Divyaa Unni

Divyaa Unni is an Indian classical dancer who teaches various forms of dance such as Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom. She is also an actress who has appeared in over 50 films predominantly in Malayalam.

Divyaa Unni
Unni in a Bharathanatyam pose - 2010
Born
Kochi, Kerala, India
NationalityIndia
OccupationActress, Indian classical dance performer and teacher
Years active1987-present
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Spouse(s)Sudhir Sekharan Menon (2002-2017) Arun Kumar (2018-Present)

Early Life

Divyaa Unni was born to Ponnethmadhatil Unnikrishnan and Kizhkemadhatil Uma Devi at Kochi, Kerala, India. Her mother Uma Devi, is a Sanskrit teacher and is the Head of Sanskrit Department; at Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Girinagar & was awarded the National Award for Teachers (India),[1][2] in the year 2013 by the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. She has a sister, Vidhya Unni, who has worked as a lead in couple of Malayalam movies. Divyaa completed her schooling in Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Girinagar.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communicative English from St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam. Divyaa is related (cousin) to Malayalam actress Meera Nandan and Remya Nambeesan.

Film career

Divyaa has acted as a lead in over 50 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada and has appeared in films like Pranayavarnangal and Bharathan's last movie Churam.

As a child, Divyaa got her first break in the film Nee Ethra Dhanya when she was a student in second grade. It was followed by Pookalam Varavayi directed by Kamal and Oh Faby by Srikuttan. She also did a TV serial Iniyonnu Vishramikkatte directed by Vinayan.

Divyaa's first feature film as a lead actress was Kalyana Sowgandhigam  with actors like Dileep and Kalabhavan Mani in the lead roles - one she did when she was fourteen; studying in the tenth grade. Subsequently, she worked with the actors Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Jayaram and directors Bharathan; I V Sasi; Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas.

Dance career

Divyaa started her Bharatanatyam dance training at the age of three,[3] thereafter she was trained in Kuchipudi, and Mohiniyattam. Subsequently, Divyaa Unni was crowned, in 1990 and 1991, ''Kalathilakom'' in Kerala School Kalolsavam statewide competitions. On India's premier Television Channel Doordarshan, she has presented a variety of Indian dance art-forms to such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, and Indian folk dance. She continues to perform at various Indian dance festivals[4][5][6][7] in India[8] and international stages throughout North America, Europe and Persian Gulf countries.

She has received many awards including the Aravindaksha Memorial Award – the Abhinaya Tilaka Puraskaram for the best state dance performance.

In the pursuit of promoting Indian culture in the West, Divyaa is developing the artistic talents of young children in the United States, where she currently resides. With this goal, she is currently the Director of Sreepadam School of Arts in Houston, Texas, United States.

Filmography
YearTitleRoleDirectorLanguageNotes
2019Aakasha Ganga 2Maya/DaisyVinayanMalayalamPhoto archive
2013MusafirHerselfPramod PappanMalayalamGuest appearance
2010Upadeshiyude MakanIrinJoshy MathewMalayalam
2008Magic LampVijiHaridasMalayalam
2006Illalu PriyuraluDivyaTelugu
2001Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu NeeneLalitha/AnitaS.NarayanKannada
2001VedhamAnitha SanjayArjun SarjaTamil
Aandan AdimaiGayathriManivannanTamil
2000 Palayathu AmmanSavithriRamaTamil
SabhashShanthiK.SubashTamil
Kannan VaruvaanParvathiSundar CTamil
Nakshathragal ParayathirunnathuShivaranjiniC.S.SudheeshMalayalam
Mark AntonyNimmiT.S. Suresh BabuMalayalam
1999NiramHerselfKamalMalayalamGuest appearance
Aakasha GangaMaya/DaisyVinayanMalayalam
Aayiram MeniMallikaI. V. SasiMalayalam
UsthadPadmaja/PappaSibi MalayilMalayalam
FriendsUmaSiddiqueMalayalam
1998SooryaputhranMayaThulasidasMalayalam
The TruthNimmiShaji KailasMalayalam
Ayushman BhavaSumangalaSuresh VinuMalayalam
Oru Maravathoor KanavuAnnieLal JoseMalayalam
PranayavarnangalMayaSibi MalayilMalayalam
1997VarnapakittuNancyI. V. SasiMalayalam
ChuramMayaBharathanMalayalam
Katha NayaganGopikaRajasenanMalayalam
KarunyamInduLohithadasMalayalam
Nee VaruvolamRevathiSibi MalayilMalayalam
ShibiramMinikuttyT.S. Suresh BabuMalayalam
1996Kalyana SowgandhikamAthiraVinayanMalayalamDebut as Lead actress
1993SowbhagyamIndhu's SisterSandhya MohanMalayalamChild artist
1993O' FabyChild artistK.SreekuttanMalayalam
1991Pookkalam VaravayiSchool girlKamalMalayalam
1987Neeyethra DhanyaYoung ShyamalaJeseyMalayalam

Television
Serials
  • Iniyonnu Vishramikkate (DD Malayalam)
  • Shankupushpam (Asianet)
TV shows as Host
  • American Jalakam (Asianet)
  • America Today (Kairali TV)

References
  1. "National award for Sanskrit teacher Ms. Umadevi K. Ms. Umadevi K. Sanskrit teacher bagged the national Award for Best Teacher 2013 instituted by MHRD, New Delhi. She was invited to attend the award ceremony at New Delhi on Teachers Day". www.bhavans.info/news/show_other_news.asp?nid=774&kid=32. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. "List of teachers who were awarded National Award on Teachers Day 2014 | Curriculum Magazine". www.curriculum-magazine.com. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  3. "Reinventing the Panchakanya Women Through Bharatanatyam". Brown Girl Magazine. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  4. M, Athira (9 November 2017). "Artistic endeavours" – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. "A lifelong passion for dance". 9 November 2017.
  6. "Divya Unni back on stage with mesmerizing dance steps - Video".
  7. Nampoothiri, Hareesh N. (16 November 2017). "Review: Young dancers take the stage at Soorya's 'Parampara' festival" – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. "Review - The flavors of a festival - Padma Jayaraj". www.narthaki.com.
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