Lekha Washington
Lekha Washington | |
---|---|
Alma mater | Stella Maris College, Chennai |
Occupation(s) | Actor, product designer, artist, lyricist |
Years active | 2007 – present |
Lekha Washington is an Indian actress, artist, and product designer who has predominantly appeared in Tamil and Telugu language films aswell as a few Hindi films. She was first recognised for her work as a sculptor in 2002 and then as a theatre actress in Chennai based stage plays. After appearing as a video jockey with SS Music, Washington's breakthrough film role was as an independent estranged sister in Jayamkondaan (2008), whilst she has gone on to portray roles in the multi-starrer Vedam and the comedy Va.
Early life
Lekha Washington was born to a father of mixed Burmese,
Washington did her schooling in
Acting career
While pursuing her education, she decided to appear in Chetan Shah's experimental English film, Framed, and subsequently received offers to be a music video jockey from SS Music. In early 2007, Washington was signed on to play the lead role of an orthodox Tamil Brahmin girl alongside Silambarasan in his project Kettavan, after the actor and the film's director Nanthu had spotted her at a cinema hall. She replaced the team's original choice Sana Khan in the lead role, but despite completing a schedule, the film was shelved and later cancelled after the lead actor and director had creative differences.[5][6] She had earlier made an uncredited appearance in a song from the 1999 romance film Kadhalar Dhinam and also made a guest appearance in director Jeeva's 2007 film Unnale Unnale as a bride at a wedding. In November 2007, Washington signed on to play a supporting role in R. Kannan's directorial debut Jayamkondaan alongside Vinay Rai and Bhavana (actress).[7] Appearing as Vinay Rai's estranged stepsister, Brindha, in the film, Washington won critical acclaim for her role with a reviewer citing that she "sparkles as the half sister in a well etched role" and is "the surprise packet and has the credentials to make it big".[8] Another critics cited that Washington "pulls off with élan" and "her costume spells class and character as does her performance", and subsequently the film went on to become a critical and commercial success.[9]
In 2010, Washington appeared in three films in three regional languages. Her first release was in the multi-starrer
Washington was signed on to appear in her debut Hindi film, John Owen's
Artistic career
Washington currently owns and runs a product design company called Ajji and has recently launched her first range of products in the Pallate store in Mumbai. She currently holds two patents to her name with respect to the products she has created. Washington has also enjoyed success as a sculptor, being featured by The Hindu newspaper in January 2002 for her maiden exhibition, Exhibition A, for which she won critical appraisal.[21] In January 2011, she showcased her work in an exhibition in New Delhi.[22]
Other work
Washington has also been involved in English stage plays held in Chennai, featuring in Madras Player's production of Twelfth Night in 2002 as Viola.[23] She has also been active in directing the theatre troupe, Khel.
During the maiden season of the Indian Premier League, Washington was signed on to anchor an analysis and interview show which provided coverage of the cricket played.[citation needed] To prepare for the role, Washington did research through cricketing journals and enlisted help from Ajay Jadeja, hoping for her reporting to reach a widespread audience. Notably during her time as a reporter, she was briefly criticised for asking umpire Asad Rauf which franchise he had rooted for, as a part of a joke.[2] However, her stint was considered successful and helped her gain more offers from film producers.[24]
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Kadhalar Dhinam | Girl at Computer | Tamil | Cameo appearance in "O Maria" song |
2004 | Yuva | Girl at embassy | Hindi |
Cameo appearance |
2007 | Framed | Vini | English | |
Unnale Unnale | Bride at a Wedding | Tamil | Cameo appearance in "Ilamai Ullasam" song | |
2008 | Jayamkondaan | Brinda Sekhar | Tamil | Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress |
2010 | Vedam | Lasya | Telugu | |
Va | Saraswathi | Tamil | ||
Huduga Hudugi | Sonia | Kannada | ||
2013 | Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Kamini | Hindi | Cameo appearance |
Kamina | Vasuki | Telugu | ||
Kalyana Samayal Saadham | Meera Chandrasekaran | Tamil | ||
2014 | Arima Nambi | Megha Sharma | Tamil | Guest appearance |
Peter Gaya Kaam Se | Mira | Hindi | ||
2015 | Dynamite | Neha Sharma | Telugu | Guest appearance |
As lyricist
Notes
- ^ Wrote the lyrics for two songs: "Shimmy Shake" and "Be Still"
References
- ^ "She was never much of a cricket buff – Entertainment – DNA". Daily News and Analysis. 24 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "Bowled over". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 June 2008.
Okay, I was raised in Chennai, so I consider myself South Indian. I speak English at home and Mom yells at me in Marathi.
- ^ "Art, Life and Filtered Water: The Lekha Washington Interview". Sinndhuja Ramprasad. Silverscreen. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ [1] Archived 2 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Lekha Washington remains in 'Kettavan'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 October 2007. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "Simbu Cheated Me : Kettavan Director GT Nandhu First Exclusive Interview | STR Kettavan Coming Soon - YouTube". Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Vinay signs a film!". Sify.com. 14 November 2007. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Jayam Kondaan". Sify.com (Moviebuzz). Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- ^ "The makings of a winner". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "Vedam is outstanding". Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Review : (2010)". Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "The Hindu : Cinema Plus / Film Review : Cut and dried -- Va, Quarter Cutting". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "'Huduga Hudugi' is a remix of Bollywood blockbusters (Kannada Film Review)". Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "Nothing new in Huduga Hudugi". Archived from the original on 18 January 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "What's in a name, asks Lekha". The Times of India. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Lekha Washington to break hearts – Entertainment – DNA". Daily News and Analysis. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Lekha Washington goes to Bollywood!". Sify.com. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Lekha is Santoshi's latest muse". The Times of India. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Weary about future projects: Lekha Washington". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ "Expressing ideas differently". The Hindu. 17 January 2002. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "I love shaping images with clay: Lekha". The Times of India. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "An evening with Shakespeare". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 February 2002. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ http://bollyspice.com/view.php/1390-washington-in-a-capital-performance.html[permanent dead link]
External links
- Official website
- Lekha Washington at IMDb