Sreeja Ravi is an accomplished Indian voice artist and actress, known for her extensive contributions to the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. With a career spanning nearly five decades, she has lent her voice to over 2,000 films, including various commercials and animated projects. Here’s a detailed look at her life and career:
Early Life and Background
- Full Name: Sreeja Ravi
- Birthplace: India (exact location unspecified)
- Father: Kunjukuttan (Mechanical Engineer)
- Mother: Kannur Narayani (Theater and Dubbing Artist)
Sreeja Ravi was born into a family with a mix of engineering and artistic backgrounds. Her mother, Narayani, was an active figure in theater and dubbing, which became an inspiration for Sreeja's own career. After the untimely death of her father in 1972, the family moved to Chennai, where her mother resumed her dubbing career. Sreeja, being exposed to the world of cinema from a young age, often accompanied her mother to studios, which eventually led her to start dubbing.
Sreeja has eight siblings: Manomohan, Madanmohan, Sreedharan, Prakashbabu, Rasiklal, Jyothish Kumar, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Rajan Singh, and Premasudha Krishnankutty. Two of her siblings have passed away.
Career Beginnings
Sreeja Ravi started her dubbing career in 1975 with the film Uttarayanam, directed by the iconic filmmaker G. Aravindan. Initially, she provided crowd voices and dubbed for child artists, but her talent was soon recognized, and she progressed to dubbing for lead actresses.
Her breakthrough in the Malayalam film industry came when she dubbed for actress Revathi and child actor Master Prashobh in the film Kattathe Kilikkoodu, which garnered her significant attention.
Notable Dubbing Work
Sreeja Ravi has dubbed for several leading actresses in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries, including:
- Kavya Madhavan
- Divya Unni
- Shalini
- Gopika
- Devayani
- Sunitha
- Charmila
- Nayanthara
- Roma
She has contributed to many iconic films and is known for her versatility in adapting her voice to match various characters, ranging from children to mature women. She also worked on foreign-language projects, lending her voice in six Indian languages: Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, English, and Kannada.
Acting Career
In addition to her prolific career as a dubbing artist, Sreeja Ravi has appeared in several films:
- Manassu (1973)
- Sethubandhanam (1974)
- Raathriyile Yaathrakkaar (1976)
- Kandukonden Kandukonden (2000) – She played a minor role as a pregnant programmer.
- Varane Avashyamundu (2020) – She portrayed the character of Cookeramma alongside notable actors such as Shobhana and Dulquer Salmaan.
- Jimmy Ee Veedinte Aiswaryam (2019)
Dubbing Direction and Dialogue Writing
Sreeja Ravi expanded her contributions to the industry by taking on the roles of dialogue writer and dubbing director. She worked on the Tamil and Malayalam dubbed versions of the film Shaakuntalam, directed by Gunasekhar, where she dubbed for actresses Gautami and Aditi Balan in Tamil.
Awards and Recognition
Sreeja Ravi’s excellence in dubbing has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:
- Four Kerala State Film Awards for dubbing.
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for dubbing.
- Two Kerala Film Critics Awards for dubbing.
Her voice artistry has left a lasting impact on the South Indian film industry, where she is revered as one of the most talented and accomplished dubbing artists.
Personal Life
Sreeja Ravi is married to Raveendranathan, and the couple has a daughter, Raveena Ravi, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as a dubbing artist. Raveena is active in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu cinema, continuing the family legacy in the world of voice artistry.
Legacy
Sreeja Ravi's contribution to Indian cinema, especially in Malayalam and Tamil films, is immense. From her humble beginnings dubbing for crowd voices to becoming the preferred voice for top actresses, she has carved out a remarkable career. Her ability to breathe life into characters through her voice has earned her a respected place in the industry.
