Kavya Madhavan

Kavya Madhavan (born 19 September 1984), is a former Indian actress who acted predominantly in Malayalam films, and a few Tamil films. She made her debut in 1991 as a child artist in Pookkalam Varavayi. Her debut role as one of the lead actresses (the other being Samyuktha Varma) was in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikkil in 1999, when she was in the ninth grade. Its success established her status as one of the leading actress in the Malayalam industry during the 2000s. She has since acted in over 75 films. She has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress twice, for her performances in Perumazhakkalam and Khaddama (2010).

Early life Kavya Madhavan was born on 19 September 1984 into a Chaliya Hindu family to P. Madhavan and Shyamala in Nileshwaram, Kasaragod, India. She has a brother Midhun Madhavan, who is a fashion designer. She completed her schooling at Rajah's Higher Secondary School in Nileshwaram. She began learning classical dance whilst at school and participated in various dance competitions.

Personal life Kavya married Nishal Chandra on 9 February 2009, after which she moved to Kuwait. However, she returned home in June the same year and filed for divorce on 24 July 2009. Both Kavya and Nishal appeared before the court on 25 May 2011 and expressed their willingness for a mutual divorce. The divorce was granted on 30 May 2011. She married actor Dileep in spite of infidelity rumours, on 25 November 2016 at Vedanta Hotel, Kochi. The couple have a daughter, Mahalakshmi, born on 19 October 2018.

Kavya owns a textile shop named Laksyah. In April 2013, Mathrubhumi Books published a collection of memoirs written by Kavya, titled Kathayil Alpam Kavyam which gives a glimpse into her childhood memories and the experiences of her school days and in the film industry. The book was released by writers Subhash Chandran and Deedi Damodaran at a function held in K. P. Kesava Menon Hall in Kozhikode on 11 April.

Acting career Kavya first appeared as a child artist in Kamal's film Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) at the age of six in a cameo role along the students in a bus. Subsequently, she was offered parts in other projects such as Pavam IA Ivachan (1994), Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu (1994) by P. Venu and Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), directed by Kamal. She was offered one of the female lead in Chandranudikkunna Dikkil, also starring Dileep, in 1999. After the success of Chandranudikkunna Dikhil, Kavya and Dileep became a popular pairing in Malayalam cinema, and they worked together in 21 movies. Some of their movies are Thenkasipattanam (2000), Darling Darling (2000), Dhosth (2001), Meesa Madhavan (2002) which was one of biggest grosser of the year and was directed by Lal Jose, Mizhi Randilum (2003) in which she played a double role, Sadanandante Samayam (2003), Thilakkam (2003) directed by Jayaraj, Runway (2004) directed by Joshiy, Kochi Rajavu (2005), Lion (2006) again directed by Joshiy, Chakkaramuthu (2006), Inspector Garud (2007), Paappi Appacha (2010), Vellaripravinte Changathi (2011) and Pinneyum (2016). Most of their movies were in the romantic comedy genre.

She also acted in films with Mammootty and Mohanlal, and in movies with several stars, such as Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, Christian Brothers and China Town.

She got critical acclaim for her performance in Perumazhakkalam for which she won 2004 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and for the role of Ashwati in Khaddama where she played a housemaid working in Saudi Arabia. The movie was based on a feature by K. U. Iqbal, published in Bhashaposhini. The movie was directed by her mentor Kamal, and she got her second Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for 2011. She won the 2011 Kerala Film Critics Awards for Best Actress, Amrita-FEFKA Film Awards for Best Actress, Best Actress-Malayalam cinema in 59th Filmfare Awards South and Best Actress in Thikkurissy Foundation Awards. She was part of big grossers like Christian Brothers and China Town in 2011 and was selected as Top Star (Female) 2011 in Malayalam.

She was cast in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Naalu Pennungal in which she played a supporting role.

Though she had many offers from Tamil cinema, she was very reluctant to act due to her busy schedule in Malayalam. Her first was Kasi (2001) which was the remake of Vinayans Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. She went on to act in En Mana Vaanil and Sadhu Miranda and enjoyed moderate success.

She wrote lyrics for the song "En Khalbillulloru Pennaanu" for the film One Way Ticket (2008) and for Akashavani (2016). She sang her first movie song for the Malayalam film Matinee (2012). She has appeared in many advertisements, TV shows, short films and stage shows. She also sang songs for the movies Hadiya (2017) and Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam (2018).

From acting as a child to acting as an actress, Sreeja has provided voice to her in many films. Devi, Praveena, Bhagyalakshmi and Vimmy Mariam George and Nithuna Nevil Dinesh have also lent their voices in some films.

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1991 Pookkalam Varavayi Geethu's friend Child artist 1992 Mayilppeeli 1994 Pavam I. A. Ivachan Sara Ivachan The President 1996 Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu Neena Azhakiya Ravanan Young Anuradha 1997 Oral Mathram Gopika Menon Snehasindooram Anjali Bhoothakkannadi Meenu Irattakuttikalude Achan DhanyaKrishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu Anjali 1998 Kattathoru Penpoovu Yamuna Supporting Actress 1999 Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Radha Debut film in a leading role 2000 Madhuranombarakattu Sunaina Darling Darling Padmaja/Puppy Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal Celin Thenkasipattanam Devu 2001Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam Maya Rakshasa Rajavu Daisy Jeevan Masai Manjula Mazhamegha Pravukal Malu Dosth Geethu Kasi Lakshmi Tamil film 2002 Onnaman Suhara Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Gopika Rajashekhara Varma Meesa Madhavan Rugmini En Mana Vaanil Thilaka Tamil film; remake of Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan 2003 Thilakkam Ammu Vellithira Pankajam Cameo appearance Sadanandante Samayam Sumangala Gowrisankaram Gauri Mizhi Randilum Bhadra and Bhama Dual role Pulival Kalyanam Ganga 2004 Perumazhakkalam Ganga Greetings Sheethal Runway Gopika 2005 Iruvattam Manavaatti Bhumika Annorikkal Ponnu Ananthabhadram Bhadra Seelabathi Seelabathi Kochi Rajavu Ashwathy/Achu Aparichithan Meenakshi Kadha Meera 2006 Chakkara Muthu Anitha Vadakkumnadhan Bhama Vasthavam Sumithra ArunamValli Classmates Thara Kurup Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Chandini Lion Sharika 2007 Athisayan Maya Naalu PennungalSubhadra Inspector Garud Subcollector.Sethulakshmi Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri Nadiya and Nadira Dual role Kangaroo Jancy 2008 Sadhu Miranda Priya Tamil film Madampi Jayalakshmi Twenty:20 Ancy 2009 Ee Pattanathil Bhootham Ancy Banaras Amritha 2010 Paappi Appacha Annie 2011 Bhaktha Janangalude Sradhakku Sumangala Gaddama Aswathy Chinatown Rosamma Venicile Vyaapari Ammu Vellaripravinte Changathi Sulekha / Mary Varghese Christian Brothers Meenakshi 2012 Bavuttiyude Namathil Vanaja 2013 Players Rose LokpalDr.Geetha Breaking News Live Nayana 5 Sundarikal GauriAnthology film; Segment: Gauri 2015 She Taxi Sharika 2016 AakashvaniVani Also lyricist for the song "Kaalam Ni" Pinneyum Devi

Short films Year Film Role Notes 2006 Bhoomikkoru CharamageethamCollege student Short film 2016 Kaavalal Herself Short film

Awards and nominations