The new faces of Kollywood in 2016

Just as every year, Kollywood saw a host of new faces this year, too. And, some of these debutants managed to cast a spell on the audience. CT lists some of the newbies who shot to limelight this year.

Ritika SinghIt's not often you see a film's lead actress make her debut as a kick-boxer. Ritika Singh did just that. The actress, who has been training as a mixed martial artist from her childhood, made her debut as a kick-boxer in the Sudha Kongara directed Irudhi Suttru. She played Madhi, a Marwari girl, who grows up in the slums of Chennai. She was considered a fabulous discovery after she managed to impress the audience with the perfect emotions, body language and lip sync. She also won a Special Mention at the 63rd National Awards for her performance. She is now busy with Shivalinga and Guru.

Manjima Mohan

It's the dream of every actress in Kollywood to be part of a Gautham Menon-starrer as the female characters in his films are well-etched and have immense scope for performance. Manjima Mohan is surely a lucky one as she not only got an opportunity to be part of his project, but that too in her Kollywood debut. Daughter of veteran cameraman Vipin Mohan and Bharatanatyam dancer Girija, made her Kollywood entry with the highly-anticipated Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada. She is now looking at doing a mixture of commercial and meaningful cinema.

Shamili

Expectations were high when the news about the comeback of the popular child artiste of the 90s, Shamili in Kollywood . However, the actress, who made her comeback as a heroine in Veera Sivaji, failed to impress, courtesy her forgettable role in the film. Her gaudy costumes and shoddy makeup were added disadvantages. Interestingly, she had struck a chord with the Telugu audience when she made her Tollywood debut as a heroine in Oy! few years ago. Considering the fact that she has done many impressive characters in her childhood, the audience still have high hopes on her.

Pooja Devariya

Though Pooja Devariya made her film debut a few years ago with Dhanush's Mayakkam Enna, it was in Iraivi that she did a full-fledged role. She plays Malarvizhi , a widow, who is clear that the film's lead actor is just a friend with benefits to her, and has no qualms about using him for her biological urges. The actress, who has done some excellent work in the theatre group Stray Factory, managed to win the critics by portraying her character with effortless ease. She now has a host of films in hand, including Aandavan Kattalai, Andhra Mess, Mo and Vallavanukku Vallavan.

Kalidas Jayaram

Son of veteran actors Parvathi and Jayaram, Kalidas Jayaram made his debut with the Malayalam film Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal as a child artiste, which went on to win a National Award. 2016 marked his comeback as a lead actor with the Amudheshwar-directed Meen Kuzhambum Manpaanaiyum. He plays veteran actor Prabhu's son in the film. Kalidas, as a charming and irresponsible college student, fits the bill, and makes his debut a flawless one.He is also acting in Oru Pakka Kathai

Winston Chao

The Red Rose Whit e Rose actor made his Kollywood debut with one of the biggest films of the year, Kabali, starring none other than Superstar Rajinikanth . A well-known actor in China and Taiwan, Chao has worked with people like Ang Lee, Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh. The actor plays a menacing gangster in the film, who takes on Kabali played by the Superstar. Chao pulls it off and even adds a few Tamil lines in his dialogues.