Sensuality and the Indian Actress

[Bala (Karthik)]

airtel pair - vidya balan

Plum,
Fee wards on Vidya Balan please

Did anyone mention Gayathri Joshi? Kood! Amala-ku nigar illennaalum, kittathatta andha ragam.... Adhula paarunga...

[kid-glove]

I'm not a big fan of Miss Balan. But I think she makes a good pair with Maddy.

On Balan:
I watched Ishqiya, I liked it (Especially the bifurcation of two male characters on basis of madonna-whore complex and especially N'shah's Saraswathi-like 'agape love' of Veena-playing Balan, & reverberation to the photo (madonna figure) in his purse - the subsequent revelation, etc ) Even though she wasn't groundbreaking. She has a authentic house woman look that would fit this prototype. Didn't think much of the parts of her doing the other end of the spectrum (Vamp).

Guru - Apart from wheel chair immobility and kissing scene, I don't recollect any finer aspects of her acting.

The aforementioned ('authentic' madonna) point on Ishqiya also stands for Paa, Eklavya, and Parineeta...

[Plum]

kid, adhAvadhu a refurbished NadhiyangarInga?

[kid-glove]

Oh, I never thought much of Nadhiya as a pure actress but her USP was also some kind of a 'authentic' figure for certain type of roles (In Balan's case, there is a dearth of female talent in actress category). So yeah, a fair comparison. :P

[kid-glove]

The 'cute' factor of Nadhiya is 'dated'. One is eternally grateful for Amala (the scene in the mall in Pushpak with quiet gestures to Kamal back and forth :notworthy: )

[kid-glove]

The other day Smita Patil was brought-up by folks. My blowing-off mind to think of her reprising Balan's part in Ishqiya :notworthy:

[19thmay]

தங்க தலைவி ஸ்ரேயா..! :notworthy:

[kid-glove]

:sigh2:

[equanimus]

kid, adhAvadhu a refurbished NadhiyangarInga?
Ha, that would be a fairly ridiculous charge to make against Vidya Balan, I say! This is again quite like the Shalini episode. Imagining the "house woman," or the "girl/woman next door" if you will, as divorced from any sort of overt sensuality is quite problematic.

[kid-glove]

You have any arguments on my charge against Miss Balan, Equa?

[equanimus]

You have any arguments on my charge against Miss Balan, Equa?
Oh, not necessarily (actually, not sure if I follow your criticisms). My point is simply that she just can't be boxed in to the archetypal Madonna figure (or a sAtvIkam figure if you will). She has been playing roles charged with sensuality right from her first film, Parineeta.

[kid-glove]

Yeah, but the sensuality doesn't work. Perhaps she should do more roles of full-fledged celibacy. The sensualism isn't her USP.

[kid-glove]

If you're referring to the 'sensual' aspects of a woman making a 'good pair' with a man (As I suggested she makes a good pair with Maddy). Obviously, one doesn't go to gross details here, but still one can make out from just a snapshot of two posing together. The vibes are good. But there isn't a clear distinction of it being fully sensual.

[equanimus]

But then, who are these truly sensual actors? Examples? I don't mean to argue that Vidya Balan is indeed among the most sensual actors in Indian cinema. I think she's sensual, but if someone doesn't, there's very little to discuss. However, (and this is my point) I'm suspicious of the nature of 'identification' here. To put it simply, I find it too predictable.

Actually, more needs to be said about this dichotomy with the audience, for a change, as the subject. Dibakar Banerjee's 'Love, Sex Aur Dhoka' has this very interesting references to the behenji archetype, in every case as if it's a self-evident identity; i.e. the girl is "behenji-type" simply because she has a certain kind of look. One doesn't even have to get all "bleeding-heart" to say this. Isn't there an obvious pattern here?

A Vidya Balan has to shed her girl-next-door image, an Amrita Rao or a Priya Mani also have to do the same. And take a closer look at this whole idea of shedding one's girl-next-door image. The process never quite completes. They keep shedding it forever.

[kid-glove]

The nature of 'identification' was also the point of Shah-Warsi in Ishqiya.

Vidya doesn't quite show right gestures of being 'sensual'. At least, there aren't enough 'suggestions' of such. There isn't a semblance of 'pleasure' there (on the other hand, Shalini does do it for me in AlaipayuthE - especially in songs)

There's a scene in Mandi where Azmi and Smita Patil have an intimate moment, it's not so much that they have their own 'image' or 'identifcation' that is at odds here, but their expression in the scene that's extremely important ( that alone makes that scene more 'intimate' or 'sensual' - implication of a homosexual relationship - and not necessarily platonic 'love' )

For a straight example, Annalakshmi to Sandiyar in Virumandi as against Muththazhagu to Paruthiveeran in PV. The former is spot-on while the later was :lol:

[kid-glove]

I think you're talking about frame of mind based on 'look' & 'figure', while I'm only judging the execution.

[kid-glove]

I did say there's a dearth of talent t oday. I also suggested (if it isn't clear already) that Smita Patil is infinitely more nuanced and skilled in this respect.

[equanimus]

Yes, I did think your criticism is more about her 'portrayal' as a whole rather than just her looks. I'm not a fan of her as an actor, frankly. I'm just trying to understand how and where Nadiya and she meet!

Vidya doesn't quite show right gestures of being 'sensual'. At least, there aren't enough 'suggestions' of such. There isn't a semblance of 'pleasure' there (on the other hand, Shalini does do it for me in AlaipayuthE - especially in songs)
Oddly, I've heard some people say quite the opposite -- that she self-consciously plays her roles in a coquettish way. And actually I agree with that.

[kid-glove]

Nadhiya is also quite bad at being 'sensual'. She is rather 'inert' in many ways..

[equanimus]

But where was she trying to do sensual roles to begin with?

Even with Shalini, I've to admit that it's just 'alai pAyuthE' and (to some extent) 'kaNNukkuL nilavu' that swayed me. (But then she did only a few films, of which I've actually seen only 3 or 4.)

[Plum]

equa, you must see iniya uravu poothadhu.
However, I prefer to watch this exchange from the sidelines - the whole intent was to provoke this discussion and stay back and watch :-)

[kid-glove]

Isn't the whole point that there is 'sensuality' even in house-woman girl-next-door types? Especially that most of Tamil films are centered on romantic interest of its hero.

One couldn't associate her with roles that calls for blatant sensuality (while vidya could be - isn't that your concern here? ). I said 'some kind of a 'authentic' figure for certain type of roles ' in terms of Educated city-bred girl (around 80's Tamil cinema) who doesn't fit into Tamil stereotypes (which are played by Ambika, Ramya Krishnan, Gauthami, etc) where there's a necessity to be 'domesticated' and the woman put to her place.

[equanimus]

Plum,
LOL, பார்த்துட்டா போச்சு! ஷாலினி case எப்படி இருந்தாலும், வித்யா பாலனைப் பொறுத்தவரை, நிறைய படம் பாத்தாச்சுன்னு நினைக்கிறேன். (நான் Parineeta பார்த்தபோதே "விழுந்துட்டேங்கறதும்" உண்மை.)

[kid-glove]

Equa,
You greatly overrate Vidya's coquettish demeanor.

[equanimus]

Oh well, what can one say... Is there any kind of interest that's more inexplicable than this one? :)

[kid-glove]

Haha, okay.

[Plum]

Plum,
LOL, பார்த்துட்டா போச்சு! ஷாலினி case எப்படி இருந்தாலும், வித்யா பாலனைப் பொறுத்தவரை, நிறைய படம் பாத்தாச்சுன்னு நினைக்கிறேன். (நான் Parineeta பார்த்தபோதே "விழுந்துட்டேங்கறதும்" உண்மை.)
Cue sub-texts about even the most evolved, enlightened youth preferring the domesticated/seemingly domesticatable woman and the inevitable male chauvinist imprint of the society ;-) :lol:

[equanimus]

'some kind of a 'authentic' figure for certain type of roles ' in terms of Educated city-bred girl (around 80's Tamil cinema) who doesn't fit into Tamil stereotypes (which are played by Ambika, Ramya Krishnan, Gauthami, etc) where there's a necessity to be 'domesticated' and the woman put to her place.Uh, but where is the sensual bit here?

The closest she came to being sensual was, I think, when she wore a pair of dark glasses to intimidate S. Ve. Shekar in 'pUvE pUchchUda vA.'

[kid-glove]

'some kind of a 'authentic' figure for certain type of roles ' in terms of Educated city-bred girl (around 80's Tamil cinema) who doesn't fit into Tamil stereotypes (which are played by Ambika, Ramya Krishnan, Gauthami, etc) where there's a necessity to be 'domesticated' and the woman put to her place.But where is the sensual bit here? The closest she came to being sensual was, I think, when she wore a pair of dark glasses to intimidate S. Ve. Shekar in 'pUvE pUchchUda vA.'
Songs and the lead-up to Songs, romantic bits, etc..

[Plum]

I personally wouldnt rank Vidya Balan along the Nadhiya prototype. Her sensuality also seems a hit-and-miss affair - the very homeliness adding a layer of sensualtiy that was discernible in Parineeta but not much otherwise when she is to be seen as a regular, 'maadern figar'. I am with kid_glove on ishqiya - epic fail.

And kid, it was me who brought in Smita Patil. Yes, she would have smoked out Ishqiya. Infact, I recently wrote about the power she wielded in her eyes and in her disposition. Hers is the kind of sensuality which is not attractive in the regular sense but I can imagine that she could shake even the most proud of men and run them around her fingers for breakfast. Smouldering is just a starting point to describer her sensualtiy.
Even in the most docile of her roles, it stood out - one of the reasons why Azmi could trump her in some of the roles.

[kid-glove]

In Balan's case, I don't really buy her coquetries as 'authentic'. OTOH I think there's a vibe of a non-sensual (celibate) house woman that comes naturally to her. Nadhiya's inertness also perhaps makes her more of untouchable 'girl-next-door' territory than a flirting type.

[kid-glove]

While there's a smouldering sensuality, she also does near-docile roles in her own way. Nihalani films like Aakrosh, Ardh Satya for example. The sensuality is controlled IMO.

On Azmi-Patil difference, none more so than "Arth" !

[kid-glove]

Vidya doesn't quite show right gestures of being 'sensual'. At least, there aren't enough 'suggestions' of such. There isn't a semblance of 'pleasure' there (on the other hand, Shalini does do it for me in AlaipayuthE - especially in songs)
Oddly, I've heard some people say quite the opposite -- that she self-consciously plays her roles in a coquettish way. And actually I agree with that.
I think the whole discussion stems from this fact. And I opined contrarily.

[kid-glove]

I'm just trying to understand how and where Nadiya and she meet!


In Balan's case, I don't really buy her coquetries as 'authentic'. OTOH I think there's a vibe of a non-sensual (celibate) house woman that comes naturally to her. Nadhiya's inertness also perhaps makes her more of untouchable 'girl-next-door' territory than a flirting type.

[kid-glove]

Vidya doesn't quite show right gestures of being 'sensual'. At least, there aren't enough 'suggestions' of such. There isn't a semblance of 'pleasure' there (on the other hand, Shalini does do it for me in AlaipayuthE - especially in songs)
Oddly, I've heard some people say quite the opposite -- that she self-consciously plays her roles in a coquettish way. And actually I agree with that.
I think the whole discussion stems from this fact. And I opined contrarily.

This whole thing about her 'sensuality' struck my mind (And her failure to show such in Ishqiya) after this bit of praise:


Husain seemed particularly smitten with Balan, saying he would like to cast her in a film some day. 'I'm absolutely bowled over by Vidya Balan. She conveys pure Indianness, feminine, sensual, without making an effort.'

[equanimus]

Cue sub-texts about even the most evolved, enlightened youth preferring the domesticated/seemingly domesticatable woman and the inevitable male chauvinist imprint of the society ;-) :lol:Ha, I wager it'd be much more rewarding to examine the men who have an acute lack of fascination with "seemingly domesticable women," considering that those women represent a good chunk of the female population of our society.

[equanimus]

And, come on guys, why do you have to raise the bar so high? Isn't Smita Patil obviously a tall order?!

[Plum]

Well, you've got to compete with the best :-)

As I said, I am not particularly against Vidya Balan. If you want to lower the bar, I'd present Madhoo, (minus the innumerable Kannada, Telugu and Hindi roles where she wsa basically there to get drenched in the rain etc.). Look at even something like Yeshwant - she oozes sensuality in a everyday 'homely' way (ofcourse like Bala said, that's her default mode so maybe it is the smartness of the director to exploit it for that role for that scene!).

Put in a different way, there seems to be a fakeness in VB's "participative" sensual depictions, as though forcefully rushing out of her frigid, inhibited persona. Obviously, my take is that she hasnt quite reached "Her Nadia ness" levels in this respect but has covered enough in that direction to cross over to nadhiya's side :-)

[Plum]

It was tough to walk the tightrope in the last comment - where voyeurism ends and where dispassionate analysis begins is a question - but the idea was to see where the dismissal comes from

[equanimus]

Frankly, I simply fail to sense even a remote link between Nadiya and Vidya here. Neither the attempts at portraying sensuality that kid-glove finds in Nadiya's "[s]ongs and the lead-up to Songs, romantic bits, etc.." nor how Vidya "has covered enough in that direction to cross over to nadhiya's side," when she's actually making the opposite move (even if one thinks she fails in it). So let's just agree to disagree. :)

[kid-glove]

I mean to say that I find Nadiya's portrayal of sensuality to be indifferent and callousness is sensed. Vidya's is on and off (when 'on' - there's a definite falseness there) sensuality - that she is excepted and praised in Hindi cinema shows the abundance of well-endowed vamp-like heroines. I think the praise is more to do with her 'looks' (That sets her apart from other miss worlds) that her portrayal of sensuality seems more 'appealing'..

[equanimus]

Okay. I'm afraid all this is unrelated to what I was trying to say. My point was not at all about whether she is overrated by the Hindi film audience or that she's a great performer.

[kid-glove]

I think your point was that there's no attempts of portraying sensuality in films featuring Nadhiya. But I think it does. Not only does the woman roles desire for machismo hero, the songs are sometimes rendered with exaggerated sounds by female singer. Sorry one could only articulate this much without forming pornographic imagery..

[equanimus]

I think your point was that there's no attempts of portraying sensuality in films featuring Nadhiya. But I think it does. Not only does the woman roles desire for machismo hero, the songs are sometimes rendered with exaggerated sounds by female singer. Sorry one could only articulate this much without forming pornographic imagery..You can't be serious, k-g! Isn't this the most generic description for a Tamil film heroine since, at least, the 80s?! (And there's little here that actually involves the heroine's persona!) And on top of that, surely, this is not the kind of role Nadiya is known to play (though she might have of course done a few films in this mould)?! That is precisely why poor Nadia (and I've no dislike for her) is being particularly picked and discussed here in the first place.

[kid-glove]

So, what levels of sensuality you'd expect in case of a Tamil film heroine. Definitely not to explicit levels of bolly and Vidya in particular.

[kid-glove]

" this is not the kind of role Nadiya is known to play "
Are you basing it on a couple of women-centric roles she once played?

[kid-glove]

There's a definite suggestion of 'intimacy' and body chemistry in intimate songs.

I certainly don't think you need to play roles like in Ishqiya to display sensuality per se.

[kid-glove]

Of course, the comparison to Nadhiya seems especially odd. But their failure in displaying sensuality (at least in Nadhiya's case - it's nearly absent) is my point. And they both are very much exceptions to other actresses at the point in their respective film industries. And they both, IMO, couldn't/shouldn't do sensual scenes. :lol:

[equanimus]

Eh? Nadiya is hardly someone whom anyone would associate with this: "desire for machismo hero, the songs are sometimes rendered with exaggerated sounds by female singer." This is simply why we're even talking about her in the first place! Isn't it? And what "intimate songs" of Nadiya are you referring to?

And this is so not about the limits of Tamil cinema. There are several actresses out there who have had a sensual persona onscreen within the universe in which Tamil films operate.

Anyway, let's agree to disagree. :)

[Vivasaayi]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

[kid-glove]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

Sure..

[kid-glove]

And what "intimate songs" of Nadiya are you referring to?
There's quite a few of Suresh - Nadhiya that I could find for you. I hope you don't say these aren't meant to be sensual then.
And the machismo ones are with Rajini, I'm sure.

[Plum]

Nadhiya did have a few attempts at portraying - well, not sensuality - she just got caught up in some really typical, S Janaki horny song types, especially in Telugu. Sridhar attempted to get her to seduce Suresh in Inya Uravu Poothadhu. (Pornographic imagery check. Stop.)

One doesnt know if these were attempts to break out of her own asexual, hydra kind of image that Tamil moviedom got her into - or is it just that she just couldnt wriggle out of acting out those scenes. Either way, the end product is epic fail, and is symptomatic of an inner inhibition.

Vidya Balan, OTOH, hasnt really cultivated or been forced upon the hydra image but her attempts at oozing sensuality have resulted in on-and-off success, mostly off. The thought process here with me being an inner inibition is the root cause.

[equanimus]

விவசாயி,
என்னை கேக்கலைன்னு எடுத்துக்கறேன். :) (Looks 'ஐ மட்டும் வெச்சு, எனக்கு அப்படி எந்த "standards" 'உம் கிடையாது.)

[kid-glove]

There are several actresses out there who have had a sensual persona onscreen

- And did I say Nadhiya was part of it? I'm of course saying she failed badly at this..

[kid-glove]

Nadhiya did have a few attempts at portraying - well, not sensuality - she just got caught up in some really typical, S Janaki horny song types, especially in Telugu. Sridhar attempted to get her to seduce Suresh in Inya Uravu Poothadhu. (Pornographic imagery check. Stop.)

One doesnt know if these were attempts to break out of her own asexual, hydra kind of image that Tamil moviedom got her into - or is it just that she just couldnt wriggle out of acting out those scenes. Either way, the end product is epic fail, and is symptomatic of an inner inhibition.

Vidya Balan, OTOH, hasnt really cultivated or been forced upon the hydra image but her attempts at oozing sensuality have resulted in on-and-off success, mostly off. The thought process here with me being an inner inibition is the root cause.

:exactly:

[Vivasaayi]

Rekha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vivasaayi]

Nadhiya - 0% - she is not sensual on screen by any means

Vidya balan is sensual - infact the other side of the coin [girl next door / good girl image or whatever] adds to that sensuality when she attempts to be sensual.

[jaiganes]

Best in this business for thamizh films was Lakshmi - who could do either range of sensuality without sacrificing the feminine grace. The only other actress who has proven this argument (sensuality of a woman next door) in the bygone era was Srividhya. Sripriya scored a lot in 'Aval Appadiththaan' but did precious little to follow it up. Suhasini was a huge failure (though she had the looks of an authentic woman next door). I think Balu Mahendra brought the best out of Shobha and Archana in this regard. More than actors we also need directors who can unearth this element in their actors. Not every actress is a smitha patil who can shed their inhibitions and acquire the inborn sensuality of the character and reflect it in the right amounts(this is very important - slight proportion change on the dial can shift the performance either way - again a diratakkar like Balu always is essential ) on screen.

[HonestRaj]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

Saidhai thamizharasi

[kid-glove]

Nadhiya did have a few attempts at portraying - well, not sensuality - she just got caught up in some really typical, S Janaki horny song types, especially in Telugu. Sridhar attempted to get her to seduce Suresh in Inya Uravu Poothadhu. (Pornographic imagery check. Stop.)

Comparing this vis-a-vis the one in Ishqiya (incl. the thumb sucking attempt to seduce Warsi), I think I will give Vidya Balan C- if Nadhiya gets D. :lol:

[Vivasaayi]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

Saidhai thamizharasi

adadadaa... enna oru seleksan!

[Vivasaayi]

விவசாயி,
என்னை கேக்கலைன்னு எடுத்துக்கறேன். :) (Looks 'ஐ மட்டும் வெச்சு, எனக்கு அப்படி எந்த "standards" 'உம் கிடையாது.)

:clap: :clap:

[jaiganes]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

Saidhai thamizharasi
Good candidate - but was often asked to over perform and rarely got dicey roles where this borderline sensuality was required.
A good example of what is being discussed would be what Jayapradha did in Salangai Oli in that awesome song 'Mounamaana velai'. The aura she exudes and the way KVishwanath captured it - makes for an indelible impression in vidalai payyangal's minds and takes ones breath away everytime u think of it. Kamal did a bad bad thing by casting jayapradha in Dasavatharam.

[Vivasaayi]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

Saidhai thamizharasi
Good candidate - but was often asked to over perform and rarely got dicey roles where this borderline sensuality was required.
A good example of what is being discussed would be what Jayapradha did in Salangai Oli in that awesome song 'Mounamaana velai'. The aura she exudes and the way KVishwanath captured it - makes for an indelible impression in vidalai payyangal's minds and takes ones breath away everytime u think of it. Kamal did a bad bad thing by casting jayapradha in Dasavatharam.

:notworthy:

[kid-glove]

sensuality naa.... roopini[kaala kaala,mmkr heroine] laam kanakkula sethukka mateengala?

only amala range?

Saidhai thamizharasi
Good candidate - but was often asked to over perform and rarely got dicey roles where this borderline sensuality was required.
A good example of what is being discussed would be what Jayapradha did in Salangai Oli in that awesome song 'Mounamaana velai'. The aura she exudes and the way KVishwanath captured it - makes for an indelible impression in vidalai payyangal's minds and takes ones breath away everytime u think of it. Kamal did a bad bad thing by casting jayapradha in Dasavatharam.
:clap:
We got the right candidate to compare Balan to. That's something Balan fails at, IMO. Let's agree to disagree

[equanimus]

kid-glove,
You've not answered the central question here. Why are we talking about Nadia i.e. how did she find a mention here? Is it because she attempted and failed or because she's known for avoiding such roles? It's a simple enough question and if your answer is the former, I think there's a basic difference in our respective understanding of her persona (or at least the way it's referred to in this thread), and there's no common ground to discuss anything.

There's quite a few of Suresh - Nadhiya that I could find for you.Of course, I've seen her duets with Suresh, k-g. I don't expect anything here that would surprise me.

And the machismo ones are with Rajini, I'm sure.Except that it'd be a singular! rAjathi rAja. (Again, I could immediately see this is the film you have in mind when you said "desire for machismo hero.")

Anyway, I think this has long reached a moot point. And, no, I haven't seen her Telugu films.

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Jayapradha :P

[jaiganes]

kid-glove,
You've not answered the central question here. Why are we talking about Nadia i.e. how did she find a mention here? Is it because she attempted and failed or because she's known for avoiding such roles? It's a simple enough question and if your answer is the former, I think there's a basic difference in our respective understanding of her persona (or at least the way it's referred to in this thread), and there's no common ground to discuss anything.

There's quite a few of Suresh - Nadhiya that I could find for you.Of course, I've seen her duets with Suresh, k-g. I don't expect anything here that would surprise me.

And the machismo ones are with Rajini, I'm sure.Except that it'd be a singular! rAjathi rAja. (Again, I could immediately see this is the film you have in mind when you said "desire for machismo hero.")

Anyway, I think this has long reached a moot point. And, no, I haven't seen her Telugu films.
Nadhiya endraale chudidhar, chudidhar endraale nadhiya.
Big disadvantage of chudidhar is that it lacks the basic sensuality of traditional indian saree, so nadiya is starting in this race behind everyone else by a clear 20 feet.

[kid-glove]

I aws basically pointing out that Balan's attempts of sensuality have been failures - and she's akin to Nadia in a premodinantly asexual demeanor..

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Simms perhaps :roll:

[kid-glove]

My point wasn't about looks or attire. But in their limitations of portraying sensuality as I see it.

[PARAMASHIVAN]

how could I 4get Madhavi ? :banghead: her eyes speaks for them self :P :P :P

[jaiganes]

I think a general discussion on this topic would be very interesting.
I feel a portion of this is due to personality and another portion is , well basic writing. We have a tendency to glorify 'non-sensual' material as superior material. We have directors like Bala who have distinct dislike to portraying subjects based on sensuality and some critics who strongly encourage him to stay on that path. In myopinion what Bala is doing is a Guru droham considering the services of Balu mahendra in this front ;-)
One more point to be noted is that 70s were the best phase in portraying the sensual undercurrents in man-woman relationships and one more reason why that phase was the best.
Vidya Balan as a basic personality has what one would say as 'Mature face' - something that certain women are born with. Another face that has a similar quality is 'Sujatha' - though belonging to the 70s which were dealing with 'risque' subjects, Sujatha could import a sense of mortal doom even in those roles without any effort. I see Vidya Balan as a Sujatha redux for 2000s. Sujatha was/is not a bad actor - just that her face is somehow relatable only to the elderly aunt/chechi next door. This i mean with no disrespect, but is a blessing sometimes for she can pair with elderly shivaji ganesan and still command respect.
Other actors whom I can recall to have a similar facial features
1. Vadivukkarasi
2. Tabu
3. Manorama

Vayadhukku meerina oru vidhamaana mudhirchi. Even if these ladies do sensual roles, it somehow doesnt cook right and the fault is not entirely theirs.
Second category is 'kudumba kuthu vilakku ladies' who are led in front by likes of revathi who can exude the sensuality, yet avoid it at any cost. Indha categoryai onyum panna mudiyaadhu.

[Plum]

Strongly disagree on Tabu, Jai!

[kid-glove]

Naanum oru disagree pOttukkuREn, on Tabu...

[Plum]

Infact, Tabu wouldnt have been a bad choice for Ishqiya herself - except that the question is whether it would have challenged her enough

[kid-glove]

Yeah, she did a far superior, complex role in Maqbool

[Shakthiprabha]

Its but expected that not many ladies (remaining few in hub) would bother enter this thread.

Cant help posting a single post.

yeah I do disagree with jaiganesh on quoting tabu as another example.

I also say "yes" to pLum's smitha patil. Even a simplest character portrayl or a sad smile from her would emit "feminine" aura.

I assume sensual is not exactly sexy and hence would like to leave out silk-smitha or ramya who 'by far' dont cross the limit to get into distaste mode.

These category being ruled out, another woman who comes to my mind from tfm industry, who by normal standards cannot be classified as any classic beauty, but would not dissapoint us with her sensual attitude is "archana. Even in normal "next door neighbour" role, (in sandhya raagam or the like) she has carries an attitude which cannot be easily brushed aside.

I can also think of "Nandhitha das"

A decently clad saree, and a smile with an attitude is enough in all said cases.

[Ramkumar86]

Ranjitha :D

[equanimus]

Plum/k-g,
Completely agree about Tabu. In this regard, she's especially superb and has some great moments in Maqbool. Of course, it's backed by the brilliant writing, but she owns the role with tremendous intensity.

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Ranjitha :D :frightened:

[Bala (Karthik)]

Oddly, I've heard some people say quite the opposite -- that she self-consciously plays her roles in a coquettish way. And actually I agree with that.
:exactly:
Not that i like Vidhya Balan, but i think she's sensual

[kid-glove]

Saw Kalvare song where Ash does some really sensual moves matching Shreya Goshal's vaice.

Compare that to Balan's expressions in name of sensuality. :lol:

[HonestRaj]

Vinitha, Sangavi, Swathy.... :P

[venkkiram]

ஜெயப்ரதா (மௌனமான நேரம் பாடல் ஒன்றே போதும்! )
ஸ்ரீதேவி
ராதா
மாதவி
பானுப்பிரியா
ஷோபனா
கிரிஜா
அமலா
நந்திதா தாஸ்
ராதிகா (ஒரே ஒரு படம் - சிப்பிக்குள் முத்து)

[shalushalu]

I can also think of "Nandhitha das"
A decently clad saree, and a smile with an attitude is enough in all said cases.

Agreeeeeeeeeeeeee :P

Like Padmapriya in Sattam Podathey and the recent, Pokisham... Unpretentiously sensual...