Kalpana (1965–2016) was an Indian actress who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema, with notable performances also in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she appeared in around 300 films and earned recognition as one of the finest character and comedy actresses of her generation in South Indian cinema. She received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Thanichalla Njan (2012).
| Birth name | Kalpana Ranjini |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 October 1965, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Died | 25 January 2016, Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1977–2016 |
| Languages | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada |
| Spouse | Anil Kumar (m. 1999; div.) |
| Children | Sreemayi |
| Notable award | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (2012) |
Kalpana was born into a film family in Thiruvananthapuram. Her father, K. T. Ranjini, was associated with the arts, and her mother, Vijayalakshmi, was a stage and film actress. Her sisters Urvashi and Kalaranjini are also established actresses in Malayalam cinema, and her brother is the actor and producer Suresh Krishna. The trio of Urvashi, Kalpana and Kalaranjini are often referred to collectively in the Malayalam film industry as the "Ranjini sisters".
Kalpana entered cinema as a child artiste in the late 1970s. She received early opportunities in Malayalam films of the late 1970s and early 1980s, gradually transitioning to supporting and lead roles by the mid-1980s.
From the late 1980s onwards, Kalpana became one of the most sought-after actresses for comic and character roles in Malayalam cinema. She built a distinctive screen identity through her timing, voice modulation and ability to play earthy, expressive women. Her collaborations with leading directors and actors of Malayalam cinema, including Mohanlal, Mammootty and Sreenivasan, produced several memorable performances.
Among her widely remembered films are Chithram (1988), Vellanakalude Nadu (1988), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Godfather (1991), Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) and Aniyathipraavu (1997).
Kalpana also worked extensively in Tamil cinema, appearing in films across genres, and made appearances in Telugu and Kannada productions. Her crossover work helped extend her recognition beyond Kerala.
In 2013, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Thanichalla Njan (2012), directed by P. Sreekumar. She continued to work steadily in Malayalam cinema in the 2010s, taking on substantial character roles. Her last released films included Charlie (2015), in which her brief but striking appearance was widely appreciated.
Kalpana married actor Anil Kumar in 1999; the couple had a daughter, Sreemayi, and later separated. She was also known for her involvement in television, appearing as a judge and guest on Malayalam reality and variety shows.
Kalpana died on 25 January 2016 in Hyderabad, where she had travelled in connection with the shooting of a Telugu film. The cause of death was reported to be cardiac arrest. She was 50. Her death was widely mourned across the South Indian film industry, and tributes were paid by political leaders, fellow actors and fans in Kerala and beyond.
Kalpana is regarded as one of the most versatile female performers in Malayalam cinema, particularly noted for elevating comic and supporting roles into substantive screen presences at a time when such parts were often peripheral. Her National Film Award win in 2013 was seen as overdue recognition of a long career in which she contributed to the popular and parallel streams of Malayalam cinema alike. Along with her sisters, she remains a significant figure in the social history of women performers from Kerala in late twentieth-century Indian cinema.