# Tara (Kannada actress)

Anuradha (born 4 March 1971), known by her stage name Tara, is an Indian politician and actress active in the Kannada cinema. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2009 and is currently a nominated member of the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Tara made her debut in 1984 with the Tamil film Ingeyum Oru Gangai. Her Kannada film debut came in 1986 with Thulasidala and she has since portrayed many author-backed roles. Her notable performances are in films like Krama (1991), Munjaneya Manju (1993), Kanooru Heggadithi (1999), Munnudi (2000), Mathadana (2001), Hasina (2005), Cyanide (2006) and Ee Bandhana (2007), Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014). Her performance in Hasina won her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She has also won numerous Filmfare and State awards for her performance.
After joining BJP, she was elected as the president of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy in 2012 and held the position for a year. In the same year, she was nominated as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, the upper house of the legislature of Karnataka.

## Career

Tara made her first appearance on screen for a Tamil film Ingeyum Oru Gangai directed by noted actor, Manivannan, in 1984 which featured Murali in the lead. Following this, she featured in her first Kannada film Thulasidala in 1985. She got a big break in Rajkumar starrer Guri (1986) and thereafter acted in several movies as a leading lady and supporting actress.
Tara has worked with almost all leading Kannada heroes of the 1980s and 1990s including Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Ananth Nag, Ravichandran, Shashikumar, Tiger Prabhakar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Murali, Karthik, Sunil and Devaraj.
Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition. She received her first award as best actress for the Kannada movie Krama (1991), directed by debutant director Asrar Abid. In the late 1980s, she appeared as a supporting actress in Mani Ratnam's Tamil films, Nayakan and Agni Natchathiram. Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition for which she also received her second "best actress" state award. She received the "best supporting actress" award for Munjaneya Manju. She received wide critical acclaim for the female centric Munnudi which received multiple National Film Awards, including Best Film on Other Social Issues.
In 2005, she was cast by Girish Kasaravalli in Hasina, for which she won the National Award. Subsequently, her role in Deadly Soma was appreciated. Then came another breakthrough performance in Cyanide. In 2007, Tara received her third Best Actress award.
Beside acting, she produced Hasina, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, and she has also announced her intention to direct films as well.

## Personal life

Tara married cinematographer H. C. Venugopal in 2005. They have a son (b. 2013).

## Filmography
### Kannada films

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Thulasidala | | |
| 1985 | Brahmastra | Mala | |
| 1986 | Anand | | |
| 1986 | Guri | | |
| 1986 | Maneye Manthralaya | | |
| 1986 | Samsarada Guttu | | |
| 1986 | Sundara Swapnagalu | | |
| 1986 | Ella Hengasarinda | | |
| 1986 | Satkaara | | |
| 1987 | Ravana Rajya | | |
| 1987 | Shubha Milana | | |
| 1988 | Ranaranga | Bhavana | |
| 1988 | Sangliyana | Forest officer's wife | |
| 1988 | Mutthaide | | |
| 1988 | Avale Nanna Hendthi | Gayathri | |
| 1989 | Hendthighelbedi | Srinivas's wife | |
| 1989 | Bidisada Bandha | Aruna | |
| 1989 | En Swamy Aliyandre | | |
| 1989 | Deva | Sujatha | |
| 1989 | Anthintha Gandu Nanalla | Kamala | |
| 1989 | Doctor Krishna | Chanchala | |
| 1989 | Poli Huduga | | |
| 1989 | C.B.I. Shankar | Herself | Guest appearance |
| 1990 | Nigooda Rahasya | | |
| 1990 | Maheshwara | | |
| 1990 | Policena Hendthi | | |
| 1990 | Raja Kempu Roja | | |
| 1991 | C. B. I. Shiva | Ranjini | |
| 1991 | Krama | | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress |
| 1991 | Aranyadalli Abhimanyu | | |
| 1991 | Ibbaru Hendira Muddina Police | | |
| 1991 | Karnana Sampathu | | |
| 1991 | Golmaal Part 2 | Meera | |
| 1992 | Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda | Rukmini | |
| 1992 | Halli Meshtru | Teacher's first wife | Cameo |
| 1992 | Belli Kalungura | Tunga | |
| 1992 | Nagaradalli Nayakaru | | |
| 1992 | Vajrayudha | | |
| 1992 | Malashree Mamashree | | |
| 1992 | Prema Sangama | | |
| 1993 | Munjaneya Manju | Hema | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1993 | Karimaleya Kaggathalu | | |
| 1993 | Muddina Maava | | |
| 1993 | Bhagavan Sri Saibaba | Lakshmi | |
| 1994 | Prana Snehitha | | |
| 1994 | Sammilana | | |
| 1994 | Gandhada Gudi Part 2 | Marappa's wife | |
| 1995 | Operation Antha | | |
| 1995 | Thumbida Mane | Geetha | |
| 1995 | Mana Midiyithu | | |
| 1995 | Mister Abhishek | Revathi | |
| 1996 | Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata | | |
| 1996 | Sipayi | | |
| 1996 | Dhani | | |
| 1996 | Aadithya | Inspector | |
| 1996 | Jeevanadhi | | |
| 1997 | Amrutha Varshini | Vimala | |
| 1997 | Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda | | |
| 1998 | Yaare Neenu Cheluve | Mary | |
| 1999 | Kanooru Heggadithi | Subbamma | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada Suprabhata Award for Best Actress |
| 1999 | Premotsava | Shanti | |
| 2000 | Galate Aliyandru | | |
| 2000 | Devara Maga | Sundari | |
| 2000 | Munnudi | Rukhiya | |
| 2000 | Swalpa Adjust Madkolli | | |
| 2001 | Diggajaru | Gowri | |
| 2001 | Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu | An actress | |
| 2002 | Mathadana | Lakshmi | |
| 2002 | Ninagagi | Rukkamma | |
| 2002 | Karmugilu | Gowri | |
| 2003 | Paris Pranaya | Seetha | |
| 2003 | Ondagona Baa | | |
| 2004 | Nalla | Dr Sarala Desai | |
| 2004 | Aagodella Olledakke | | |
| 2004 | Saradara | | |
| 2004 | Jyeshta | | |
| 2005 | Deadly Soma | | |
| 2005 | Karnana Sampathu | | |
| 2005 | Siddhu | | |
| 2005 | Namma Basava | | |
| 2005 | Hasina | Hasina | National Film Award for Best Actress |
| 2005 | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar | Ramabai Ambedkar | |
| 2005 | Pandu Ranga Vittala | Sarala | |
| 2006 | Mata | Chandra's lover | |
| 2006 | Cyanide | Mridula | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress |
| 2006 | Pandavaru | | |
| 2006 | Care of Footpath | Saraswati | |
| 2007 | Shri Kshetra Kaivara Thathaiah | | Suvarna Film Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2007 | Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige | | |
| 2007 | Ee Bandhana | Sukanya | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada |
| 2008 | Aramane | Savitri | |
| 2008 | Jnanajyothi Sri Siddaganga | | |
| 2008 | Ganga Kaveri | Ganga's mother | |
| 2009 | Birugaali | | |
| 2010 | Modalasala | Paaru | |
| 2010 | School Master | | |
| 2010 | Eradane Maduve | | |
| 2011 | Mathond Madhuvena | | |
| 2011 | Kirataka | Nandisha's mother | |
| 2011 | Jolly Boy | Lakshmi | |
| 2011 | Panchamrutha | Shanthi | segment: "Ondu Kanasu: a dream" |
| 2012 | Bhageerathi | | Udaya Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2012 | Samsaaradalli Golmaal | | |
| 2012 | Kempe Gowda | Kavya's mother | |
| 2013 | Galaate | | |
| 2013 | Shravani Subramanya | Anuradha | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada |
| 2014 | Ulidavaru Kandanthe | Ratna | |
| 2015 | Octopus | | |
| 2016 | CBI Sathya | | |
| 2016 | Madamakki | Ratna | |
| 2016 | Golisoda | | |
| 2017 | Bharjari | Nimmi | |
| 2018 | Hebbet Ramakka | Ramakka | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Nominated—Filmibeat Award for Best Actress – Kannada |
| 2018 | Atharva | | |
| 2019 | Sinnga | Janakamma | |
| 2019 | Aadi Lakshmi Puraana | Shanthamma | |
| 2019 | Ellidde Illi Tanaka | Lakshmi | |
| 2019 | Bharaate | Jagan's mother | |
| 2020 | Shivarjuna | Shiva's mother | |
| 2021 | Tom And Jerry | | |
| 2021 | Mugilpete | Raja's mother | |
| 2021 | Badava Rascal | Shankar's mother | |
| 2023 | Tagaru Palya | Shantha | |
| 2023 | Bad Manners | Lakshmamma | |
| 2024 | Kotee | TBA | |
| TBA | Vaamana | TBA | |

### Other language films

| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1984 | Ingeyum Oru Gangai | Maruthayi | Tamil | |
| 1984 | January 1 | | Tamil | |
| 1985 | Bullet | | Telugu | |
| 1987 | Nayakan | Shakila | Tamil | |
| 1987 | Sankeertana | | Telugu | |
| 1987 | Thulasi | Ponni | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Agni Natchathiram | Mallika | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Pelli Chesi Choodu | Seeta | Telugu | |
| 1989 | Sarvabhoumudu | Usha | Telugu | |
| 1990 | Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar | Muthappa's wife | Tamil | |
| 1990 | Kaliyuga Abhimanyudu | Padma | Telugu | |
| 1990 | Neti Siddhartha | Rekha | Telugu | |
| 1990 | Maa Inti Katha | | Telugu | Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1991 | Brahmarshi Viswamitra | Sakunthala's friend | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu | | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Maattrraan | Sudha | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Sathriyan | Niranjana's mother | Tamil | |

## Television

| Year | Serial | Channel | Role | Language |
| 1993 | Mikhaelinte Santhathikal | Asianet TV | | Malayalam |
| 2002 | Parva | | | Kannada |
| 2021 | Raja Rani | Colors Kannada | Judge | Kannada |
| 2021-2022 | Nannamma Super Star | Colors Kannada | Judge | Kannada |