Malavika Avinash

Malavika Avinash is an Indian spokesperson, actress, television personality and politician of Bharatiya Janata Party of Karnataka. She is known for her work in Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil films.

Early life Malavika was born in a Tamil family to N. Ganesan from Thanjavur. Her father was a banker and writer, and her mother, Savithri, a vocalist and dancer. She was initiated into classical arts under the tutelage of Padmashree Leela Samson in Bharatanatyam and Pandit Partho Das on the sitar. G. V. Iyer spotted her at a dance performance as Krishna and cast her as Krishna in his Krishnavataar. She then played a lead role as a princess in Prema Karanth's Panorama children's film Nakkala Rajakumari.

She completed her Bachelor of Law at Bangalore University and was awarded 3rd rank.

She married actor Avinash in 2001. They have a son named Ugaala.

Career

Her introduction to the limelight began early with acclaimed performances, most notably in the Kannada film Krishnāvatāra in 1988. She garnered acclaim for her roles in Malayalam and Kannada cinema, working under directors like Lenin Rajendran. Her television career flourished with memorable roles in series directed by stalwarts like Girish Karnad and Ashutosh Gowariker in Hindi, Ashok Naidu in Kannada, and Dinesh Baboo in Malayalam. Notably, her portrayal in the Kannada series Mayamruga solidified her place as a household name.

Transitioning to Tamil cinema, Malavika Avinash made a significant impact with roles in films like K. Balachander's Anni, where she played the lead. Her versatility and dedication further shone through in various serials and films across languages.

Another milestone was her portrayal of Nanjamma, the protagonist in Girish Kasaravalli's Kannada film of S. L. Bhyrappa's celebrated novel, Gruhabhanga. Malavika's Tamil films and serials include Raja Rajeshwari and K. Balachander's Nilavai Pidippom where she portrayed a middle-class working woman, and in Comedy Colony again under her mentor Balachander. She played Madurai Thilaka in Arasi and Muththazhagi in Chellamey. She played key roles in Tamil films.

Agni, a talk show that Malavika hosted on E-TV Kannada was followed by Baduku Jataka Bandi. In the latter, Malavika deals with the problems of individuals, thereby providing an Alternate Dispute Resolution forum for resolving family issues. She also discusses social issues. She was one of the contestant in Bigg Boss Kannada Season 4.

Malavika Avinash has built a strong reputation across Indian cinema and television. She has excelled in powerful supporting roles, often portraying characters such as lawyers, politicians, and strong-willed maternal figures.

Journalism Malavika participated in and won many international moot courts as a student, served as editor of her college journal, joined Madhyam, a development communications organization, served as assistant-editors of Madhyam journal, a legal column for the Times of India and UDAYAVANI for two years, her "Malavika Pakkam" column in Kumudam, a Tamil weekly, an Agony aunt column for Kumudam and more recently, 'Malavika order', a weekly column in Vijaya Karnataka. Malavika served as head of programming at Zee Kannada.

Dance

Malavika's association with Bharatanatyam commenced at age five when her mother introduced it to her. She trained under M. R. Krishnamurthy of Kalakshetra, followed by advanced tutelage under Padmashri Leela Samson in Delhi. She was a recipient of the CCERT (a unit of the Culture Ministry) scholarship for Bharatanatyam. She pursued dance along with her dancer sister, an alumnus of Kalakshetra, Ranjani Ganesan Ramesh. As a duo they performed at cultural centres in India and abroad, including Hampi festival, Pattadakkal festival, Khujrajo festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali and Uttara Chidambaram. Together, they organise an annual dance festival called Arudhra at Bangalore.

Malavika served as a judge on TV dance shows and hosted Takadhimithaa, a game show dedicated to Bharatanatyam on JayaTV.

Malavika Avinash entered politics campaigning for BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in Bellary. She is a member of the BJP's Mahila Morcha. She joined Bharatiya Janata Party in September 2013 and was appointed one of its co-spokespersons in February 2014.

Controversy Sanitary pad controversy Goods and Service Tax applied on sanitary napkins when items like bangles and sindhoor were exempted from the new tax system by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party has come under criticism from women and men. In July 2017, Malavika defended the BJP and said that sanitary pads are not required as Multi-national corporations have been dumping sanitary pads in India since it was rejected by developed countries, Cloth is hygienic in contrast to sanitary pads. The defense of Malavika on the decision of her party to enforce GST on sanitary pads provoked a lot of backlash from people.

Filmography Year Film Role LanguageNotes 1988 Krishnaavataara Kannada 1989 Makkala Rajakumari Rajakumari 1992 Daivathinte Vikrithikal Elsie Malayalam 1993 Janam Reshma 1995 Kalyanothsava Rashmi Kannada Samara Sandhya Ravitheja Teja 2003 Jay Jay Meena Tamil 2005 Aaru Vimala 2006 Aathi Ramachandran's wife Dishyum Malar Kalvanin Kadhali Haritha's sister-in-law Cyanide Shubha Kannada 2008 Jayamkondaan Chandrika Tamil 2010 Irandu Mugam Thilakavathy Huli Bharathi Kannada 2011 Vanthaan Vendraan Arjun and Ramana's mother Tamil 2012 Munjane Manu's mother Kannada Dashamukha Madhuri Drama Gayathri Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Goddess Yaare Koogadali Kumara's stepmother 2013 Myna Revathi Karodpathi 2014 Kalyanamasthu Adyaksha Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Sudha 2015 Ring Road 2016 Mukunda Murari TV interviewer Shivalinga Police commissioner 2017 Bairavaa Judge Tamil 2018 Huccha 2 Kannada K.G.F: Chapter 1 Deepa Hegde David 2019 Boomerang Siva's mother Tamil Kaithi Nalini Uncredited role 2021 Rudra Thandavam Judge Enemy Arundhati Mohan Sakath Judge Kannada 2022 K.G.F: Chapter 2 Deepa Hegde Captain Major Kavitha Nair Tamil 2024 Love Li Dr. Shashikala Kannada 2025 Just Married Middle Class Dr. Malathy Tamil 2026 Ram and Leela Ram's mother

Television career Serials

Shows Year Title Role Language Channel Note(s) 2010–2011 Baduku Jataka Bandi Host Kannada Zee Kannada 2012 Kaiyil Oru Kodi - Are You Ready? Contestant Tamil Sun TV 2014 Mahaparva Judge Kannada ETV Kannada 2015 Aradirali Belaku Host Udaya TV 2016–2017 Bigg Boss Kannada Herself Colors Kannada As contestant; season 4 2022 Jodi No 1 Judge Zee Kannada Comedy Khiladigalu and Jodi No 1 Mahasangama 2023–2024 Jodi No 1 Season 2