Asin Thottumkal (Malayalam: അസിന് തോട്ടുങ്കല്, Asin Tōṭṭuṅkal ?, Tamil: அசின்; born 26 October 1985[1]), known mononymously as Asin is an Indian film actress, model and a stage performer.
Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad's Malayalam film Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for the film.
After a number of films, she received her second South Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her critically acclaimed performance in her second Tamil film, Ghajini (2005). She played the lead female roles in blockbusters such as the action comedy Varalaru (2006), the action thriller Pokkiri (2007) and the big budget production Dasavathaaram (2008). In late 2008, Asin made her début in Bollywood, with Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake, subsequently winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.
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[edit] Early life and background
Asin was born in Kochi, Kerala, India and attended Naval Public School from L.K.G.(Pre.K) through 10th standard (grade). Then she attended St. Theresa's School in Kochi for her Plus Two education. After that she attended St. Theresa's College for Women in Kochi a college affiliated with MG University where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Literature. .[2] Her father, Joseph Thottumkal originally from a Nasrani (Syro Malabar) family in Thodupuzha,[3] managed several businesses before he decided to manage his daughter's acting career instead where he accompanies her to all her foreign shoots. Her mother, Seline Thottumkal, remains a surgeon who moved settlements from Cochin to Chennai to Mumbai to live with her daughter. Asin has quoted that her name "means pure and without blemish". She claims that "the 'A' in her name is from Sanskrit meaning "without", and 'sin' from English".[4][edit] Career
[edit] Early work, until 2004
Asin's first Tamil language film was M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi, in which she co-starred with Jayam Ravi. Asin reprised her role from her film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi for the remake, which saw her portraying a Malayali girl instead of the Tamil girl in the original. The movie subsequently went on to become one of the biggest hits in Tamil cinema during 2004, introducing Asin to Tamil film industry.[6] After a brief return to Telugu films, to do Chakram, she appeared in Ullam Ketkumae.[7] The film, initially launched in 2002, is a college love story, directed by Jeeva, which was long-delayed but eventually became a successful venture at the box-office, creating wider opportunities for her and the rest of the lead cast.[8]
[edit] Breakthrough 2005–2007
After the release of Ullam Ketkumae, Asin was cited as a leading heroine after the Tamil industry films Ghajini, Majaa, Sivakasi and Varalaru respectively.[9] The film which provided the breakthrough for Asin was Ghajini. The film, co-starring Surya and Nayantara and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, earned her the Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her role was that of a vivacious young model named Kalpana. Sify.com praised her portrayal as "magical", descriving her character as a "lovable chatterbox", played with "sheer ability in the romantic interludes, the poignant and heartfelt scenes when she rescues minor girls from villains and her gory end are touching".[10] The following Diwali in 2005, Asin had two releases, Sivakasi and Majaa. Despite the latter becoming an average grosser, the former went on to be a successful venture at the box office, despite Asin's poorly etched out role.[11][12]The following year, her long-delayed venture, Varalaru opposite Ajith Kumar's hero-centric plot retreated Asin to the sidelines, but The Hindu said she "looks lustrous and sails through her role smoothly".[13] Asin appeared in Pawan Kalyan's Annavaram, another successful venture in which she had a poorly-etched out role.[14] In January 2007, Asin appeared opposite Ajith Kumar and Vijay in two different films, Aalwar and Pokkiri, with the latter becoming a success, whilst Aalwar became a failure. Whilst Asin's role in Aalwar was criticized, her performance in Pokkiri was lauded by critics.[15][16] Her final project of the year was opposite Surya, in Hari's Vel, which had a Diwali 2007 release, subsequently becoming her third successful film which released during the Diwali season in three years. Asin, who portrayed a TV anchor, was appreciated for her role in the film.[17]
[edit] Success 2008–present
Kaavalan was released on 15 January 2011. Behindwoods review of the film praised her performance: "Asin, in Tamil for the first time after Dasavatharam, convinces us with her portrayal. The chemistry of the lead pair has worked out well; especially the portions where Asin tries various ways to exasperate Vijay; things that ultimately result in love".[23] She is currently working with Salman Khan on Ready, which is scheduled to be released on June 03, 2011.[24]
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