Radhika Kumaraswamy


Radhika Kumaraswamy, credited as Radhika and as Kutty Radhika in Tamil films, is an Indian film actress and producer. She was born to a tulu speaking Billava family in Mangalore.She has primarily appeared in Kannada films and was considered a lead actress in the Kannada film industry in the early 2000s.

Career

Radhika started her acting career with the Kannada film Neela Megha Shama when she had just completed her ninth class. Her first release was Ninagagi, opposite Vijay Raghavendra, which was followed by Tavarige Baa Tangi, starring Shivrajkumar; both films were highly successful ventures. In 2003, she appeared in five Kannada films, including Hemanth Hegde's directorial debut Ooh La La; Hudugigaagi, alongside S. P. B. Charan; Yograj Bhat's maiden feature film Mani, in which she played the daughter of a prostitute; Mane Magalu and Tayi Illada Tabbali, all of which were commercial failures. In spite of the film's poor box office returns, Radhika's performance as Gowri in Tayi Illada Tabbali won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress.
Due to the successive failures of her Kannada films, Radhika subsequently began to work in Tamil cinema, acting in five Tamil films in quick succession. Her debut Tamil film was S. P. Jananathan's award-winning debut directorial Iyarkai. The Hindu in its review noted that Kutty Radhika as the "impulsive, immature and obdurate Nancy looks just right for the role". Three of her four releases in 2005—Rishi, Masala and Auto Shankar—featured her alongside another lead female character. Her final release of 2005 saw her collaborating with the Tavarige Baa Tangi team, with Shivrajkumar and Radhika again playing the elder brother and younger sister, respectively.
The following year, she was again seen in five Kannada films and one Tamil film Ulla Kadathal, that remains her last Tamil release. On her performance in Hatavadi, Rediff.com's critic R. G. Vijayasarathy wrote: "Though this is essentially a Ravichandran film, it is to Radhika's credit that she stands up to a superb performance. Her emotions are perfect and she is presented very well on screen". After the long-delayed devotional film Navashakthi Vaibhava, that featured her as a goddess alongside eight other lead actresses she went on a 5-year hiatus.
Radhika has also worked as a film distributor and producer. She has acquired the distribution rights of her own film Anatharu, co-starring Upendra and Darshan. In 2008, she bought the rights of her film Ishwar, which was launched in 2007 as Narasimha, and revived it, although she was unsuccessful in releasing it. She later established a production studio named Shamika Enterprises, named after her daughter, and produced the film Lucky, starring Ramya.
In 2013, she made a comeback to acting with Sweety Nanna Jodi which she also produced. With regards to her performance, Sify stated: "Radhika...is a treat to watch and has given a brilliant performance" while Rediff wrote: "Radhika looks ravishing and comes as a surprise for those who have watched her earlier films". Her Telugu mythological film Avataram, by Kodi Ramakrishna released in 2014.

Personal life

Radhika reportedly married Ratan Kumar at the Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel on 26 November 2000. In April 2002, Ratan Kumar filed a complaint, alleging that Radhika's father Devraj had abducted her as he feared that news of her marriage may "jeopardise her career". Only a few days later, Radhika's mother wanted the marriage to be annulled as Radhika was just 14 years old and said that Ratan Kumar had forcibly married her. Devraj further claimed that Ratan had tried to burn Radhika alive. Ratan Kumar died in August 2002, following a heart attack.
In November 2010, Radhika revealed that she was married to H D KUMARASWAMY, former chief Minister of Karnataka. According to Radhika, they married in 2006 and have a daughter named Shamika.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2002NinagagiMadhuKannadaNominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Debutant - Female
2002Neela Megha ShyamaNeelameghaKannada
2002Thavarige Baa ThangiLakshmiKannadaNominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Karnataka Vanijya Mandali Award for Best Actress
Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Actress
2002Prema QaidiNandiniKannada
2002Romeo JulietJulietKannada
2003Ooh La LaSowmyaKannada
2003Mani GowriKannada
2003Mane MagaluJanakiKannada
2003Thayi Illada ThabbaliGowriKannadaKarnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated- Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada
Nominated- Udaya Film Award for Best Actress
2003IyarkaiNancyTamil
2004VarnajaalamAnithaTamil
2004Bhadradri RamuduSeethaTelugu
2004Meesai MadhavanRaniTamil
2005RishiSpoorthiKannada
2005Masala SumaKannada
2005Auto ShankarGowriKannadaNominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2005Anna ThangiLakshmiKannadaNominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada
Thank Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Actress
2005SollattumaGowriTamil
2006MandyaGangaKannadaNominated- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Udaya FIlm Awards For Best Supporting Actress
Nominated - Udaya Film Awards for Best Comedian
2006Hettavara KanasuKanasuKannada
2006HatavadiAmishaKannadaNominated- Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Udaya Film Award for Best Actress
2006Ulla KadathalRamyaTamil
2006Good LuckMandakiniKannada
2006OdahuttidavaluAlameluKannada
2007AnatharuManjuKannadaNominated - Filmfare Award For Best Actress - Kannada
Nominated - Udaya FIlm Awards for Best Actress
Nominated - Suvarna Film Award for Best Actress
2007JanapadaRaghaKannada
2007Amrutha VaaniSumathi,
Amrutha Vaani		Kannada
2008Navashakthi VaibhavaDurga ParmeshwariKannada
2013Sweety Nanna JodiPriyaKannada
2014AvatharamRajeshwariTelugu
2015Rudra TandavaJhanaviKannada
2019DamayanthiDamayantiKannadaNominated- Filmibeat Award for Best Actress- Kannada
2020KontractKannadaPost -Production
2020Rajendra PonappaKannadaFilming
2020Bhaira DeviBhaira Devi/ AghoriKannadaPost -Production

Television
YearFilmLanguageCast
2012LuckyKannadaYash, Ramya
2013Sweety Nanna JodiKannadaAditya, Radhika