Vanitha entered the film industry as a 13-year-old and her debut film was
Padai Maarinal directed by national award-winning director Durai, in 1979 in which she played a school girl. The last film she did before marriage was
Kalyana Agathigal which was her 100th film. In 2001, In Tamil, she made a comeback with a negative role in
K. Balachander's television serial
Kaalmulaitha Aasai. She has continued to act in serials in Tamil, such as
Alaigal, and
Kolangal, and Malayalam. She portrayed Jalaja teacher in
K. K. Rajeev's serial
Amma Manasu and has said that it was the real break in her second innings. She also played the role of a mother in Tamil films like
Kana Kandaen,
Kalabha Kadhalan and
Parijatham and in many Malayalam films. ==Partial filmography==