Shakeela

For the 2020 Indian biographic film about the subject, see Shakeela (film).

For other uses, see Shakila (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Shakira.

C. Shakeela, known mononymously as Shakeela, is an Indian actress and politician who has predominantly acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu language films. She is a member of Indian National Congress.^[1]

Shakeela
Shakeela in 2018
Born	Shakeela Begum 19 November 1973 (age 51) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	Shakila
Occupations	Actress Politician Softcore pornographic actress
Years active	1994–present
Political party	Indian National Congress

Shakeela debuted in the softcore pornographic film Playgirls (1995) at the age of 18.^[2][3] She became a popular figure in Kerala with the release of Malayalam softcore film Kinnara Thumbikal in 2000. This film would go on to pioneer a new wave of low-budget softcore porn films in the state, with Shakeela starring in many of them. In Kerala's hero-centric mainstream industry of her time, Shakeela's emergence as a liberated woman, who displays her sexuality in defiance of social norms led to what became known as Malayalam cinema's Shakeela tharangam (Shakeela wave).^[4]

Early life

Shakeela was born in Chennai into Urdu and Telugu speaking Muslim family. Her mother was from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.^[5] She could not complete her school leaving certificate examination, eventually making her foray into films.^[5]

Career

From the beginning of her career, she acted in B movies and softcore pornography.^[6] One of her big hits was the 2001 Malayalam film Kinnarathumbikal, which brought her into limelight. Kinnarathumbikal was dubbed in more than six Indian languages and was a major commercial success, grossing ₹4 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹12 lakhs. She did a few controversial topless scenes in her initial movies until she got noticed.^[2][3] Her B movies were dubbed and released in almost all Indian languages. Her films were dubbed into foreign languages like Nepalese, Chinese, and Sinhala. After she acted in several movies, the soft-porn movies in India were colloquially called as "shakeela films".^[7] Shakeela hired a body double Surayya Banu to do her topless scenes.^[8]

Shakeela started appearing in family character roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language movies since 2003. She wrote her autobiography in Malayalam,^[9] which covered her family, her background, as well as her acquaintance with notable film personalities, politicians and childhood friends.^[10][11]

In January 2018, she announced her 250th film as an actor, Sheelavathi, would begin production.^[12][13]

Personal life

In 2002, Shakeela announced that she will no longer act in B grade movies.^[5] Shakeela released her autobiography Shakeela: Aatmakatha in 2013.^[8]

Politics

Shakeela joined the Indian National Congress in March 2021.^[14][15]

Partial filmography

As an actress

Shakeela has featured in over 250 in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Odia and Telugu Language films in various roles.

Year	Film	Role	Language
1994	Playgirls		Tamil
1994	Jallikattu Kaalai	Pushpavanam	Tamil
1997	Sobhanam		Malayalam
1998	Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi		Tamil
1998	Udhavikku Varalaamaa	item number	Tamil
1998	Marumalarchi		Tamil
1998	Kulirkaattu		Malayalam
1999	Captain		Malayalam
2000	Raakkilikal		Malayalam
2000	Thankathoni		Malayalam
2000	Nishasurabhikal		Malayalam
2000	Kaathara		Malayalam
2000	Manjukaalappakshi		Malayalam
2000	Neela Thadakathile Nizhal Pakshikal		Malayalam
2000	Kinnara Thumbikal	Dakshyani	Malayalam
2001	Koumaram		Malayalam
2001	Agrahaaram		Malayalam
2001	Yaamini		Malayalam
2001	Vezhambal		Malayalam
2001	Pranayaaksharangal		Malayalam
2001	Naalam Simham		Malayalam
2001	Laya Thalangal		Malayalam
2001	Kaadambari		Malayalam
2001	Agnipushpam		Malayalam
2001	Naalaam Simham		Malayalam
2001	Driving School		Malayalam
2001	Ee Raavil		Malayalam
2001	Kinnaaram Chollicholli		Malayalam
2001	Nimishangal		Malayalam
2001	Maami		Malayalam
2001	Romance		Malayalam
2001	Kalluvaathukkal Kathreena		Malayalam
2001	Premaagni		Malayalam
2001	Chaarasundari		Malayalam
2001	Mohanayanangal		Malayalam
2001	Laasyam		Malayalam
2001	Swargavaathil		Malayalam
2001	Aalilathoni		Malayalam
2001	Nayeem And Shakeela		Telugu
2001	Sneha		Tamil
2001	Sagara		Kannada
2001	Agniputhri		Telugu
2002	Soundharyalahari		Telugu
2002	Thotti Gang	Matasri	Telugu
2002	Sneha		Malayalam
2002	Soundarya Lahari		Malayalam
2002	Pushpasharam		Malayalam
2002	Randu Penkuttikal		Malayalam
2002	Niramulla Swapnangal		Malayalam
2002	Eden Thottam		Malayalam
2002	Aalinganam		Malayalam
2002	Uff Yeh Jawani		Malayalam
2002	Sisiram		Malayalam
2002	Mohaswapnam		Malayalam
2002	Pranaya Shalabhangal		Malayalam
2002	Miss Suvarna		Malayalam
2002	Namukkoru Koodaram		Malayalam
2002	Thirunelliyile Penkutty		Malayalam
2002	Penmanassu		Telugu
2003	Duppatlo Dhada Dhada		Telugu
2003	Jayam	Gnana Saraswathi	Telugu
2003	Ananthapuram Raajakumaari		Malayalam
2003	Veendum Thulabharam		Malayalam
2003	Jayam	Gnana Sarawathi	Tamil
2003	Nijam		Telugu
2003	Dongodu		Telugu
2003	Dhool	Herself	Tamil
2004	Puttintiki Ra Chelli		Telugu
2004	Monalisa	College principal	Kannada
2004	Sandra		Malayalam
2004	Singara Chennai		Tamil
2004	Loves	Herself	Tamil
2005	786 Khaidi Premakatha		Telugu[16]
2005	Keelu Gurram		Telugu
2005	Thaka Thimi Tha	Rama	Tamil
2005	Sorry Enaku Kalyanamayidichu	Baby	Tamil
2006	Shri		Kannada
2006	Bangaram	Ammukutty	Telugu
2006	Thodamaley		Tamil
2006	Vathiyar	Item number	Tamil
2007	Chotta Mumbai	Herself	Malayalam
2007	Viyabari	Minister Dairy Development	Tamil
2007	Azhagiya Tamil Magan	Shakeela	Tamil
2007	Pazhaniappa Kalloori	Chechi	Tamil
2008	Vambu Sandai		Tamil
2008	Lakshmi Putrudu		Telugu
2008	Paape O Parupu		Telugu
2008	Nadigai	Herself	Tamil
2008	Dongala Bandi		Telugu
2009	Current		Telugu
2009	Siva Manasula Sakthi	Sakthi	Tamil
2009	Malai Malai		Tamil
2010	Boss Engira Bhaskaran	Parimala teacher	Tamil
2010	Maanja Velu	Mathangi	Tamil
2010	Vallakottai	Saleswoman	Tamil
2011	Guru Sishyan		Tamil
2011	Teja Bhai & Family		Malayalam
2011	Ninety		Kannada
2012	Iniyum Oru Janmam		Malayalam
2012	Kai		Tamil
2013	Neelakurinji Poothu		Malayalam
2013	Ragalaipuram		Tamil
2013	Ade Baaja		Telugu
2014	Adhu Vera Idhu Vera		Tamil
2015	Six		Malayalam
2015	Romantic Target		Telugu
2015	Patharagitthi		Kannada
2015	Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga	Akila Cheichi	Tamil
2015	Luv U Alia		Kannada
2015	Sakalakala Vallavan	Herself	Tamil
2017	Sevili		Tamil
2019	Pottu	Biochemistry Professor	Tamil
2019	Kobbari Matta	Pandu	Telugu
2020	Kanni Raasi	Chechi	Tamil
2021	Engada Iruthinga Ivvalavu Naala	Shakeela	Tamil
2023	Kick	Ad Council	Tamil
2025	Madha Gaja Raja	Marriage attendee	Tamil

Television

Year	Title	Channel	Language	Role	Notes
2014	Bigg Boss Kannada (season 2)	Star Suvarna	Kannada	Contestant	Evicted Day 27
2016	Health Education	YouTube	Tamil	Host	Telecasted on Interactive TV Channel
2016	Comedy Super Nights 2	Flowers TV	Malayalam	Herself as Guest	Episode 5
2018	Adhu Idhu Yedhu	Star Vijay	Tamil	Participant
2019	Comedy Stars	Asianet	Malayalam	Herself as Guest
2019	Janakeeya Kodathi	24 News	Malayalam	Guest speaker
2020	Funny Nights with Pearle Maaney	Zee Keralam	Malayalam	Herself as guest
2020-2021	Cooku With Comali (Season 2)	Star Vijay	Tamil	Contestant	1st Runner-Up
2021	Alitho Saradaga[17]	ETV	Telugu	Herself as Guest	Episode 211
2021	Start Music (Season 2)	Star Vijay	Tamil	Contestant	Winner
2021	Kanni Theevu Ullasa Ulagam 2.0	Colours Tamil	Tamil	Raja Mata
2021	Singapenney	Star Vijay	Tamil	Participant
2021	Cash	E TV	Telugu	Participant
2023–present	Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum	Flowers TV	Malayalam	Urmila	TV serial
2023	Flowers Oru Kodi	Flowers TV	Malayalam	Participant	Gameshow[citation needed]
2023	Star magic	Flowers TV	Malayalam	Mentor	Gameshow
2023	Bigg Boss (Telugu season 7)	Star Maa	Telugu	Contestant	Evicted Day 14

Popularity and reception

Shakeela, who rose to fame quickly, served as her movies' main character and the centre of its story. According to film industry analyst Sreedhar Pillai, Shakeela's stardom extended beyond state boundaries as well, with these films getting their own dubbed versions across the country. As a result, for thousands of that generation, their only access to Malayalam cinema was the kind that would star Shakeela. According to critic and film historian C. S. Venkiteswaran, Shakeela became known as the promiscuous Malayali woman in nearby areas like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where words like "chechi" or "aunty" were sarcastically used to refer to them. The prejudice that these films appealed to in other states was furthered by the fact that Kerala had a distinctive sartorial culture where ladies wore a lungi and a blouse. And it added yet another depth to their fantasies about these ladies when they included yet another widely held stereotype of the missing Malayali males employed in the Gulf.^[18]

According to film director Venkiteswaran, Shakeela eventually became highest paid employee on the set, and the production of the movie was planned around her comfort. She has said in many interviews that how these production teams would trick her into acting as many as three films at once without her knowledge, flooding the market with her films. The fly-by-night studios made more money during this time, more so than the actors who played the leads in these films. According to film scholar Darshana Sreedhar Mini, during the Malayalam cinema industry's crisis in the early 2000s, Shakeela films' success became essential to the industry's existence because her presence guaranteed profit and, thus, the survival of these personnel.^[19] In 2001, more than 70% of Malayalam films were of the soft porn genre, and she appeared in many of them. Popular Malayalam films at the period focused on showing heroic masculinity and completely muted the agential role of women. Shakeela's films, in contrast, stood out because they emphasised her presence to the point where the male roles served as functional filler. In actuality, the majority of Shakeela's male co-stars were little more than "extras," with unimpressive careers. Shakeela's presence during a period of economic crisis temporarily destabilised Kerala's hero-centric mainstream business, giving rise to the Shakeela tharangam (wave of Shakeela).^[20]

In popular culture

Indrajit Lankesh directed her biopic Shakeela (2020) based on her life in which Richa Chadda portrays the title character.^[21][22] On 22 September 2023, a 5-minute sketch featuring Shakeela was released by Netflix on YouTube to promote the concluding season of their series Sex Education, among the Malayali audience. The sketch titled "'Shakeela's driving school" was also a reminiscent of her successful film Driving School.^[23]

See also

• Reshma
• Silk Smitha
• Malayalam softcore pornography