Raasi (actress)
Raasi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vijaya Venkatesh 29 June 1982 |
| Other names | Manthra (Tamil and Malayalam) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1988–2006 2013–present |
| Spouse |
Sri Muni (m. 2004) |
| Children | 1 |
Raasi (born Vijaya) is an Indian actress known for her work in Telugu and Tamil cinema, with appearances in a few Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is credited as Manthra in Tamil and Malayalam films.[1] Raasi gained recognition for her performances in notable films such as Subhakankshalu (1997), Gokulamlo Seeta (1997), and Pelli Pandiri (1998). She transitioned to television with Telugu soap operas, debuting in Girija Kalyanam (2020) and later appearing in Janaki Kalaganaledu (2021).
Personal life
Raasi was born as Vijaya on 1982 in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India.[2] She married film director Sri Muni.[3]
Film career
She started her career as a child artiste has grown to a level of heroine.[4]
She also worked in the Hindi movies Angaara (1996), Rangbaaz (1996), Jodidar (1997) and Suraj (1997) with Mithun Chakraborty.
In Telugu, Raasi rose to fame with Subhakankshalu (1997). She was labelled "traditional" after Gokulamlo Seeta (1997). Later, hits like Snehithulu (1998), Pandaga (1998), Gilli Kajjalu (1998), Devullu (2000) and proved her mettle as an actress. When Raasi's career started taking a nosedive, she took to doing item numbers in Telugu films like Samudram (1999).[5] In her prime, Raasi was one of the most sought-after actresses in the Telugu film industry.[6]
She debuted her first Tamil film Priyam. Following a prolific year 1996, she received offers including the Vijay-starrer Love Today (1997) and the Ajith Kumar-starrer Rettai Jadai Vayasu (1997). Some of her other movies in Tamil are Periya Idathu Mappillai (1997), Ganga Gowri (1997), Thedinen Vanthathu (1997), Kondattam (1998), Kalyana Galatta (1998), Pudhu Kudithanam (1999), Kannan Varuvaan (2000), Kuberan (2000) and Simmasanam (2000). She played a negative character in Telugu movie Nijam (2003), which was directed by Teja.[7]
After her marriage, the actress did only one film titled Suyetchai MLA before taking a long break from the cinema industry in 2006. She made a comeback with the film Onbadhule Guru after 7 years.[8]
She is with a Telegu thriller film Lanka (2017) where she plays the central character.[9]
She made her television debut in the Telugu soap operas Girija Kalyanam and Janaki Kalaganaledu.[10]
In 2025, Raasi plays a pivotal role in the Tamil film Usurae.[11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal | Young Lakshmi | Malayalam | Child Actress |
| Rao Gari Illu | Chitti | Telugu | Child Actress | |
| 1989 | Chettu Kinda Pleader | Nani | Child Actress | |
| Mamatala Kovela | Hero's daughter | Child Actress[2] | ||
| Bala Gopaludu | Lakshmi | Child Actress | ||
| 1991 | Aditya 369 | Kishore's friend | Child Actress | |
| 1992 | Ankuram | Sindhura's sister | Child Actress | |
| 1994 | Palnati Pourusham | Raja Rao's daughter | Child Actress credited as Vijaya | |
| Puttinilla Mettinilla | Lakshmi | Child Actress | ||
| 1996 | Oho Naa Pellanta | in a song | Child Actress | |
| Priyam | Preetha | Tamil | Debut in a lead role | |
| Angaara | Chutki | Hindi | credited as Vijaya | |
| Rangbaaz | credited as Vijaya | |||
| 1997 | Evandi Pelli Chesukondi | Geetha | Telugu | |
| Subhakankshalu | Nandini | Telugu | Debut in Telugu as a lead | |
| Suraj | Hindi | credited as Vijaya | ||
| Jodidar | Landlord's daughter | Hindi | credited as Manthra | |
| Love Today | Preethi | Tamil | ||
| Gokulamlo Seetha | Sirisha | Telugu | ||
| Periya Idathu Mappillai | Priya | Tamil | ||
| Ganga Gowri | Ganga | |||
| Thedinen Vanthathu | Janaki | |||
| Rettai Jadai Vayasu | Anjali | |||
| Pelli Pandiri | Kasthuri | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Kondattam | Vidhya | Tamil | |
| Pandaga | Prameela | Telugu | ||
| Vasantha | Vasantha | [12] | ||
| Suprabhatam | Vasundhara | |||
| Kalyana Galatta | Pooja | Tamil | ||
| Gilli Kajjalu | Sruthi | Telugu | ||
| Snehithulu | Mahalakshmi | |||
| Manasichi Choodu | Yamuna | |||
| Kalavari Chellelu Kanaka Maha Lakshmi | Roopa | |||
| Daddy Daddy | Subadhra | |||
| 1999 | Neti Gandhi | Bharthi | ||
| Swapnalokam | Swapna | |||
| Harischandraa | Nandini | |||
| Veedu Samanyudu Kadhu | Mythili/Pooja | |||
| Seenu | Herself | |||
| Krishna Babu | Shilpa | |||
| Samudram | Herself | Item number | ||
| Pudhu Kudithanam | Nila | Tamil | ||
| Preyasi Rave | Mahalakshmi | Telugu | Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu | |
| Pallavur Devanarayanan | Seethalakshmi | Malayalam | credited as Mantra | |
| AK-47 | Telugu | |||
| Sneha | Mahalakshmi | Kannada | Debut film | |
| 2000 | Postman | Sirisha | Telugu | |
| Manasu Paddanu Kaani | Swati | |||
| Balaram | ||||
| Kannan Varuvaan | Rajeshwari | Tamil | ||
| Oke Maata | Telugu | |||
| Shivaji | ||||
| Kuberan | Chandra | Tamil | ||
| Simmasanam | Manju | |||
| Moodu Mukkalata | Aliveni | Telugu | ||
| Ammo! Okato Tareekhu | Gayatri | |||
| Devullu | Nirmala | |||
| 2001 | Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi | Subhadra | ||
| Deevinchandi | Lakshmi | |||
| Cheppalani Vundi | Vani / Rani | |||
| Akka Bavekkada? | Sowmya | |||
| 2002 | Naga Pratista | Naga Lakshmi | ||
| Raja | Herself | Tamil | Item number | |
| Police Sisters | Ramya | Telugu | ||
| 2 Much | Geeta | |||
| Trinetram | Vijaya | |||
| Jamindaru | Kannada | |||
| Sandade Sandadi | Vasundhara | Telugu | ||
| Coolie | ||||
| Ninne Preethisuve | Meghamala | Kannada | ||
| 2003 | Nijam | Malli | Telugu | |
| Aalukkoru Aasai | Manthra | Tamil | ||
| Raja Narasimha | Mahalakshmi | Kannada | ||
| Sriramachandrulu | Sailaja | Telugu | ||
| 2004 | Venky | Herself | Special appearance | |
| Oka Pellam Muddu Rendo Pellam Vaddu | Satya | |||
| 2005 | Devi Abhayam | Lakshmi | ||
| 2006 | Suyetchai MLA | Tamil | ||
| 2013 | Onbadhule Guru | Neelambari | ||
| Man of the Match | Telugu | |||
| 2015 | Vaalu | Mrs. Stephen | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Kalyana Vaibhogame | Parimala Devi | Telugu | |
| Kavalai Vendam | Divya's mother | Tamil | ||
| Padesave | Swathi's mother | Telugu | ||
| 2017 | Aakatayi | Vikranth's mother | ||
| Lanka | Rebecca | |||
| 2025 | Usurae | Anasuya | Tamil |
- As dubbing artiste
- Keka (2008) for Ishani
- Mirchi (2013) for Nadhiya[13]
- Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha (2013) for Madhoo
- Galipatam (2014)
Television
References
- ^ Prakash, BVS (28 July 2000). "Raasi: An award for Preyasi Raave?". Screen Magazine. Indian Express Group. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ a b "ఓహో… అభినయ'రాశి'". NTV (in Telugu). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ kavirayani, suresh (23 April 2017). "Lanka movie review: Raasi's return not a good one!". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Sexy Raasi ready to do for money". Cine Josh. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ "Raasi plays vamp, rockets to the top". Rediff. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ "Today's actresses are lucky, says Raasi". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Raasi plays vamp, rockets to the top". Rediff. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Here's How Veteran South Actress Raasi Found Love". News18. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Raasi plays lead in thriller Lanka". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ "Remember Former South Actress Raasi? Here's What She Is Doing Now". News18. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Rural love story 'Usurae' locks release date". Pynr. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Vasantha film review" (PDF). Zamin Ryot. 1 May 1998. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ "Raasi is as charming as ever". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 October 2015.