Malavika Avinash
Encyclopedia
Malavika Avinash is an Indian film actress and television host noted for her wide repertoire of work in Kannada and Tamil
. She is currently hosting Baduku Jataka Bandi, a television show that airs on Zee Kannada
.
very early. She nurtured her innate interest under the tutelage of Padmashree Leela Samson
in Bharatanatyam
and Pandit Partho Das on the Sitar
. Acting came as a mere extension to her dancing abilities, when the world renowned Late. G.V.Iyer spotted her at a dance performance as Krishna and decided to cast her as Krishna
in his Krishnavataar. This was followed by her lead role as a princess in Prema Karanth
’s Panorama children’s film Nakkalaa Raajamaari.
Awarded with the III rank in her B.A.L., LL.B at Bangalore University
, Malavika’s stint as child artist was followed by her entry into cinema as heroine in award-winning films in Malayalam for Lenin Rajendran
and popular films in Kannada. Television however, turned out to be the medium that she faster adapted to. Her earlier television series have been for the distinguished Girish Karnad
and Ashutosh Gowariker
in Hindi, Ashok Naidu in Kannada, Dinesh Baboo
in Malayalam. Her performance in Mayamruga catapulted her to an iconic status in the hearts of Kannada television viewers. Mayamruga’s success caught the keen eyes of the legendary K. Balachander
who then chose to usher her into the Tamil hearts across the world with Anni, where Malavika played the protagonist Anni. She currently stars in the Tamil
serial Chellamey
and hosts the popular show Baduku Jataka Bandi on Zee Kannada
.
She is married to national and state award-winning actor Avinash.
's Nilavai Pidippom where she portrayed the travails of a middle-class working woman, Pudhuyugam, Pralayam and a hilarious "Comedy Colony" again under the able guidance of her mentor Balachander. She shook the spines of her male and female counter-parts as Madurai Thilaka in Arasi and now a sober and emotional Muththazhagi in Chellamey
. She has also played key roles in some select films in Tamil.
Another milestone in Malavika’s career has been her portrayal of Nanjamma, the protagonist in four-time national award winner Girish Kasaravalli
’s celluloid version of the eminent S.L. Bhyrappa’s celebrated novel, Gruha Banga. In her decade of television acting, Malavika has played several roles in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi with great ease and wide critical acclaim. A cross-over film titled Cyanide, a story of the last 18 days that the late Rajiv Gandhi
bombers spent in Bangalore, in which Malavika’s well-researched portrayal of Shubha (an LTTE suicide bomber) won her critical acclaim. Apart from Manvantara for T.N.Seetharam, Malavika swayed the Kannada audiences with her cult figure like character of Madhavi Patel, IPS, in his ‘Muktha
’.
The legal side to Malavika has seen expression through many international moot courts that she has participated and won as a student, the student-editorship of her college journal, her association with Madhyam, a development communications organization, assistant-editorship of the Madhyam journal, a legal column that she co-ordinated for the Times of India and UDAYAVANI for two years, her Malavika Pakkam in Kumudam
, a Tamil
weekly, her ‘Agony aunt’ column for Kumudam and more recently, ‘Malavika order’, a weekly column in Vijaya Karnataka
, leading Kannada daily. Malavika has also held the position of head of programming at Zee Kannada
.
AGNI, a talk show that Malavika hosted on E-TV Kannada brought out the sensitive side to her which was followed later by Baduku Jataka Bandi and is presently a huge success on Zee Kannada
. In Baduku Jataka Bandi, Malavika deals with the most pertinent problems of individuals using her skills as an anchor as well as an Advocate, thereby providing an Alternate Dispute Resolution forum for resolving family issues. She also discusses burning social issues on her show.
commenced at age five when her mother initiated her into the art form. She then trained under Prof. MR. Krishnamurthy of Kalakshetra, followed by the advanced tutelage under Padmashri Leela Samson in Delhi. She has been a recipient of the CCERT (a unit of the Culture Ministry) scholarship for Bharatanatyam. She has been pursuing dance in association with her renowned dancer sister, an alumnus of Kalakshetra, Ranjani Ganesan Ramesh. As a duo they have performed at cultural centres in India and abroad. Some the major cultural festivals include the Hampi festival, Pattadakkal festival, Khujrajo festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali, Uttara Chidambaram to name a few. Together, they organise an annual dance festival titled Arudhra at Bangalore.
Malavika, apart from compering several international dance and music festivals, has judged dance shows on television and hosted Takadhimithaa, a unique game show dedicated to Bharatanatyam on JayaTV. Malavika has been more occupied with her acting indulgences in the last few years and hopes to spend more time and energy on nurturing her Bharatanatyam in the coming years.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. She is currently hosting Baduku Jataka Bandi, a television show that airs on Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada is a 24 hour Kannada-language channel that launched in May 2006 and is owned by Zee Network. It features a wide array of programming including series, movies, soap-operas, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes. It is a subscription channel that is available via cable and...
.
Personal life
Malavika was born to Shri. N. Ganesan, a retired banker and writer, and Smt. Savithri, a vocalist and dancer. Born into a family that nurtured and worshiped the classical arts, Malavika was initiated into BharatanatyamBharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
very early. She nurtured her innate interest under the tutelage of Padmashree Leela Samson
Leela Samson
Leela Samson is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor and writer. As a soloist she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi for many years; presently she is the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification ;...
in Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
and Pandit Partho Das on the Sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
. Acting came as a mere extension to her dancing abilities, when the world renowned Late. G.V.Iyer spotted her at a dance performance as Krishna and decided to cast her as Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
in his Krishnavataar. This was followed by her lead role as a princess in Prema Karanth
Prema Karanth
Prema Karanth was a well known theatre personality and the first-ever woman film-maker of Kannada cinema. She was the wife of B. V. Karanth and was known for the children's plays that she staged. She became the first ever woman director in Kannada cinema when she directed the film Phaniyamma,...
’s Panorama children’s film Nakkalaa Raajamaari.
Awarded with the III rank in her B.A.L., LL.B at Bangalore University
Bangalore University
Bangalore University is a public university located in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India. The university is one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1886...
, Malavika’s stint as child artist was followed by her entry into cinema as heroine in award-winning films in Malayalam for Lenin Rajendran
Lenin Rajendran
Lenin Rajendran is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has worked in Malayalam cinema.- Career :Beginning his film-making career as an assistant to director P. A. Backer, Rajendran made his directorial debut with Venal...
and popular films in Kannada. Television however, turned out to be the medium that she faster adapted to. Her earlier television series have been for the distinguished Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
and Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker is an Indian film director, actor, writer and producer. He is known for directing the films Lagaan , Swades , Jodhaa Akbar , What's Your Raashee and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey...
in Hindi, Ashok Naidu in Kannada, Dinesh Baboo
Dinesh Baboo
Dinesh Baboo , is an Indian film director, cinematographer, producer, actor and screenwriter. He has worked in both Malayalam cinema and Kannada cinema. His directorial ventures were chiefly with Kannada films...
in Malayalam. Her performance in Mayamruga catapulted her to an iconic status in the hearts of Kannada television viewers. Mayamruga’s success caught the keen eyes of the legendary K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...
who then chose to usher her into the Tamil hearts across the world with Anni, where Malavika played the protagonist Anni. She currently stars in the Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
serial Chellamey
Chellamey
Chellamey is an Indian drama television series, written by Ponkumaran and currently directed by Sulaiman K.Babu, which premiered on September 14, 2009 on Sun TV. The series revolves around the title character Chellamma, played by Raadhika Sarathkumar, who is also the creative head of the series...
and hosts the popular show Baduku Jataka Bandi on Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada is a 24 hour Kannada-language channel that launched in May 2006 and is owned by Zee Network. It features a wide array of programming including series, movies, soap-operas, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes. It is a subscription channel that is available via cable and...
.
She is married to national and state award-winning actor Avinash.
Career in film, television, and writing
Malavika's canvass in Tamil includes devout Raji in the immensely popular Rajarajeshwari and K. BalachanderK. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...
's Nilavai Pidippom where she portrayed the travails of a middle-class working woman, Pudhuyugam, Pralayam and a hilarious "Comedy Colony" again under the able guidance of her mentor Balachander. She shook the spines of her male and female counter-parts as Madurai Thilaka in Arasi and now a sober and emotional Muththazhagi in Chellamey
Chellamey
Chellamey is an Indian drama television series, written by Ponkumaran and currently directed by Sulaiman K.Babu, which premiered on September 14, 2009 on Sun TV. The series revolves around the title character Chellamma, played by Raadhika Sarathkumar, who is also the creative head of the series...
. She has also played key roles in some select films in Tamil.
Another milestone in Malavika’s career has been her portrayal of Nanjamma, the protagonist in four-time national award winner Girish Kasaravalli
Girish Kasaravalli
Girish Kasaravalli is a noted film director, and one of the pioneers of the Parallel Cinema in Kannada cinema, who has won the National Film Award for Best Film four times, Ghatashraddha , Tabarana Kathe , Thaayi Saheba and Dweepa...
’s celluloid version of the eminent S.L. Bhyrappa’s celebrated novel, Gruha Banga. In her decade of television acting, Malavika has played several roles in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi with great ease and wide critical acclaim. A cross-over film titled Cyanide, a story of the last 18 days that the late Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
bombers spent in Bangalore, in which Malavika’s well-researched portrayal of Shubha (an LTTE suicide bomber) won her critical acclaim. Apart from Manvantara for T.N.Seetharam, Malavika swayed the Kannada audiences with her cult figure like character of Madhavi Patel, IPS, in his ‘Muktha
Muktha
Muktha was a serial telecast in Kannada language on ETV Kannada. It was directed by T.N. Seetharam, who has enacted in the serial. The serial aimed to bring civic awareness with stories to fight for justice against all bureaucratic and political odds. Muktha, a word with roots in Sanskrit, means...
’.
The legal side to Malavika has seen expression through many international moot courts that she has participated and won as a student, the student-editorship of her college journal, her association with Madhyam, a development communications organization, assistant-editorship of the Madhyam journal, a legal column that she co-ordinated for the Times of India and UDAYAVANI for two years, her Malavika Pakkam in Kumudam
Kumudam
Kumudam is a Tamil language weekly magazines published in Chennai, India. The group also publishes other Tamil magazines including Kumudam Reporter, Kumudam Snehidi, Kumudam Bhakti, Kumudam Jothidam, Kumudam Theeranadhi. At the sametime kumudam group started a telugu spiritual magazine called...
, a Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
weekly, her ‘Agony aunt’ column for Kumudam and more recently, ‘Malavika order’, a weekly column in Vijaya Karnataka
Vijaya Karnataka
Vijaya Karnataka is a Kannada newspaper. It is the largest circulated Kannada daily and published from a number of cities in Karnataka. This was founded by VRL group, started in October 2000. During its initial days this news paper was distributed for free for one month. Later on this paper was...
, leading Kannada daily. Malavika has also held the position of head of programming at Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada is a 24 hour Kannada-language channel that launched in May 2006 and is owned by Zee Network. It features a wide array of programming including series, movies, soap-operas, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes. It is a subscription channel that is available via cable and...
.
AGNI, a talk show that Malavika hosted on E-TV Kannada brought out the sensitive side to her which was followed later by Baduku Jataka Bandi and is presently a huge success on Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada
Zee Kannada is a 24 hour Kannada-language channel that launched in May 2006 and is owned by Zee Network. It features a wide array of programming including series, movies, soap-operas, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes. It is a subscription channel that is available via cable and...
. In Baduku Jataka Bandi, Malavika deals with the most pertinent problems of individuals using her skills as an anchor as well as an Advocate, thereby providing an Alternate Dispute Resolution forum for resolving family issues. She also discusses burning social issues on her show.
Dance
Malavika’s association with BharatanatyamBharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
commenced at age five when her mother initiated her into the art form. She then trained under Prof. MR. Krishnamurthy of Kalakshetra, followed by the advanced tutelage under Padmashri Leela Samson in Delhi. She has been a recipient of the CCERT (a unit of the Culture Ministry) scholarship for Bharatanatyam. She has been pursuing dance in association with her renowned dancer sister, an alumnus of Kalakshetra, Ranjani Ganesan Ramesh. As a duo they have performed at cultural centres in India and abroad. Some the major cultural festivals include the Hampi festival, Pattadakkal festival, Khujrajo festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali, Uttara Chidambaram to name a few. Together, they organise an annual dance festival titled Arudhra at Bangalore.
Malavika, apart from compering several international dance and music festivals, has judged dance shows on television and hosted Takadhimithaa, a unique game show dedicated to Bharatanatyam on JayaTV. Malavika has been more occupied with her acting indulgences in the last few years and hopes to spend more time and energy on nurturing her Bharatanatyam in the coming years.
Select Filmography
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Krishnaavataar | G.V.Iyer | |
| Nakkala Rajakumari | Prema Karanth Prema Karanth Prema Karanth was a well known theatre personality and the first-ever woman film-maker of Kannada cinema. She was the wife of B. V. Karanth and was known for the children's plays that she staged. She became the first ever woman director in Kannada cinema when she directed the film Phaniyamma,... |
|
| 1992 | Daivathinte Vikrithikal Daivathinte Vikrithikal Daivathinte Vikrithikal is a 1992 Malayalam feature film co-written and directed by Lenin Rajendran based on M. Mukundan's award-winning novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Alphonso, a man who chooses to suffer a slow, torturous life in his little village, Mahe, in preference to... |
Lenin Rajendran Lenin Rajendran Lenin Rajendran is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has worked in Malayalam cinema.- Career :Beginning his film-making career as an assistant to director P. A. Backer, Rajendran made his directorial debut with Venal... |
| 1998–2000 | Mayamruga (Doordarshan) | T.N.Seetharam |
| 2001–2003 | Manvantara (ETv Kannada) | T.N.Seetharam |
| 2001–2003 | Grihabhanga (ETv Kannada) | Girish Kasaravalli Girish Kasaravalli Girish Kasaravalli is a noted film director, and one of the pioneers of the Parallel Cinema in Kannada cinema, who has won the National Film Award for Best Film four times, Ghatashraddha , Tabarana Kathe , Thaayi Saheba and Dweepa... |
| 2001–2003 | Anni (Jaya TV) | K. Balachander K. Balachander K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or... |
| 2003 | Jay Jay Jay Jay Jay Jay is a 2003 Tamil romance film directed by Saran. It's a story about lucky love and how love stays strong. The movie stars R. Madhavan, Pooja, Amoga, Kalabhavan Mani, Charle, Dhamu, Giridhar, Adithya, Reema Sen, Malavika Avinash and Gemini Balaji. The title is formed from the first alphabets... |
Saran Saran Saran may refer to:In Places:* Saran, Kazakhstan, a city in Kazakhstan* Saransk, Russia* Saran, Loiret, a commune of the Loiret Department, France* Saran district, Bihar, India* Saran division, Bihar, India... |
| 2004–2006 | Muktha Muktha Muktha was a serial telecast in Kannada language on ETV Kannada. It was directed by T.N. Seetharam, who has enacted in the serial. The serial aimed to bring civic awareness with stories to fight for justice against all bureaucratic and political odds. Muktha, a word with roots in Sanskrit, means... (ETv Kannada) |
T.N.Seetharam |
| 2004–2006 | Rajarajeshwari (Sun TV) | |
| 2006 | Cyanide | A.M.R.Ramesh |
| 2008–2009 | Comedy Colony (Jaya TV) | |
| 2008–2009 | Arasi Arasi The Tamil tele-serial "Arasi" is the sequel to "Selvi", the previous offering from Radaan Mediaworks in the 9.30-10 PM timeslot... (Sun TV) |
|
| 2009- | Chellamey Chellamey Chellamey is an Indian drama television series, written by Ponkumaran and currently directed by Sulaiman K.Babu, which premiered on September 14, 2009 on Sun TV. The series revolves around the title character Chellamma, played by Raadhika Sarathkumar, who is also the creative head of the series... (Sun TV) |
|
| 2010- | Baduku Jataka Bandi (Zee Kannada) |
Awards
- Best Actress award given by the Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
government - KalaimamaniKalaimamaniThe Kalaimamani is an award in Tamil Nadu state, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram for excellence in the field of art and literature....
award for her achievements as an actress - Aryabhata award
- Kempegowda award