# Meena Ganesh

Meena Ganesh (15 July 1942 – 19 December 2024) was an Indian theatre artist and actress who acted mostly in Malayalam film. As a theatre artist, she has won many awards, including the Guru Pooja Award from the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.

## Biography

Born in Kallekulangara, Palakkad, in 1942, Meena is the second of three daughters of Pallath Lakshmi Amma and Pullanikattu Kesavan Nair, who was a Tamil actor. Later she moved to Chuduvalathur, Shoranur, Maithrinagar.
Meena died from a stroke in Shoranur, Palakkad district, Kerala, on 19 December 2024, at the age of 82.

### Personal life

Her husband was the late A.N. Ganesh, a playwright, actor and director. Her acquaintance with the theater industry led to her marriage to Ganesh. They had two children, including television serial director Manoj.

## Career

Meena Ganesh entered the acting field at the age of nineteen through theatre. In the theatre field, she had worked in plays of various theatre companies in Kerala including SL Puram Surya Soma, Kayamkulam Kerala Theatres, and Thrissur Chinmayi. Meena had appeared on stage in over three hundred different roles in different professional and amateur plays and had also acted in around two hundred films and 25 television serials. She also given voice for many radio dramas broadcast by All India Radio's Kozhikode and Thrissur stations.
Meena Ganesh made her film debut with a small role in the 1976 film Manimuzhakam. She became active in the Malayalam film industry after she played the role of Pathumma in the 1991 film Mukhachitram.
Meena Ganesh, who moved to Shoranur after her marriage, had started a drama society in Shoranur called Pournami Kalamandir.

## Filmography
### Malayalam

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1976 | Manimuzhakkam | |
| 1983 | Mandanmmar Londanil | |
| 1983 | Prasnam Gurutharam | Astrologer |
| 1986 | Bhagavan | |
| 1986 | Nakhakshathangal | |
| 1991 | Mukha Chithram | Seller |
| 1992 | Thalayanamanthram | |
| 1992 | Utsavamelam | |
| 1992 | Valayam | Ravi's mother |
| 1992 | Ponnaramthoottathe Raajaavu | Maluvamma |
| 1992 | Snehasagaram | Kunjammuma |
| 1992 | Mukha Chithram | Pathumma |
| 1993 | Golantharavartha | Sharadha |
| 1993 | Bhoomigeetham | Student's mother |
| 1993 | Saakshaal Sreemaan Chaathunni | |
| 1993 | Venkalam | |
| 1993 | Manichithrathazhu | |
| 1994 | Pingami | Kuttyhasan's mother |
| 1993 | Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu | |
| 1994 | Santhanagopalam | Adiyodi's wife |
| 1995 | Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu | Maya's mother |
| 1995 | Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman | |
| 1995 | Kakkakum Poochakkum Kalyanam | |
| 1995 | Sindoora Rekha | |
| 1996 | Harbour | Kaalithalla |
| 1996 | Kudumbakodathi | Guntur Parvathy's mother |
| 1996 | Kazhakam | |
| 1996 | Ee Puzhayum Kadannu | Devaki |
| 1996 | Udhyanapalakan | |
| 1996 | Kanakkinavu | |
| 1996 | Kalyana Sougandhikam | Murukeshan's wife |
| 1997 | Kaliyoonjal | Vellachi |
| 1997 | Asuravamsam | |
| 1997 | Manasam | |
| 1997 | Siamese Irattakal | Preman - Dasan's mother |
| 1997 | Ikkareyanente Manasam | |
| 1997 | Rishyasringan | |
| 1997 | Kudamttam | |
| 1997 | Shobhanam | Siddique's umma |
| 1998 | Panchaloham | |
| 1998 | Sreekrishnapurathe Nakshathrathilakkam | Kausalya's mother |
| 1998 | Meenathil Thalikettu | Janu |
| 1998 | Rakthasakshikal Zindabad | Kuttathi's mother |
| 1998 | Daya | |
| 1998 | Thirakalkkappuram | Pottiyamma |
| 1998 | Manjukalavum Kazhinju | |
| 1999 | Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | Ramu's mother |
| 1999 | My Dear Karadi | Manikuttan's mother |
| 1999 | Sparsham | Bhargaviyamma |
| 2000 | Valliettan | Chathunni's wife |
| 2000 | Shayanam | |
| 2000 | Dada Sahib | |
| 2000 | Aanamuttathe Aangalamar | |
| 2000 | Kannadikadavathu | Katha |
| 2000 | Punaradhivasam | |
| 2001 | Bhadra | Jayadevan's grandmother |
| 2001 | Mazhamegha Pravukal | Bhairavi |
| 2001 | Chithrathoonukal | |
| 2001 | Aaram Jaalakam | |
| 2001 | Vezhambal | |
| 2001 | House Owner | |
| 2001 | Ee Nadu Innale Vare | Nabeesumma |
| 2001 | Karumadikuttan | Maathu Ettathi |
| 2002 | Meesa Madhavan | Village lady/Umma |
| 2002 | Nandanam | Karthyayani Amma |
| 2002 | Uthara | |
| 2002 | Valkannadi | Padmini |
| 2003 | Mizhi Randilum | |
| 2003 | War and Love | Basheer's mother |
| 2003 | Sadanandante Samayam | Naniyamma |
| 2003 | Kaliyodam | |
| 2003 | CI Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 Inchu | Mahadevan's mother |
| 2003 | Ammakkilikoodu | Inmate |
| 2004 | Freedom | Umma |
| 2005 | OK Chacko Cochin Mumbai | Karthayani |
| 2005 | Hai | |
| 2005 | Naran | Umma |
| 2005 | Nomparam | |
| 2005 | Manikyan | Manikyan's mother |
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | Madhavi |
| 2006 | Jayam | |
| 2007 | Sooryakireedam | |
| 2008 | Mulla | Pilgrim |
| 2008 | Thavalam | Nabeesumma |
| 2008 | Mohitham | |
| 2009 | Samastha Keralam PO | Narayani |
| 2009 | Black Dhaliya | Servant |
| 2009 | Swantham Bharya Zindabadh | |
| 2009 | Ividam Swargamanu | Tea Shopper |
| 2009 | Sanmanassullavan Appukuttan | Gopalan's mother |
| 2010 | Nandhuni | Naniyamma |
| 2011 | Manushyamrugam | Vasu's mother |
| 2012 | Orange | Saritha's step mother |
| 2012 | Doctor Innocent Aanu | |
| 2012 | Ezham Suryan | |
| 2012 | Nuzrat | |
| 2013 | Celluloid | Actress |
| 2014 | Onnum Mindathe | Jose's mother |
| 2015 | Ithinumappuram | Thanka |
| 2015 | Mariyam Mukku | Mariyamma |
| 2015 | The Reporter | Tea Stall owner |
| 2015 | Saigal Padukayanu | |
| 2015 | Nee-Na | Thresiakutty |
| 2015 | Kotharan Oru Malayala Cinema | |
| 2016 | Pathirakkattu | |

## TV serials

* Geethanjali
* Devaragam
* Snehatheeram
* Velankani Mathavu
* Ramayanam
* Calcutta Hospital
* Ettu Sundarikalum Njanum
* Mangalyam
* AL THWALAQ
* Kalyanaveeran
* Karunyam
* Vayalkilikal
* Sthree
* Minnukettu
* Aa Amma

## Television shows

* Sreekandan Nair Show

## Awards and honors

She has won many awards, including the Guru Pooja Award from the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.