Anuradha Menon
Encyclopedia
Anuradha Menon is an India
n television actress and theatre artist. Lola Kutty, the popular Channel [V
] VJ, is her alter ego
. She is also VJ Laila on Channel V.
, Anuradha Menon grew up in Chennai
. Her parents Mini and Mohan Menon worked in the advertising industry. Anuradha Menon started taking part in theatre productions in school. She was associated with The Madras Players
for some years. In 2000, she played Shubra in Madras Players' Lizard Waltz (written by Chetan Shah and directed by Bhagirathi Narayanan). She also studied theatre at a school in London
for one year. Then, she moved to Mumbai
as it was the hub of English theatre in India.
It was in Mumbai that she got her break into Indian theatre. She acted as a governess in Divya Palat
's "The Verdict." In this she was required to act with a heavy Malayali accent and this is what landed her the 'Lola Kutty" role in Television. In 2004, while auditioning for a producer, she was spotted by VJ Gaurav of Channel [V
]. Gaurav immediately recommended her to Channel [V], where she became popular as "Lola Kutty".
After she became famous as Lola Kutty, Anuradha Menon also got some film offers, but she considers theatre as her priority. She has performed in many notable plays including Zen Katha and Sammy! (both directed by Lillete Dubey
). In the two-act award-winning play Sammy!, she played an ensemble of roles, including Sarojini Naidu
. In Only Women (directed by Deesh Mariwala), she played a nurse called Jasmine. The play deals with Jasmine's impending engagement and how it affects her swings in moods, one of which leads to fatal error in the profession, and how things are sorted out.
]. Described as "the Channel [V] resident beauty on duty", she is actually an alter ego
of Anuradha Menon. Anuradha Menon appears in many of her public dealings as Lola Kutty. When invited for an interview with Pooja Bedi
on zOOm
with Mona Singh (Jassi of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
), she appeared as "Lola Kutty", unlike Mona Singh (who appeared as her off-screen self).
Lola Kutty is a bespectacled Keralite
lady who speaks English with a heavy Malayali accent. Unlike other VJs, she has curly oily hair sporting a gajra
and wears silk sari
s. Unlike Jassi of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
, Lola has no plans for a makeover
. She is a huge fan of Abhishek Bachchan
. Her assistant is Shiny Alex, who wears fluorescent shirts, matching slipper
s, and mundu
folded up.
In her show Celebrity Forum/Lola TV, Lola Kutty plays interviewer to celebrities esp. Bollywood
personalities. Lola's shows don't involve vulgar, corny or spicy humor; rather, they rely on witty asides and straight-faced questions for humor.
In 2006, a Limited Edition Deluxe Official 2006 Notebook Chronicle of Lola— the VJ, the Woman and the Wisecrack was released. The Notebook features various facets of Lola—modelling her "LolaWay products", giving gyaan (knowledge) and discussing movies. The first edition received a very good response. Lola Kutty has also worked as agony aunt for The Record Music Magazine
.
Lola Kutty boosted Channel [V]'s TRP ratings considerably. Apart from India, she has a fan following among Indian diaspora in the Middle East
and the UK
.
In real life (i.e. aside from her Lola Kutty alter ego), she speaks English with a tinge of UK accent. She is fluent in her mother-tongue, Malayalam, as well.
At The Indian Telly Awards 2006, Lola Kutty was nominated for "Best Anchor Award - Talk Show" for Lola T[v].
Lola Kutty also appeared in the 2009 movie Quick Gun Murugun as the Locket Girl.
was called a Madrasi, and I wanted to change that. Though in a very distinct way, I have pointed out the existence of a state called Kerala
on the map of India!". She also said "Lola is special, for I've created the character and it's quite touching when people love you in the role and appreciate you for it, and the self-deprecatory humour is so much".
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n television actress and theatre artist. Lola Kutty, the popular Channel [V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
] VJ, is her alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
. She is also VJ Laila on Channel V.
Theatre
Originally from KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Anuradha Menon grew up in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Her parents Mini and Mohan Menon worked in the advertising industry. Anuradha Menon started taking part in theatre productions in school. She was associated with The Madras Players
The Madras Players
The Madras Players is an Indian amateur theatre group and is the oldest English-language theatre group in Chennai, India. The Madras Players have staged over 240 theatre productions over the span of more than fifty years.-History:...
for some years. In 2000, she played Shubra in Madras Players' Lizard Waltz (written by Chetan Shah and directed by Bhagirathi Narayanan). She also studied theatre at a school in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for one year. Then, she moved to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
as it was the hub of English theatre in India.
It was in Mumbai that she got her break into Indian theatre. She acted as a governess in Divya Palat
Divya Palat
Divya Palat is an Award winning Producer and Director for theatre plays like -"A Personal War- Stories of the Mumbai Terror Attacks" and was a Hindi actress who has done many films such as Masti with Vivek Oberoi, Dhund with Apurva Agnihotri, Kuch Naa Kaho with Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan,...
's "The Verdict." In this she was required to act with a heavy Malayali accent and this is what landed her the 'Lola Kutty" role in Television. In 2004, while auditioning for a producer, she was spotted by VJ Gaurav of Channel [V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
]. Gaurav immediately recommended her to Channel [V], where she became popular as "Lola Kutty".
After she became famous as Lola Kutty, Anuradha Menon also got some film offers, but she considers theatre as her priority. She has performed in many notable plays including Zen Katha and Sammy! (both directed by Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey is an Indian actress who appeared on the stage and in Bollywood films. Dubey is noted for appearing in some of the most popular Indian movies, including Baghban, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Fanaa. Her another notable appearance is in the Mira Nair movie Monsoon Wedding.-Personal life and...
). In the two-act award-winning play Sammy!, she played an ensemble of roles, including Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu , also known by the sobriquet The Nightingale of India, was a child prodigy, Indian independence activist and poet...
. In Only Women (directed by Deesh Mariwala), she played a nurse called Jasmine. The play deals with Jasmine's impending engagement and how it affects her swings in moods, one of which leads to fatal error in the profession, and how things are sorted out.
Lola Kutty
Lola Kutty is a VJ on Channel[VChannel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
]. Described as "the Channel [V] resident beauty on duty", she is actually an alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
of Anuradha Menon. Anuradha Menon appears in many of her public dealings as Lola Kutty. When invited for an interview with Pooja Bedi
Pooja Bedi
Pooja Bedi is a former Bollywood actress and currently a television talk show host. She is the daughter of actor Kabir Bedi. She has also participated in Bigg Boss 5 and was voted out on 26th of November.-Biography:...
on zOOm
ZOOm
Zoom is an Indian glamour and entertainment television channel primarily covering Bollywood and based in Mumbai. The channel was launched in September 2004 and caters primarily to urban audiences. It is a part of The Times Group, one of India's largest media conglomerates...
with Mona Singh (Jassi of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin was a popular show on Sony Entertainment Television. The series was an Indian-themed version of the Colombian drama Yo Soy Betty La Fea .-Plot:...
), she appeared as "Lola Kutty", unlike Mona Singh (who appeared as her off-screen self).
Lola Kutty is a bespectacled Keralite
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
lady who speaks English with a heavy Malayali accent. Unlike other VJs, she has curly oily hair sporting a gajra
Gajra
A Gajra is a flower garland which women in India and Bangladesh wear during traditional festivals. It is made usually of jasmine. It can be worn both on the bun and with the braid coiling...
and wears silk sari
Sari
A sari or sareeThe name of the garment in various regional languages include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. It is popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,...
s. Unlike Jassi of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin was a popular show on Sony Entertainment Television. The series was an Indian-themed version of the Colombian drama Yo Soy Betty La Fea .-Plot:...
, Lola has no plans for a makeover
Makeover
A makeover is a term applied to changing one's appearance, sometimes through cosmetics. Makeovers can range from something as simple as a new haircut, to the use of cosmetic surgery, to the extreme of the implantation of dental veneers, eye-color-changing contact lenses, and the use of...
. She is a huge fan of Abhishek Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan is an Indian actor and producer. He is the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai....
. Her assistant is Shiny Alex, who wears fluorescent shirts, matching slipper
Slipper
A slipper or houseshoe is a semi-closed type of indoor/outdoor shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by a strap running over the toes or instep. Slippers are soft and lightweight compared to other types of footwear. They are mostly made of soft or comforting materials that allow a...
s, and mundu
Mundu
The mundu is a garment worn around the waist in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, Kerala and Maldives. This garment is closely related to the Dhoti, Sarong, and Lungi. In South Kanara, a district of Karnataka state, the Tulu speaking folk and Beary community also wear the mundu. It is...
folded up.
In her show Celebrity Forum/Lola TV, Lola Kutty plays interviewer to celebrities esp. Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
personalities. Lola's shows don't involve vulgar, corny or spicy humor; rather, they rely on witty asides and straight-faced questions for humor.
In 2006, a Limited Edition Deluxe Official 2006 Notebook Chronicle of Lola— the VJ, the Woman and the Wisecrack was released. The Notebook features various facets of Lola—modelling her "LolaWay products", giving gyaan (knowledge) and discussing movies. The first edition received a very good response. Lola Kutty has also worked as agony aunt for The Record Music Magazine
The Record Music Magazine
The Record is a popular monthly music magazine in India. Featuring must-read news, in-depth profiles on your favourite artists & bands, intelligent reviews and exclusive engaging interviews with the hottest bands around, it’s the gospel of every young music fan....
.
Lola Kutty boosted Channel [V]'s TRP ratings considerably. Apart from India, she has a fan following among Indian diaspora in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In real life (i.e. aside from her Lola Kutty alter ego), she speaks English with a tinge of UK accent. She is fluent in her mother-tongue, Malayalam, as well.
Awards and nominations
Lola TV won three Golds and one Silver at the PROMAX & BDA India Awards- Gold - Best comedy Promo (Lola TV)
- Gold - Funniest Spot (Lola TV)
- Gold - Best On-Air Branding (Lola - Matchbox ID/Lola TV/Lola Kutty)
- Silver - Best Entertainment Promo (Lola TV Promo)
At The Indian Telly Awards 2006, Lola Kutty was nominated for "Best Anchor Award - Talk Show" for Lola T[v].
Lola Kutty also appeared in the 2009 movie Quick Gun Murugun as the Locket Girl.
Criticism
Lola's character was criticized by some for being offensive to Malayali people. However, in an interview, Anuradha Menon asserted that "Lola is funny as a person, not as a region". She has also stated that, as a Keralite herself, she was in no way insulting her own people, but only using the peculiar accent for the entertainment of her viewers: "Earlier in Mumbai, anyone from the southSouth India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
was called a Madrasi, and I wanted to change that. Though in a very distinct way, I have pointed out the existence of a state called Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
on the map of India!". She also said "Lola is special, for I've created the character and it's quite touching when people love you in the role and appreciate you for it, and the self-deprecatory humour is so much".
Quotes
- "One man's beard is another man's velcro." (in an interview with Pooja BediPooja BediPooja Bedi is a former Bollywood actress and currently a television talk show host. She is the daughter of actor Kabir Bedi. She has also participated in Bigg Boss 5 and was voted out on 26th of November.-Biography:...
on zOOmZOOmZoom is an Indian glamour and entertainment television channel primarily covering Bollywood and based in Mumbai. The channel was launched in September 2004 and caters primarily to urban audiences. It is a part of The Times Group, one of India's largest media conglomerates...
) - "Men just have to make a pass at a woman in spectacles."
- "You can never be too rich or too thin!".
- "Always remember that a fish in the curry is worth two in the sea!"
- "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want" (Interview for JAM Magazine)