Vedhika

Vedhika
Vedhicka
Born Vedhika Pooja Kumar
Solapur, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Actress Model
Years active 2006-present

Vedhika (alternatively spelled Vedhicka) is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She made her breakthrough portraying Angamma in Bala's period film Paradesi (2013), winning critical acclaim and award nominations for her portrayal.

Career

2005-2012: Early career

After finishing her education by graduating in B.Sc in Business Administration and M.Sc in Marketing from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, Vedhika enlisted in Kishore Namith Kapoor School to learn acting and dancing skills for a career in films.[1] During her time she was involved in modelling assignments and did a notable advert for biscuits alongside prominent actor Suriya. She was subsequently approached by Arjun to essay the lead role in his production Madrasi (2005) and Vedhika accepted the role.[2] Her role went largely unnoticed due to the film being based around Arjun's action image, with a critic labelling her performance as "adequate".[3] After the release of Madrasi, Vedhika went on to sign a big budget Hindi language film, Jai Santoshi Maa, a remake of the 1975 film of the same name, but the film failed to subsequently materialize and Vedhika continued acting in South Indian films.[4][5] She went on to feature in Raghava Lawrence's comedy horror Muni, but her role was minimal once again and the film went to become an average grosser commercially.[6] Her maiden Telugu venture was in Vijayadasami, a remake of the Tamil film Sivakasi, where her performance was described as "okay" and "average" by critics.[7] Telugucinema.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.

Her first release in 2008, was the Silambarasan starrer Kaalai, received negative reviews and became a commercial failure.[8][9] However, the film became notable for the dance number, "Kutti Pisase" with Vedhika's dancing being critically appreciated. She went on to appear in a second successive film which was panned by critics and which became a financial failure with a role in Sakkarakatti. The long-delayed film featured Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj making his debut in the lead role and A. R. Rahman providing the soundtrack, however Vedhika's role was described as one of the sole positives from the project.[10][11] Later that year, she starred in a Kannada film, Sangama opposite Ganesh, and the film fetched her good reviews for her performance.[12] In 2009, she appeared as the radio jockey Anjali in A. Venkatesh's Malai Malai with the film consequently going on to become a success commercially.[13] The film had little scope for Vedhika and reviews cited her role as "pure eye candy" whilst claiming she was "apt" for the role.[14][15] She made a comeback to Telugu films in the same year, with a role in the critically acclaimed Baanam.[16] Her role won her plaudits, whilst her on screen presence with Nara Rohit was praised with a critic citing she gives "good company as the naïve girl" and it is "refreshing to see them together". After the release of Baanam, Vedhika went on a sabbatical and did not sign any other films until, despite making an appearance in a notable advert with Karthi for mobile company Airtel. She signed and next featured in the Telugu film Daggaraga Dooranga opposite Sumanth, which opened to average reviews in August 2011.[17]

2013-present: Breakthrough and success

The actress was signed up by director Bala for Paradesi (2013), an adaptation of the 1969 tragic novel Red Tea, set in the 1930s. She had been recommended by actress Sangeetha, signing the film in December 2011 and did not accept to appear in any other project till the release, sporting a significantly de-glamourised appearance and portraying a village character for the first time.[18] The film, which also starred Adharvaa and Dhansika opened to unanimously positive reviews in March 2013 and performed well at the box office. Critics raved about her performance as Angamma, with the critic from The Times of India noting that "after doing roles that only required her to look pretty, Vedhika gets a chance to show off her acting skills" with Indiaglitz.com citing that she "produced a memorable performance".[19][20] The critic from Rediff.com noted that "Vedhika plays the role of a young village belle to perfection", while Sify.com labelled that she delivered a "spellbinding performance".[21][22] Her second release in 2013, the Malayalam film Sringaravelan, became one of the industry's biggest commercial successes of the year.[23]

Shen then worked on Vasanthabalan's historical fiction film Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014), which was set in the backdrop of Madras theatre scene of the 1920s, and featured her alongside Siddharth and Prithviraj.[24][25] Portraying a character inspired by stage artist K. B. Sundarambal, Vedhika noted it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" and signed the film straight after being offered it.[26] She prepared for her role by watching early Tamil films and drama videos, but all the actors were asked to "add their personal touch to their respective characters to make everything look authentic". Moreover, for her part of her role, she also perfected her classical dancing skills and worked with choreographer Raghuram for an extended dance sequence in the film.[27] The film opened in November 2014 to positive reviews, with Vedhika's performance being unanimously lauded by film critics. A reviewer from Sify.com noted "it is so good to see Vedhicka in a role where she not only looks beautiful but delivers a brilliant performance as Vadivambal", while Behindwoods.com added it is a "role of substance and the big eyed actress has utilized her opportunity completely".[28][29]

Filmography

Year Film Role Language Notes
2006 Madrasi Anjali Tamil
2007 Muni Priya
Vijayadasami Devi Telugu
2008 Kaalai Brintha Tamil
Sakkarakatti Reema
Sangama Lakshmi Kannada
2009 Malai Malai Anjali Tamil
Baanam Subbalakshmi Telugu
2011 Daggaraga Dooramga Meenakshi
2013 Paradesi Angamma Tamil Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance - Female
Techofes Award for Best Actress
Screen Moon Award for Best Actress[30]
Nominated , Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Actress
Sringaravelan Radha Malayalam
2014 Kaaviya Thalaivan Ganakokilam Vadivambal Tamil Edison Award for Best Extreme Performance- Female
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Actress
Cousins Arathi Malayalam
2016 Shivalinga Satyabhaama alias Satya Kannada
James & Alice Alice Malayalam Post-Production
Welcome to Central Jail Malayalam Filming
Vinodhan Malayalam / Tamil Filming

References

  1. ↑ 'Sangama' is my best – Vedhika – Kannada Movie News. IndiaGlitz. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Cinema Plus / Columns : My first break – Vedika. The Hindu (30 January 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Madrasi Review – Tamil Movie Review by P.V.Sathish Kumar. Nowrunning.com (23 December 2005). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Metro Plus Visakhapatnam / Cinema : Bollywood bound. The Hindu (15 April 2006). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Tamil movies : ‘Madarasi’ Vedhika steps into Bollywood. Behindwoods.com (8 April 2006). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Movie Review:Muni. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Reviews : Movie Reviews : Vijaya Dasami – Movie Review
  8. ↑ Movie Review:Kaalai. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  9. ↑ Kaalai: A wasted effort. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  10. ↑ SAKKARAKATTI MOVIE REVIEW – Behindwoods.com Starring Shanthanu Bhagyaraj Ishitha Vedhika Direction Kalaprabhu Music A.R.Rahman Production Thanu hot images tamil picture gallery images. Behindwoods.com (5 December 2007). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  11. ↑ Review: Sakkarakkatti. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  12. ↑ Sangama Review – Kannada Movie Review by RGV. Nowrunning.com). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Vedhika is married to work – Times Of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Movie Review:Malai Malai. Sify.com. Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  15. ↑ Malai Malai Review – Tamil Movie Review by Aravindan. Nowrunning.com (2 August 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  16. ↑ Interview With Vedika – Interviews. CineGoer.com (23 September 2009). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Vedika in Sumanth starrer. Sify.com (27 April 2011). Retrieved on 18 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "Vedika heroine of 'Eriyum Thanal'? - Tamil Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  19. ↑ "Paradesi movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  20. ↑ "Paradesi Tamil Movie Review - cinema preview stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". Indiaglitz.com. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  21. ↑ "Review: Paradesi is exceptional - Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  22. ↑ "Movie Review : Paradesi". Sify.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  23. ↑ "Vedhika to romance Dileep - Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  24. ↑ Vedhika not afraid of being typecast
  25. ↑ http://silverscreen.in/features/interviews/vedhika-interview-the-fairy-tale-princess/
  26. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/kaaviya-thalaivan-team-interview/article6665215.ece
  27. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Kaaviya-Thalaivan-was-a-Rewarding-Experience-Vedhika/2014/08/20/article2389285.ece
  28. ↑ http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kaaviyathalaivan/kaaviyathalaivan-review.html
  29. ↑ http://www.sify.com/movies/kaaviya-thalaivan-review-tamil-15058669.html
  30. ↑ "Screen Moon Awards 2014 Photos". 17 February 2014.

External links

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