The Indian Institute of Educational Theatre (IIET) will organise ‘Nudi Namana’, a tribute programme in memory of noted Kannada and Malayalam theatre and film actress and former speech therapist Indira Nair, at its campus on the Hardwick School premises here on Sunday at 6 p.m.
The programme will bring together prominent personalities from the theatre and education sectors to recall the contributions and artistic journey of the late actress, who passed away recently.
Senior theatre director and actor Rameshwari Verma, Director of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, Prof. M. Pushpavathi, senior theatre director Prof. H.S. Umesh, writer and producer S.P. Raghu, and Srinivas Palahalli of Niranthara Foundation will attend the programme and share their memories of Indira Nair.
Born on February 4, 1950, in Chitradurga to a family with roots in Kerala, Indira Nair built a distinguished career in Mysuru, combining her professional work in speech and hearing with involvement in theatre and cinema, according to a press release from IIET.
After graduating in speech and hearing from AIISH, she worked as a trainer for children with speech and hearing impairments for nearly three decades before taking voluntary retirement in 1996.
Mentored by theatre personality Dr. Na. Ratna, she entered the theatre world and became associated with the Mysuru-based theatre group Samathento and its production ‘Kadadida Neeru’. She made her film debut in 1972 with B.V. Karanth’s ‘Vamsha Vriksha’.
At the age of 75, she performed her first solo play, ‘Neermaadala Hoovinondige’. She also acted in films including ‘Ranganayaki’, ‘Airavata’, ‘Pepe’ and the Malayalam film ‘Kurup’. Her performance in the short film ‘Kadalass Pookkal’ earned her Best Actress honours at the Mysore and Kerala Film Festivals.
The organisers said her life and artistic journey demonstrated that age was no barrier to creativity and that her discipline and dedication would continue to inspire younger generations.
For details, contact 9686892255.
Published – September 11, 2026 12:51 am IST
