>Kailash29792 at 16:08, 13 May 2021

2021-05-13T16:08:25Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anuradha Menon
| image = Anuradha menon.jpg
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[India]], [[Pondicherry]]
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Actress<br/> Voice Actress
| years_active = 1987-present
| children =
}}
'''Anuradha Menon''' is an [[India]]n television actress and theatre artist. '''Lola Kutty''', the popular [[Channel V|Channel [V]]] [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]], is her [[alter ego]]. She is also VJ Laila on Channel V.

==Theatre==
Originally from [[Kerala]], Anuradha Menon grew up in [[Chennai]]. Her parents Mini and Mohan Menon worked in the advertising industry. Anuradha Menon started taking part in theatre productions in school. She was associated with ''[[The Madras Players]]'' for some years. In 2000, she played Shubra in Madras Players' ''Lizard Waltz'' (written by Chetan Shah and directed by Bhagirathi Narayanan).<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/12/01/stories/09010354.htm
|title=Rationalism vs mysticism
|date=2000-12-01
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108115137/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/12/01/stories/09010354.htm
|archive-date=8 January 2008
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref> She also studied theatre at a school in [[London]] for one year, London school of drama. Then, she moved to [[Mumbai]] as it was the hub of English theatre in India.<ref name="hindu_zen">{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/08/01/stories/2005080100500100.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107213532/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/08/01/stories/2005080100500100.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2012-11-07
|title= Zen and the art of storytelling. |date=2005-08-01
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|location=Chennai, India
}}</ref>

It was in Mumbai that she got her break into Indian theatre. She acted as a governess in [[Divya Palat]]'s "The Verdict." In this she was required to act with a heavy Malayali accent and this is what landed her the "Lola Kutty" role in Television. In 2004, while auditioning for a producer, she was spotted by VJ Gaurav of [[Channel V|Channel [V]]]. Gaurav immediately recommended her to Channel [V],<ref name="expressindia_kitty">
{{cite web
|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=124220
|title=From Kutty's Kitty
|date=2005-04-08
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408065553/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=124220
|archive-date=8 April 2005
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref> where she became popular as "Lola Kutty".

After she became famous as Lola Kutty, Anuradha Menon also got some film offers, but she considers theatre as her priority.<ref name="yahoo_seriousness">{{cite web
|url = http://in.news.yahoo.com/060818/48/66s7g.html
|title = In all seriousness
|date = 2005-08-20
|accessdate = 2006-12-05
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061201235656/http://in.news.yahoo.com/060818/48/66s7g.html
|archivedate = 1 December 2006
|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> She has performed in many notable plays including ''Zen Katha''<ref name="hindu_zen"/> and ''Sammy!'' (both directed by [[Lillete Dubey]]). In the two-act award-winning play ''Sammy!'', she played an ensemble of roles, including [[Sarojini Naidu]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.haftamag.com/content/view/148/45/
|title=Piercing the veil
|date=2006-07-24
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307234145/http://www.haftamag.com/content/view/148/45/
|archivedate=2007-03-07
}}</ref> In ''Only Women'' (directed by Deesh Mariwala), she played a [[nurse]] called Jasmine. The play deals with Jasmine's impending engagement and how it affects her swings in moods, one of which leads to fatal error in the profession, and how things are sorted out.

== Stand-Up ==
Anuradha Menon, otherwise known as Anu Menon, has donned the stand-up comedian's hat after Lola Kutty. She has popularly opened for [[Brad Sherwood]] and [[Colin Mochrie]] while they were on their India Tour. Her stand-up special ''Wonder Menon'' released in 2019 on [[Amazon Prime Video]]. She also featured in [[Vir Das]]'s [[Amazon Prime Video]] series ''Jestination Unknown'' as herself.

==Lola Kutty==
[[File:Anuradha Menon at Channel V's launch of India's first live film (cropped).jpg|thumb|Anuradha Menon as Lola Kutty.]]
Lola Kutty is a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] on [[Channel V|Channel[V]]]. Described as "the Channel [V] resident beauty on duty",<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.vindia.com/newshows.html| title= New shows on Channel <nowiki>[v]</nowiki>: Lola TV| accessdate= 2006-12-05| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061207174348/http://www.vindia.com/newshows.html| archivedate= 7 December 2006| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref> she is actually an [[alter ego]] of Anuradha Menon.<ref name="newindpress_mymoney">{{cite web
|url=http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEK20051229074749&eTitle=Money&rLink=0
|title=My Money : 'Lola Kutty', VJ
|date=2005-12-29
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111344/http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEK20051229074749&eTitle=Money&rLink=0
|archivedate=2007-09-29
}}</ref> Anuradha Menon appears in many of her public dealings as Lola Kutty.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://mobile.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1482952.cms
|title=The show must go on, off-screen too
|date=2006-04-26
|work=The Times of India
|accessdate=2006-12-05
}}</ref> When invited for an interview with [[Pooja Bedi]] on [[zoom (Indian TV channel)|zOOm]] with Mona Singh (Jassi of ''[[Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin]]''), she appeared as "Lola Kutty", unlike Mona Singh (who appeared as her off-screen self).

Lola Kutty is a bespectacled [[Kerala|Keralite]] lady who speaks English with a heavy [[Malayali people|Malayali]] accent. Unlike other VJs, she has curly oily hair sporting a ''[[gajra]]'' and wears silk [[sari]]s. Unlike Jassi of ''[[Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin]]'', Lola has no plans for a [[makeover]].<ref name="expressindia_kitty"/> She is a huge fan of [[Abhishek Bachchan]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.therecordmag.com/jan2005/lola.htm
|title=Lola Kutty: Beauty on Duty
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120155729/http://www.therecordmag.com/jan2005/lola.htm
|archivedate=20 November 2006
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Her assistant is Shiny Alex, who wears [[fluorescent]] shirts, matching [[slipper]]s, and [[mundu]] folded up.

In her show Celebrity Forum/Lola TV, Lola Kutty plays interviewer to celebrities esp. [[Bollywood]] personalities.<ref name="hindu_fun_lola_fun">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/02/21/stories/2005022101660100.htm
|title=Fun, Lola, fun
|date=2005-02-21
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211155727/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/02/21/stories/2005022101660100.htm
|archivedate=11 December 2006
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref> Lola's shows don't involve vulgar, corny or spicy humor; rather, they rely on witty asides and straight-faced questions for humor.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/05/28/stories/2005052801680300.htm
|title='Zimbly' Lola
|date=2005-05-28
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603120909/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/05/28/stories/2005052801680300.htm
|archive-date=3 June 2007
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref>

In 2006, a Limited Edition Deluxe Official 2006 Notebook ''Chronicle of Lola— the VJ, the Woman and the Wisecrack'' was released. The Notebook features various facets of Lola—modelling her "LolaWay products", giving ''gyaan'' (knowledge) and discussing movies.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb102006/she174851200629.asp
|title=Now, she's an open book!
|date=2006-02-10
|publisher=Deccan Herald
|accessdate=2006-12-05
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061207213454/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb102006/she174851200629.asp| archivedate= 7 December 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> The first edition received a very good response.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/04/stories/2006090402120200.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001062830/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/04/stories/2006090402120200.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-10-01
|title=In festive spirit
|date=2006-09-24
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|location=Chennai, India
}}</ref> Lola Kutty has also worked as [[agony aunt]] for [[The Record Music Magazine]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.therecordmag.com/feb2006/lolafeb.htm
|title=Lola Kutty: Love, Life & Lola
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120155656/http://www.therecordmag.com/feb2006/lolafeb.htm
|archivedate=20 November 2006
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Lola Kutty boosted Channel [V]'s TRP ratings considerably. Apart from India, she has a fan following among [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian diaspora]] in the [[Middle East]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/11/stories/2006091100750100.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001064335/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/11/stories/2006091100750100.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-10-01
|title= Lola speak: Lola Kutty now hits the road
|date=2006-02-10
|accessdate=2006-12-05
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|location=Chennai, India
}}</ref>

In real life (i.e. aside from her Lola Kutty alter ego), she speaks English with a tinge of UK accent. She is fluent in her mother-tongue, [[Malayalam]], as well.

===Awards and nominations===
Lola TV won three Golds and one Silver at the PROMAX & BDA India Awards<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.promaxasia.tv/india05-awards.html
|title="Channel <nowiki>[V]</nowiki> should pay me more!" - Lola Kutty
|date=2005-05-18
|accessdate=2006-12-05
}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* Gold - Best comedy Promo (Lola TV)
* Gold - Funniest Spot (Lola TV)
* Gold - Best On-Air Branding (Lola - Matchbox ID/Lola TV/Lola Kutty)
* Silver - Best Entertainment Promo (Lola TV Promo)

At The Indian Telly Awards 2006, Lola Kutty was nominated for "Best Anchor Award - Talk Show" for Lola T[v].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.businessworld.in/issue/show.asp?id=3340
|title=NDTV Sweeps the Television Awards of 2006
|date=2006-11-27
|work=The Times of India
|accessdate=2006-12-05
}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Lola Kutty also appeared in the 2009 movie [[Quick Gun Murugun]] as the Locket Girl, and in the 2014 film [[Happy New Year (2014 film)|Happy New Year]] as a television reporter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/television/170616/please-mallus-dont-call-me-lola-kutty-anuradha-menon.html|title=Please Mallus don't call me Lola Kutty: Anuradha Menon|last=Ipe|first=Ann|date=2016-06-17|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

===Criticism===
Lola's character was criticized by some for being offensive to [[Malayali people]]. However, in an interview, Anuradha Menon asserted that "Lola is funny as a person, not as a region".<ref name="yahoo_seriousness"/> She has also stated that, as a Keralite herself, she was in no way insulting her own people, but only using the peculiar accent for the entertainment of her viewers: "Earlier in Mumbai, anyone from [[South India|the south]] was called a [[Madrasi]], and I wanted to change that. Though in a very distinct way, I have pointed out the existence of a state called [[Kerala]] on the map of India!". She also said "Lola is special, for I've created the character and it's quite touching when people love you in the role and appreciate you for it, and the self-deprecatory humour is so much".{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.therecordmag.com/jan2005/lola.htm Lola Kutty: Beauty on Duty]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208064923/http://www.indya.com/news/lola_chat.html Lola ke bol on indya!: A chat with Lola Kutty]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Menon, Anuradha}}
[[Category:Indian women television presenters]]
[[Category:Indian television presenters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Indian VJs (media personalities)]]

Anuradha Menon - Revision history

>Kailash29792 at 16:08, 13 May 2021