Andrea Jeremiah is a multifaceted Indian artist—an actress, playback singer, musician, dancer, and composer—who has carved out a unique space in the South Indian film industry, particularly in Tamil and Malayalam cinema.
Early Life and Background
- Full Name: Andrea Maria Jeremiah
- Born: December 21, 1985 (currently 40 years old)
- Hometown: Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Family: Born into an Anglo-Indian Roman Catholic family. Her father is a lawyer at the Madras High Court and her mother is a homemaker.
- Education: She attended Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School and graduated from Women’s Christian College, Chennai.
- The "Psychiatrist" Goal: Interestingly, Andrea was a self-confessed geek and originally wanted to become a psychiatrist, turning down several film offers during her college years.
Musical Career: Her First Love
Music was Andrea's entry point into the industry. She began learning classical piano at age eight and was part of a "Jackson Five-style" troupe called Young Stars by age ten.
- Playback Singing: She made her debut as a playback singer in 2005 with the hit song "Kannum Kannum Nokia" for the film Anniyan.
- Famous Tracks: Some of her most popular songs include:
- "Google Google" (Thuppakki)
- "Idhu Varai" (Goa)
- "Maalai Neram" (Aayirathil Oruvan)
- "Oo Antava/Oo Solriya" (Tamil/Telugu versions for Pushpa)
- Independent Music: She is one of the few artists in India to release a full-fledged English album, titled "Flavors" (2024), produced with her band, The Jeremiah Project.
Acting Career: The "Accidental" Actress
Andrea began her acting career in theater with Girish Karnad's Nagamandala. She maintains that acting happened "by chance" rather than by design.
- Debut: Her film debut was in Pachaikili Muthucharam (2007), directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon.
- Breakthrough Roles:
- Aayirathil Oruvan (2010): Played Lavanya, a role that showcased her ability to handle complex, intense characters.
- Annayum Rasoolum (2013): Her Malayalam debut, which she considers one of the best films of her career.
- Vishwaroopam (2013): Starred alongside Kamal Haasan.
- Taramani (2017): Critically acclaimed for her portrayal of a modern, independent woman.
- Vada Chennai (2018): Played a pivotal, gritty role (Chandra) in this cult classic.
- Recent Works: She was seen in the blockbuster Master (2021) and the horror-thriller Aranmanai 3 (2021).
Multitalented Skills
Beyond acting and singing, Andrea is known for:
- Voice Acting: She has dubbed for top actresses like Amy Jackson (Madrasapattinam), Taapsee Pannu (Aadukalam), and even provided the Tamil voice for Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) in Avengers: Endgame.
- Composition: She has composed and written her own songs, such as the "Soul of Taramani" promo single.
- Theater & Dance: She is a trained dancer and remains active in the Chennai theater scene.
Notable Awards & Nominations
| Award Type | Category | Film/Work | Result |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress – Tamil | Taramani | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress | Aayirathil Oruvan | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Female Playback Singer | "Maalai Neram" | Nominated |
| Vijay Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | "Google Google" | Nominated |
| Vijay Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Vishwaroopam | Nominated |
Andrea Jeremiah remains one of the most prolific and respected artists in the South Indian film industry. Here is a detailed breakdown of her top musical hits and her comprehensive filmography.
Top Popular Songs
Andrea's vocal range allows her to jump from high-energy dance tracks to soul-stirring melodies.
- "Oo Solriya" (Pushpa: The Rise, 2021) – A viral sensation across India.
- "Google Google" (Thuppakki, 2012) – Won major popularity awards; sung alongside actor Vijay.
- "Idhu Varai" (Goa, 2010) – A cult favorite romantic melody by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
- "Kannum Kannum Nokia" (Anniyan, 2005) – Her debut smash hit.
- "Maalai Neram" (Aayirathil Oruvan, 2010) – Known for its haunting, classical-fusion vibe.
- "Ek Do Teen" (Anjaan, 2014) – A popular upbeat dance number.
- "Pookkal Pookkum" (Madrasapattinam, 2010) – While she provided the Western backing vocals, it remains a signature association.
- "Idhudhan Engal Ulagam" (Mask, 2025) – A recent hit from her own production venture.
Detailed Filmography
Andrea is known for being extremely selective, often choosing "strong woman" roles that defy traditional commercial cinema stereotypes.
Major Leading Roles
| Year | Film | Language | Role | Key Note |
| 2007 | Pachaikili Muthucharam | Tamil | Kalyani | Debut; Nominated for Vijay Award Best Debut. |
| 2010 | Aayirathil Oruvan | Tamil | Lavanya | Fantasy adventure cult classic. |
| 2013 | Annayum Rasoolum | Malayalam | Anna | Her Malayalam debut; critically acclaimed. |
| 2013 | Vishwaroopam | Tamil/Hindi | Ashmita | Played a nuclear oncologist/spy. |
| 2017 | Taramani | Tamil | Althea | Career-best performance; won State Award (Special Prize). |
| 2017 | Aval / The House Next Door | Tamil/Hindi | Lakshmi | A highly successful horror-thriller. |
| 2018 | Vada Chennai | Tamil | Chandra | A gritty, powerful role in a gangster epic. |
| 2021 | Master | Tamil | Vaanathi | Shared screen space with Thalapathy Vijay. |
| 2022 | Anel Meley Pani Thuli | Tamil | Madhi | A hard-hitting social drama produced by Vetri Maaran. |
| 2025 | Mask | Tamil | Bhumi | Also served as the film's Producer. |
Recent works (2024–2026)
- Saindhav (2024): Played Jasmine in this Telugu action-drama.
- Mask (2025): A comedy-thriller released in late 2025.
- Kaa – The Forest (2026): An adventure thriller set for release in February 2026.
- Pisaasu II (2026): A highly anticipated horror sequel directed by Mysskin (Post-production).
- Manushi (2026): A social drama directed by Gopi Nainar (Awaiting release).
Awards & Recognition
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards: Won the Special Prize for Best Actress (2017) for Taramani.
- Filmfare Awards South: Numerous nominations for both Best Supporting Actress (Aayirathil Oruvan) and Best Female Playback Singer (Aayirathil Oruvan, Pushpa).
- Vijay Awards: Won Favorite Song for "Google Google" (2013).
Notable Dubbing Credits
Andrea is often the "voice" of non-Tamil-speaking actresses to ensure high-quality performance:
- Amy Jackson in Madrasapattinam and Thanga Magan.
- Taapsee Pannu in Aadukalam.
- Ileana D'Cruz in Nanban.
- Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) in the Tamil version of Avengers: Endgame.
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