In an industry where the heroes rule the screens and the heroines just have to dance to their tunes, it is never easy to select five top performances from female actors.

Still, there were a few remarkable performances that stood out from the rest. Here are five female stars who made the maximum impact in Malayalam films during 2011:

Kavya Madhavan

Films: Khaddama and Bhaktajanangalude Sraddhakku

Kavya came back after a brief break to play a maid in a cruel Arab's home in the Gulf, in Kamal's Khaddama. She was the protagonist--a rare occurrence for women in Malayalam films. Kavya made good use of the opportunity and added another credible performance to her profile.

In Priyanandanan's Bhaktajanangalude Sraddhakku she played an ordinary housewife until people started finding elements of divinity in her. She decides to use her stature to do some good. In this role, inspired by certain real life characters, Kavya delivered an impressive performance.

Film: Rathinirvedam and Salt N' Pepper

This remake of Bharathan and Padmarajan's 1978 classic, Rathinirvedam by T K Rajeev Kumar, was rumoured to be a sensuous film but disappointed viewers in search of titillation.

Shwetha Menon, who had given brilliant performances in Paleri Manikyam and T D Dasan Std VI B last year, did the same in this film. For once, being sexy was considered to be 'cool' even by conservative Malayali audiences and the film became a super hit.

Shwetha was also part of a beautiful romance in Aashiq Abu's Salt N' Pepper, which showed her versatility.

Film: City of God

As Marathakam, a smart Tamilian girl who has fled from a cruel husband, Parvathy stood apart from everyone else in Lijo Jose Pellissery's City of God.

She put aside glamour and immersed herself in the character she was portraying. But the film failed to make ripples at the box office and Parvathy's performance didn't get the appreciation it should have.

Film: Snehaveedu

The heartthrob of yesteryear had made her comeback with a spectacular role in director Sathyan Anthikkad's Manassinakkare a couple of years ago. Though this was not in the same league, Sheela's character in Sathyan's latest offering, Snehaveedu, was instantly likeable.

She played Mohanlal's mother with amazing grace. She was the anchor in the story; it is not often that such strong characters are offered to senior artistes.

Films: Chappa Kurishu and Traffic

Remya Nambeeshan, who usually plays demure, goody-goody characters, decided to break the mould with these two films. She did two notable roles, which were not really big or spectacular, but were easily the talk of the town.

The bold kissing scene in Sameer Thahir's Chappa Kurishu made headlines. And as the doctor's wife who is having a clandestine affair with her husband's friend in Rajesh Pillai's Traffic, she was good.

Remya has made it to this list for being bold and willing to experiment.