Usha Nandini is a south Indian film actress of 1960s-1970s, who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema. She is best known for playing lead role opposite Prem Nazir in Malayalam film, ‘Nagarame Nanni’ (1967) and opposite Madhu in ‘Olavum Theeravum’ (1970). Both these films are regarded as classic in Malayalam cinema. She has also acted in Tamil films. She has been successfully paired with Sivaji Ganeshan in several Tamil hits of 1970s.
Usha Nandini began her film journey in 1967
She was born in 1951 at Kaleshwarem, Thiruvananthapuram. She completed her graduation. Usha Nandini marked her screen debut with 1967 Malayalam film, Aval, which was a box office hit. Same year she played lead role in ‘Nagarame Nanni’, which again got noticed. The movie was directed by A. Vincent and scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Madhu and Jyothi Lakshmi also played important roles in the film.
Female lead opposite Sivaji Ganesan in a series of movies in 1970s
Very soon Usha Nandini started getting more offers from both Malayalam and Tamil. During early 1970’s, she was at the peak of her career doing a couple of Tamil movies with Sivaji Ganesan, along with doing Malayalam films. She played female lead opposite Sivaji Ganesan in Ponnunjal, Gowravam, Rajapart Rangadurai, Manithanum Deivamagalam and Ennai Pol Oruvan, during her peak years. Malathi (1970) was her debut Tamil flick. She played lead role opposite Jaishankar in Athaiya Mamiya (1974) and Ponvandu (1973).
Usha’s major works in Malayalam
She played lead and supporting roles in well-known Malayalam movies like Aval (1967), Nagarame Nandi (1967), Aval (1967), Padunna Puzha (1968), Olavum Theeravum (1970), Ashwathi (1974), Makane Ninakku Vendi (1971), Aa Chithrashalabham Parannotte (1970), Sathyathinte Nizhalil (1975) and Pattaabhishekam (1974).
Her career started declining with late 1970s
She enjoyed super stardom for a decade from her early years to late-1970s. Then her career started to decline. There was a time when she starred opposite Sivaji Ganesan in multiple movies, same year. For instance, Rajapart Rangadurai directed by P. Madhavan and Gauravam directed by Vietnam Veedu Sundaram were both released in 1973. Gauravam was a major commercial hit.
Also read: Sadhana – Actress and cabaret dancer of old Malayalam movies
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