Bhama

Rekhitha R. Kurup, better known by her stage name Bhamaa, is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Malayalam and Kannada-language films. She made her cinematic debut in 2007 with the Malayalam film Nivedyam, directed by A. K. Lohithadas and had acted in over 42 films.

Early life and education

Bhama is the youngest daughter of Rajendra Kurup & Shylaja. She has two elder sisters, Reshmitha R. Kurup and Renjitha R. Kurup.

Bhama did her schooling at St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Manarcad and Infant Jesus Bethany Convent Girl's Higher Secondary School, Manarcad. She pursued a bachelor's in Sociology by correspondence course.

Career Before she entered into the film industry, she was the host of a show on Surya TV titled Thaali. She has also acted in a Christian devotional album. Director Lohithadas selected her as her first movie's lead heroine in Nivedyam. Her second film was Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan, directed by Vinayan, in which she was cast opposite Manikuttan. She paired with Vineeth Sreenivasan in Cycle directed by Johny Antony.

Bhama said that until 2011, she was getting the same kind of roles in Malayalam. She started taking up Kannada film offers, after which she started getting fresh and interesting characters in Malayalam. She acted in Sohanlal's Kadhaveedu in which she played the heroine in M. T. Vasudevan Nair's segment, and her character was that of a modern girl, a media person, who is smart and energetic. She had a small but significant role in Vinod Vijayan's segment of D Company, Day of Judgement, featuring Fahadh Faasil where she played a psycho and wore no make-up.

In 2014, she had five Malayalam releases. She played a Christian housewife in Rakesh Gopan's 100 Degree Celsius and was seen as a 15-year-old mother in Vinod Mankara's Ottamandaram. In her only non-Malayalam release of the year, the Tamil-English biographical film Ramanujan based on the mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, she played the role of Janakiammal, Ramanujan's wife.

Playback singing Bhama has occasionally worked as a playback singer as well. She had reportedly sung the song "Kannil Kannil", composed by Rahul Raj for a film titled Bike; however, the film was canceled and the song remains unreleased. She lent her voice for the devotional album Maaya Madhavam (2009), and has sung the title song for the upcoming children's film Meow Meow Karimppoocha. She did voice over for the short film named Pacha directed by Sarayu. She has sung a song in the movie 100 Degree Celsius along with other heroines Ananya, Meghana Raj, and Shwetha Menon.

Personal life

In January 2020, Bhama married Arun and in May 2024, announced she is a single-parent mother living with her daughter.

Filmography Year Title Role Language Notes 2007 Nivedyam Sathya Bhama Malayalam Malayalam Debut - Received the Asianet Film Award for Best Star Pair Award (shared with Vinu Mohan) Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan Indhu 2008 Cycle Annie One Way Ticket Sunanda Ellam Avan Seyal Chinthamani Tamil Tamil debut 2009 Swapnangalil Haisal Mary Haisal MaryMalayalam Kannerinu Madhuram Subhadra Colours Pooja Ivar Vivahitharayal Kavya Oru Black and White Kudumbam Minnu 2010 Sakudumbam Shyamala Nandana Neelambari Parvathy Koottukar Aswathy College Days Athira Modalasala Deepu Kannada Kannada debut 2011 Janapriyan Meera Malayalam Sevenes Gowri Swapna Sanchari Aswathi (Achu) Manchivadu Indu Telugu Telugu debut Shyloo Shaileshwari (Shyloo) Kannada 2012 Sevarkkodi Valli Tamil Husbands in Goa Abhirami Malayalam Ondu Kshanadalli Divya Kannada 101 Weddings Rukhiya Malayalam 2013 Auto Raja Radha/Rani Kannada Barfi Kushi Appayya Gowri D Company Jeena Malayalam Ambara Arundhathi Kannada Kadhaveedu Jeena Malayalam 2014 Konthayum Poonoolum Amritha Naku Penta Naku Taka Shubha Ramanujan Janakiammal Ramanujan English/Tamil 100 Degree Celsius Nancy Malayalam Ottamandaram Kala Mathai Kuzhappakkaranalla Annamma 2015 Arjuna Piya Arjuna Kannada 2016 Maalgudi Days Janet Malayalam Marupadi Sarah 2017 Raaga Anu Kannada 2018 Khilafath Amina Malayalam 2025 Sumathi Valavu Malu