|| ''Sorgam'' || Surya
|-
|2007–2013 || ''[[Thirumathi Selvam]]'' || Archana
|-
|2008–2010 || ''Thangamana Purushan'' || Raasi || [[Kalaignar TV]]
|-
|2008 || ''[[Manikoondu]]'' || Special Appearance || [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|-
|2009 || ''Simran Thirai'' || Shalini || [[Jaya TV]]
|-
|2009–2010 || ''[[Adhiparasakthi]] '' || Renuka Devi || [[Raj TV]]
|-
|2011 || ''[[Thendral]]'' || Archana || rowspan="4"|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2014|| ''[[Ponnunjal (TV series)|Ponnunjal]]'' || Nandhini Vishwa
|-
|''[[Muthaaram]]''|| Ranjini Murali
|-
|2019||''[[Lakshmi Stores]]''|| [[Doctor (title)|Dr.]] Shyamala / Shanthi
|-
|2022–2023||''[[Maari (2022 TV series)|Maari]]''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/new-show-maari-set-to-launch-soon-abitha-set-for-a-comeback-after-3-years/articleshow/92015854.cms |title=New show 'Maari' set to launch soon; Abitha set for a comeback after 3 years |website=[[The Times of India]]|date=5 June 2022 }}</ref>|| Deivanai || rowspan="2"|[[Zee Tamil]]
|-
|2022||''[[DID Super Moms (season 3)|Super Mom Season 3]]''||Contestant
|-
|2025–2026||''[[Chinnanchiru Kiliye]]''||Suguna||[[Zee Tamil]]
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1414830}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]
[[Category:1985 births]]

Abitha - Revision history

MayraBarnett41 at 14:38, 6 May 2026