Kaniha

Divya Venkatasubramaniam (born 3 July 1982), better known by her stage name Kaniha or Kanika, is an Indian film actress who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema.[1][2] Kaniha made her debut in the 2002 Tamil film Five Star, she went on to work in other South Indian film industries, including Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. She is perhaps best known for her performances as Eashwari in her debut film Five Star, Gayathri in Varalaru - History of Godfather and Thenmozhi in Autograph. She has had a successful run in the Malayalam film industry, with most notable works include Bhagyadevatha, Pazhassi Raja and Spirit.

For the village in Assam, see Kaniha, Kamrup.

Kaniha
Born
Divya Venkatasubramaniam

(1982-07-03) 3 July 1982
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesKanika
Occupation
Years active2002–2006
2009–present
Spouse(s)
Shyam Radhakrishnan
(
m. 2008)
Children1

Early life

Kaniha was born on 3 July 1982 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India as the second daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Venkat Subramanian, both engineers. She studied at TVS Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai and also won accolades including the Tamil Nadu State Award for Educational Excellence in 1999.[3] She then got admitted on merit to BITS ("Birla Institute of Technology and Science"), in Pilani, Rajasthan, from where she graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree

Having developed her singing talents from her childhood, by participating in pop music and light music shows, Divya was interested in singing and related performing arts. While she was still studying, she gave stage performances as a pop singer from time to time. When she was supposed to perform at the Miss Chennai event, a beauty pageant contest, in 2001, she got to participate at the contest, after a model had backed out at the last moment.[4] Despite lack of experience, she emerged victorious at that contest,[5] which would later pave her the way for a film career.

Career

Susi Ganesan spotted Kaniha on a magazine cover page and insisted on her performing the lead female role in his second feature film. Divya eventually entered the Film industry, accepting the offer, while her name was changed to Kaniha. Her debut film was the Mani Ratnam-produced Five Star (2002) with Prasanna, who made his acting debut as well, in which Kaniha portrayed a traditional village girl. She completed the entire film during her summer holidays, since she was a student.[6]

Kaniha turned down all projects that were subsequently offered to her, including films by S. Shankar and P. C. Sreeram,[6] and went on to complete her graduation. Even before she finished her graduation, she completed her Telugu debut film Ottessi Chepputunna during her winter vacations, acting under another stage name Sravanthi.[7] In regard to her performance, Idlebrain wrote: "Sravanthy looks homely in the film and suited the character. She performed well. She is good at dances as well".[8]

After completing her studies, Kaniha decided to give herself a go at the Tinsel towns. She starred in the Kannada film Annavaru (2004), a remake of Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi (1991), stepping into Kannada filmdom, too. She followed the movie with a neat, cameo role in Cheran's Autograph, earning critical acclaim. Kaniha next appeared in a comedy oriented role in a commercial film by K. S. Ravikumar, Aethiree along with Madhavan, Sada, in which she portrayed as a "naughty Brahmin girl".[6] Sify labelled her performance in the film as "outstanding".[9] She went on to play the female lead in Dancer opposite physically disabled Kutty,[10] following which she returned to Telugu cinema, accepting to reprise her role in the Telugu remake of Autograph, Naa Autograph, playing the same role as in the original version.[7] She proved to be an actress to reckon with in the Kannada film Sye, a remake of Tamil film Dhill. She finally ventured into Malayalam cinema as the heroine for the campus-based film Ennitum.

Later in 2006, she appeared in her biggest project till then, Varalaru, directed again by K. S. Ravikumar, in which she shared screen space with Ajith Kumar and Asin. She won plaudits for her role as a mentally disordered girl. After a two-years gap, her most recent Kannada film Rajakumari opposite Ravichandran got released, in which she again got to play the female lead role.

After her marriage, when she was supposed to have bid adieu to the film industry, Kaniha returned to the Malayalam cinema in 2009, with the films Bhagyadevatha, directed by veteran Sathyan Anthikkad and starring Jayaram and Narain as well, and Pazhassi Raja, directed by reputed director Hariharan and starring Mammootty, Sarath Kumar and Padmapriya among others. While the former one, in which she played the role of a homely Christian girl, was highly successful at the box office, the latter one, a biographical historical film, in which she played the role of a queen opposite Mammootty. Her performance in Bhagyadevatha led to her winning several awards.[11] Her rising adulation in the Malayalam industry saw her eventually sign laudable roles in the films My Big Father and Christian Brothers before she took a maternity break.

Other work

Besides acting, Kaniha has ventured into other fields as well, working as a dubbing artiste, playback singer and TV host, proving to be a versatile and talented person.

Television

Even at the prime of her career, Kaniha moved to "small screen", hosting a couple of TV shows, which she believed were a "refreshing change from movies". She had first hosted the second season of the popular comedy show Kalakka Povathu Yaaru on STAR Vijay in 2006, following which she had hosted the popular family based game show Mega Thanga Vettai, the annual Chutti Vikatan Children's Quiz Show both on Sun TV. Besides, she also played a lead role in the television serial Thiruvilayadal on Sun TV. She has judged popular reality shows like Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njaanum, Star Singer both on Asianet. In 2015 she judged Uggram Ujjwalam a Malayalam reality show on Mazhavil Manorama.She judges Grand Magical Circus on Amrita TV.

Dubbing and singing

Kaniha has ventured into playback singing and dubbing as well. Having a vast experience and being a professional singer before turning actress, Kaniha got the offer to sing the theme song of her debut film Five Star. She then turned dubbing artiste, dubbing for actresses Genelia D'Souza in Sachein, Sadha in Anniyan and Shriya Saran in Sivaji: The Boss.[12]

Advertisements

Kaniha has also featured in print and TV ads of some reputed corporates. Some of them are listed below.

  • The Chennai Silks
  • Kalyan Sarees and Jewellers
  • Rathna Thanga Maligai
  • Tata Gold Plus
  • SPP Silks, Erode
  • Aachi Masala
  • Seemas Silks
  • ICL Fincorp
  • Mahalakshmi Silks
  • N Style

Personal life

Kaniha married Shyam Radhakrishnan on 15 June 2008 who works as a US-based software engineer.[13] They have a son Sai Rishi born in November 2010. Initially she had decided to leave the film industry, finishing her career as an actress, and to settle down in the US, stating that she, however, would complete her hitherto signed films.[14] In January 2009 then, Kaniha, unexpectedly, announced her comeback with the Sathyan Anthikkad-directed Malayalam film Bhagyadevatha.[15][16][17][18]

Awards and nominations

Filmography

As actress
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2002Five StarEashwariTamil
2003Ottesi CheputunnaDivyaTeluguTelugu debut (paired with Meka Srikanth)
AnnavaruSubbulakshmiKannada
2004AethireeGayathri NatarajanTamil
AutographThenmozhi SenthilTamil
2005DancerDivyaTamil
2006Naa AutographSandhyaTelugu
SyeRenuKannada
VaralaruGayathriTamil
EnnittumSnehaMalayalam
2009BhagyadevathaDaisy BennyMalayalam
RajakumariRajakumariKannada
Pazhassi RajaKaitheri MaakamMalayalam
My Big FatherAncyMalayalam
2010Drona 2010TulasimaniMalayalam
2011Christian BrothersStellaMalayalam
2012CobraAnnieMalayalam
SpiritMeeraMalayalam
Bavuttiyude NamathilMariamMalayalam
2013OrissaChandrabhagaMalayalam
BlackberryHerselfMalayalamArchived from Spirit
2014To Noora with LoveSainabaMalayalam[22]
How Old Are YouSusan DavidMalayalam
Mylanchi Monchulla VeeduWaahidaMalayalam
2015Rudra SimhasanamMohiniMalayalam
O Kadhal KanmaniPregnant womanTamilCameo
201610 KalpanakalSaraMalayalam
2017Green AppleAbhiramiMalayalam
2018 Abrahaminte SanthathikalDiana JosephMalayalam
DramaMercy John Chacko (Kunjumol)Malayalam
2019Lonappante MamodeesaNeelimaMalayalam
Mamangam Chirudevi Malayalam
2020Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum KelirTBATamilFilming
CobraTBATamilFilming

As dubbing artiste
YearFilmForLanguageNotes
2005SacheinGeneliaTamil
2005AnniyanSadhaTamil
2007Sivaji: The BossShriya SaranTamil

As playback singer
YearTitleFilmLanguageComposerNotes
2002"Engalukku"Five StarTamilParasuram-Radha
Television
YearProgramRoleChannelLanguageNotes
2006Kalakka Povathu YaaruHostVijay TVTamil
2007–2008Mega ThangavettaiHostSun TVTamil
2008Annual Chutti Vikatan Children's Quiz ShowHostSun TVTamil
2008ThiruvillayadalDeviSun TVTamilSerial
2013Sundari Neeyum Sundaran NjanumJudgeAsianetMalayalam
2015Uggram UjjwalamJudgeMazhavil ManoramaMalayalam
2017Grand Magical CircusJudgeAmrita TVMalayalam
2019Kerala Dance LeagueJudgeAmrita TVMalayalam
2020Snehathode Veetil NinnuHerselfMazhavil ManoramaMalayalamCovid-19 Special awareness show
2020Health DeskHerselfAsianetMalayalam
TV Shows as Guest
  • Star Singer
  • Onasallapam
  • Annie's Kitchen
  • Comedy Stars
  • Smart Show
  • Cookalong Celebrity
  • Get Set Chat
  • Media Directory
  • Ayalathe Onam
  • I Personally
  • Abhrahaminoppam Mammoottyiyude Perunnal
  • JOQ (Just One Question)
  • TV New
  • OMF Media
  • ACV News
  • Cinema Vikatan
  • E Onam Kanihakkoppam
  • Meet The Editors
  • Yes I Am
  • Washington Diary
  • Webindia 123
  • Star Chat
  • Chillujalakam
  • FOMAA 2010
  • Asianet Film Awards
  • Vanitha Film Awards
gollark: Ah.
gollark: What data would you give it to work with?
gollark: Hmm... that's actually an interesting idea...
gollark: Presumably, the neural networks will just end up generating some random noise, uselessly.
gollark: Because that couldn't go wrong in any way whatsoever.

See also
  • List of BITS alumni

References
  1. "Kaniha turns hot in Mollywood". Sify.
  2. "Kaniha to play female lead in Mammooty starrer Cobra". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 11 December 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  3. "Bitsian Women – You Go Girl!". bitsaa.org. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  4. "The voice behind Shriya in Sivaji". Rediff. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  5. "Miss Chennai 2001". vibamisschennai.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  6. The voice behind Shriya in Sivaji. Rediff.com (31 December 2004). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  7. Telugu cinema Review – Naa Autograph – Sweet Memories – Ravi Teja, Bhumika Chawla, Gopika. Idlebrain.com (11 August 2004). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  8. Telugu Cinema – Review – Ottesi Cheputunna – Srikanth, Sivaji – E Sathi Babu – Vidya Sagar – Anil. Idlebrain.com (11 April 2003). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  9. Movie Review:Aethiree. Sify.com. Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  10. Dancer Tamil Movie Review. IndiaGlitz (14 January 2005). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  11. Dailynews – 8 Best Actor awards in one year for Kanika!. Cinesouth.com (31 January 2010). Retrieved on 27 February 2012. Archived 5 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "The voice behind Shriya in Sivaji". Rediff. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  13. "Kanika enters wedlock". Oneindia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  14. "Kanika Wedding Reception". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  15. "Kanika makes her comeback". kollywoodtoday.com. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  16. "Gopika and Kanika scouting for roles". Behindwoods. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  17. "Kanika, the next big thing in Malayalam cinema". Rediff. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  18. "The hottest summer release in Malayalam". Rediff. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  19. Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : ‘Pazhassi Raja’ selected as best film. The Hindu (4 January 2010). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  20. Lal, Kanika and Pazhassi -the best – Malayalam Movie News. IndiaGlitz. Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  21. Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Two films share critics award. The Hindu (30 January 2010). Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
  22. Kumar, P. K. Ajith (20 March 2014). "On location: To Noora with Love – All about Noora". Retrieved 19 February 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
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