{{Short description|Indian-born American actress (born 1988)}} {{for|the killer whale (orca)|Shamu}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Shammu | image = | caption = | birth_name = Sheerin Sharmilee Ramalingam | birth_place = Bikaner, Rajasthan, India | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2008–2012 |birth_date = 14 June 1988 }}
'''Sheerin Sharmilee Ramalingam,''' professionally known as '''Shammu''' is an Indian-born American actress who appeared in Tamil films. She is best known for films such as ''Kanchivaram'', ''Mayilu'' and ''Dasavathaaram''.<ref name="behindwoods.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/interview-5/actress/shammu.html |title=Actress Shammu - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Actress Interviews - Kanchivaram Malayan Mayilu |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-09}}</ref>
==Background== Shammu was born Sheerin Sharmilee in Bikaner, Rajasthan to a Tamil Hindu family that hails from Neyveli. Her family moved to the US and her father, Rajaram Ramalingam, worked as a computer consultant whilst her mother is a housewife. She had been studying at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida, but quit school to appear in films. Despite starting a film career, Shammu finished her high school courses through online classes. Her younger sister has appeared in ''Mayilu'', as the younger version of Shammu's character.<ref name="behindwoods.com"/>
==Career== Shammu appeared in the 2008, Tamil film, ''Dasavathaaram'' after receiving a call from the crew for the film, whilst they were searching for an Indian actress to play a short role. They had come to know of her following her Bharathanatyam performances, which were well acclaimed in the area. Her role was, that of a scientist, who panicked after seeing the bio weapon being exposed for the first time.
Soon afterwards, whilst on holiday in India, Shammu attended an audition for Prakash Raj's home production ''Mayilu'', and when she succeeded, Prakash Raj also suggested her name for another project that he was working in. She subsequently appeared in ''Kanchivaram'', directed by Priyadarshan as Prakash Raj's daughter and was critically praised for her performance receiving the Filmfare Best Tamil Supporting Actress Award. In ''Mayilu'' she played a village girl and had to sport dark makeup, oily braid and dirty clothes, to resemble a typical girl from Madurai - however the film was delayed and had only limited release in 2012 and went unnoticed.
She next appeared in ''Malayan'', she plays the role of a bubbly girl from Madurai with a different shade alongside actor, Karan, though the film failed at the box office. Shammu was also seen in a cameo role in R. Kannan's ''Kanden Kadhalai'', before appearing in two more critically acclaimed ventures which did not succeed at the box office, ''Maathi Yosi'' and ''Paalai''. She quit acting in 2011 and returned to Florida to pursue a career in medicine at University of South Florida.
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Year !! Movie !! Role !! Notes |- | 2008 || ''Dasavathaaram'' || Scientist || Uncredited |- | 2009 || ''Kanchivaram'' || Thamarai Vengadam || '''Winner''', Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil<br />Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Debut Actress |- | 2009 || ''Malayan'' || Bakkiyam || |- | 2009 || ''Kanden Kadhalai'' || Anitha || Cameo appearance |- | 2010 || ''Maathi Yosi'' || Baby || |- | 2011 || ''Paalai'' || Kaayaampoo || |- | 2012 || ''Mayilu'' || Mayilu || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shammu}} Category:Living people Category:People from Bikaner Category:People from Cuddalore district Category:Actresses from Tamil Nadu Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:Actresses from Orlando, Florida Category:American film actresses Category:American people of Indian Tamil descent Category:American actresses of Indian descent Category:Tamil actresses Category:American expatriate actresses in India Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:21st-century American actresses Category:1988 births