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The Best Tamil Actresses of 2011

There were no mind-blowing performances from actresses in Tamil films in 2011. With a few exceptions, actresses were reduced to glam dolls who danced with heroes in foreign locales.

Here are the few exceptions where heroines also got a chance to perform.

Richa Gangopadhyay

Film: Mayakkam Enna

Richa made an impressive debut in Tamil films with Selvaraghavan's Mayakkam Enna.

As Yamini, the strong woman who doesn't mind expressing her feelings for her lover's friend, and later on as an understanding wife of an alcoholic husband, Richa was perfect.

Burning with anger at her husband for being responsible for her abortion, but silently helping him achieve what he wants, Richa gave a convincing performance. The best performance by an actress in 2011.

Anjali

Film: Engeyum Eppothum

Anjali is one of the most talented performers in Tamil today. She topped our list with her powerful performance as Kani in Angadi Theru last year. 

In Engeyum Eppothum she gave a fiery performance as Manimegalai, an aggressive nurse who makes her lover dance to her tunes.

Ananya

Film: Engeyum Eppothum

If Anjali was aggressive in Engeyum Eppothum, Ananya played the role of a shy, silent girl unsure of her love.

She was lovable as the bewildered Amudha who lands up in an alien city for the first time. The silent glances she throws at Gautham and the awkwardness of her body language were just right.

Sameera Reddy

Film: Nadunisai Naigal

Sameera Reddy's best performance to date in Tamil is as Meghna in Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vaaranam Aayiram.

She came up with yet another impressive performance in the same director's crime thriller Nadunisai Naigal. As the terrified Meenakshi who lives alone, she was quite effective and impressive.

Iniya

Film: Vaagai Sooda Vaa

 As Mathi, an unattractive tea vendor in Vaagai Sooda Vaa, Iniya gave one of the most realistic performances of 2011.

She was uninhibited in the scenes where she seduces the hero, and was realistically aggressive as the village belle.

A performance worthy of applause.