Fathima Babu is a South Indian actress, former newsreader and socialite based out of Chennai who hails from Puducherry.[1] Born in a Muslim family, Fathima began her public career as a newsreader for more than 25 years with DD Podhigai,[1] the Tamil version of Doordarshan news, and later worked for Jaya TV. She later converted to Hinduism for her husband.[2][3] She subsequently moved on to work in television serials, films and theatre performances, operating in the Tamil and Malayalam languages.[4]
Fathima Babu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fathima Puducherry, India |
| Occupation | Actress Former Newsreader |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | Babu |
| Children | 2 |
Fathima became a newsreader with DD Podhigai, the Tamil version of Doordarshan, in the late 1980s. In 1989, she briefly went missing causing much speculation as to her disappearance. Several years later, Fathima clarified that during the period she was missing, she was filming for a television serial known as Chithirapaavai and did not want to breach Doordarshan's rule of news anchors not being able to work in serials.[5][6]
Fathima made her film debut through K. Balachander's feminist film Kalki (1996),[1] where she starred alongside an ensemble cast of Shruti, Rahman, Prakash Raj, Geetha, and Renuka. The film garnered positive reviews, with a film critic noting that Fathima "has an impressive debut, performing with confidence".[7] Fathima moved on to play supporting roles in films, often portraying the mother of the lead characters.[citation needed]
Fathima started her own drama production group, Fab's Theatre, which performs shows in Chennai. She was initially introduced to theatre by K. Balachander, who often helped her work on and develop scripts. The group has made shows such as Sethu Vandirikkaen and Thaarama Tallyaa directed by Fathima, which opened in February 2016.[8][9] She was also briefly involved in politics, and campaigned for the AIADMK on behalf of Jayalalithaa, and eventually took up a role as a spokesperson of the party.[10] After Jayalalithaa's death, Fathima joined O. Paneerselvam's team, before ultimately distancing herself from politics. In 2019, she appeared in the reality television show Bigg Boss Tamil 3 on Star Vijay, and was the first contestant to be evicted.[11]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kalki | Kohila | |
| 1997 | Pasamulla Pandiyare | ||
| V. I. P. | Priya's mother | ||
| Nerukku Ner | Alamu | ||
| 1998 | Ulavuthurai | Sangeetha's mother | |
| Swarnamukhi | Vanaja | ||
| Thulli Thirintha Kaalam | Visalam | ||
| Sollamale | Vikram's mother | ||
| Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | Vasanthi | ||
| Simmarasi | Maragatham's wife | ||
| Kannathal | Kannatha's mother | ||
| Kalyana Galatta | Commissioner's wife | ||
| 1999 | Ninaivirukkum Varai | Sandhya's mother | |
| Nee Varuvai Ena | Subramani's mother | ||
| Mugam | |||
| Mudhalvan | Aranganathar's wife | ||
| Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | Jamindar's wife | ||
| Ponnu Veetukkaran | Gangadaran's wife | ||
| 2000 | Mugavaree | Viji's mother | |
| Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven | Indu's mother | ||
| Simmasanam | Annapoorani's sister-in-law | ||
| Parthen Rasithen | Pinky Raja | ||
| Ilaiyavan | |||
| Anbudan | Sathya's mother | ||
| Ninaivellam Nee | Nurse | ||
| 2001 | Minnale | Shanti, Reena's mother | |
| Paarvai Ondre Podhume | Visalakshi | ||
| Little John | Nirmala | ||
| Manadhai Thirudivittai | Shruti's mother | ||
| Aalavandhan | Tejaswini's mother | ||
| Love Marriage | |||
| 2002 | Alli Arjuna | Usha | |
| Youth | Sandhya's mother | ||
| 2003 | Manasellam | Bala's mother | |
| Lesa Lesa | Varalakshmi | ||
| Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu | |||
| Thithikudhe | Venu's adopted mother | ||
| Thathi Thavadhu Manasu | |||
| Indru | Gauthaman's mother | ||
| 2004 | Kavithai | ||
| 2005 | Thirupaachi | Raj's wife | |
| Kannadi Pookal | |||
| Devathaiyai Kanden | Uma's mother | ||
| Amudhey | Nancy's mother | ||
| 2005 | Thirudiya Idhayathai | ||
| 2007 | Adavadi | ||
| En Uyirinum Melana | Kamakshi | ||
| 18 Vayasu Puyale | Seetha | ||
| 2008 | Kuselan | Sister Maria | Simultaneously shot in Telugu as Kathanayakudu |
| Saroja | Car passenger | Special appearance | |
| Vasool | Angayarkanni | ||
| Thithikkum Ilamai | Defense lawyer | ||
| 2011 | Sabash Sariyana Potti | "Sabash Sariyana Potti" judge | |
| Kasethan Kadavulada | |||
| Kaila Kaasu Vaaila Thosa | |||
| 2012 | Thiruthani | Andiyappan's wife | |
| 2013 | Puthagam | Veni | |
| Naanum En Jamunavum | |||
| Thirumathi Thamizh | |||
| Chithirayil Nilachoru | Church mother | ||
| Maayai | |||
| 2014 | Azhagiya Pandipuram | Madhavan's mother | |
| Nee Naan Nizhal | Rohit's mother | ||
| Namma Gramam | Karthyayani | ||
| 2015 | Hold On | ||
| 2016 | Jennifer Karuppaiya | Court Judge | |
| 2020 | Vidhipadi | Jennifer's mother | Tamil Short film |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Raavanaprabhu | Mundakkal Sekharan's wife | |
| 2002 | Onnaman | Deepa | |
| 2007 | Ali Bhai | Ambu Bhai's wife | |
| Hallo | Shivaraman's mother | ||
| 2008 | Madampi | Shyamala's mother | |
| 2009 | My Big Father | Alby's mother | |
| Bhramaram | Sivankutty's sister | ||
| 2010 | Oru Naal Varum | School Principal | |
| Alexander the Great | Sumithra | ||
| Shikkar | Manu's mother | ||
| 2011 | Kottarathil Kutty Bhootham | ||
| Traffic | Raihan's mother | ||
| 2012 | The King & the Commissioner | Justice Eliyamma Pettikaran | |
| Josettante Hero | Sajan's mother | ||
| Grandmaster | Alice | ||
| Gramam | Karthyayani | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Namma Gramam | |
| Matinee | Fathima | ||
| 2014 | @Andheri | Appu's mother | |
| 1 by Two | Ammukkuty Amma | ||
| Asha Black | Rohit's mother | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Nee Naan Nizhal |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gowtam SSC | Chaya Rani (Gowtam's Mother) | |
| 2008 | Kadhanayakudu | Sister Maria |
| Year | Film | Role | Actor | Director | Written By | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Ponniyin Selvan | Nandhini | Yes | No | Kalki Krishnamurthy | [12] |
| 2014 | Koodi Vaazhnthal (Short Play) | — | No | Yes | Aashiq Babu | |
| 2014 | Seethai Mark Seeyakaithool (Short Play) | Subbamma | Yes | Yes | Sundara Ramasamy | |
| 2014 | Aan Dharmam (Short Play) | Paanjali | Yes | Yes | Jayanthan | |
| 2014 | Thappattam (Short Play) | — | No | Yes | Vaseekaran | |
| 2014 | Naan Avan Illai (Short Play) | — | No | Yes | Chelli Sreenivasan | |
| 2015 | Sethu Vandhirukken | Vanaja | Yes | Yes | K. Balachander | [9] |
| 2016 | Thaarama Tallyaa | Radha | Yes | Yes | Chitralaya Sriram | [8] |
| 2019 | Valayil Sikkiya Meen | Yes | No |
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simran Thirai | Jaya TV | Tamil | Story : Anuvum Naanum | ||
| 1997–1999 | Chithirappaavai | Saradha | DD Podhigai | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Chinna Chinna Aassai : Suyamvaram | Varnam TV | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Kaaveri | Sun TV | Tamil | ||
| 2003–2005 | Priyanka | ETV | Telugu | ||
| 2005 | Kadamattathu Kathanar | Nicolas's Mother | Asianet | Malayalam | |
| 2006–2008 | Lakshmi | Chandra | Sun TV | Tamil | |
| 2006–2007 | Raja Rajeshwari | Lakshmi Amma | Sun TV | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Swami Ayyappan | Unnikrishnan's mother | Asianet | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Alaipayuthey | Jaya TV | Tamil | ||
| 2008–2009 | Thangamana Purushan | Lion Janaki | Kalaignar TV | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Sollathan Ninaikiren | Zee Tamil | Tamil | ||
| 2017–2021 | Yaaradi Nee Mohini[13] | Neelambari | Zee Tamil | Tamil | Died in serial |
| 2017–2018 | Uyyala Jampala | Shantamma | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Makkal | Saraswathi | Mazhavil Manorama | Malayalam | Replaced by Shobha Mohan |
| Aranmanai Kili | Judge Kaveri | Star Vijay | Tamil | ||
| Genes | Guest | Zee Tamil | Tamil | One episode | |
| 2019 | Bigg Boss Tamil 3[14] | Contestant | Star Vijay | Tamil | Evicted on Day 14 |
| 2019 | Bigg Boss 3 Kondattam | Herself | Star Vijay | Tamil | Special show |
| 2021 | BB Jodigal | Contestant | Star Vijay | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Sippikul Muthu | Suseela | Star Vijay | Tamil |