Divyaa Unni
Born
Kochi, Kerala, India
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Actress
  • classical dance performer
  • teacher
Years active1987–2019
Children3
Relatives

Divyaa Unni is an Indian former actress and classical dancer of Indian origin who teaches various forms of dance such as Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom. As an actress, she mainly appeared in Malayalam language films , in addition to few Tamil , Telugu and Kannada language films too.

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.

The actress has two children in her first marriage.[3]

Film career

Divyaa has acted as a lead in over 50 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

As a child, Divyaa got her first break in the film Neeyethra Dhanya (1987) when she was a student in second grade. It was followed by Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) directed by Kamal and O' Faby (1993). She also did a TV serial Iniyonnu Vishramikkatte directed by Vinayan.

Divyaa's first feature film as a lead actress was Kalyana Sowgandhikam (1996) 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 Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Dileep and directors Bharathan; I V Sasi; Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas.

Dance career

Divyaa started her Bharatanatyam dance training at the age of three,[4] 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[5][6][7][8] in India[9] 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

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2019Aakasha Ganga 2Maya / DaisyMalayalamPhoto archive
2019Thanka Bhasma Kuriyitta ThamburattiHerselfPhoto archive
2013MusafirHerselfGuest appearance
2010Upadeshiyude MakanIrin
2008Magic LampVijiDelayed release
2006Illalu PriyuraluDivyaTeluguDelayed release
2001Aandan AdimaiGayathriTamil
Oru Apoorva PranayakathaMeenakshiMalayalam
Nakshathragal ParayathirunnathuShivaranjini
VedhamAnitha SanjayTamil
JameendarMalayalam
Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu NeeneLalitha / AnitaKannada
2000 Palayathu AmmanSavithriTamil
SabhashShanthi
Kannan VaruvaanParvathi
Mark AntonyNimmiMalayalam
1999NiramHerselfGuest appearance
Aakasha GangaMaya / Daisy
Aayiram MeniMallika
UsthadPadmaja / Pappa
FriendsUma
1998SooryaputhranMaya
The TruthNimmi
Ayushman BhavaSumangala
Oru Maravathoor KanavuAnnie
PranayavarnangalMaya
1997VarnapakittuNancy
ChuramMaya
Katha NayaganGopika
KarunyamIndu
Nee VaruvolamRevathi
ShibiramMinikutty
1996Kalyana SowgandhikamAthiraDebut as Lead actress
1993SowbhagyamIndhu's SisterChild artist
1993O' FabyChild artist
1991Pookkalam VaravayiSchool girl
1987Neeyethra DhanyaYoung Shyamala

Television

Serials
  • Neeyum Njanum (Zee Keralam)
  • Iniyonnu Vishramikkate (DD Malayalam)
  • Shankupushpam (Asianet)
  • Kunjikkoonan (DD Malayalam)
  • Manassu (DD Malayalam)
Telefilm
  • Pranayam (Surya TV)
TV shows as Host
  • American Jalakam (Asianet)
  • Asianet Film Awards (Asianet)
  • America Today (Kairali TV)
  • Pravaham
  • Poomottukal (DD Malayalam)
TV shows as Judge
  • Comedy Stars Season 3 (Asianet)
  • Top singer season 2 (Flowers TV)
  • Oru Chiri Iru chiri Bumper Chiri (Mazhavil Manorama)
  • Star Magic (Flowers 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". bhavans.info/news/show_other_news.asp?nid=774&kid=32. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. 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. ↑ "Divya Unni shares a lovely picture with her baby girl - Malayalam News - IndiaGlitz.com". 25 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Reinventing the Panchakanya Women Through Bharatanatyam". Brown Girl Magazine. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. ↑ M, Athira (9 November 2017). "Artistic endeavours". The Hindu.
  6. ↑ "A lifelong passion for dance". 9 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Divya Unni back on stage with mesmerizing dance steps - Video".
  8. ↑ Nampoothiri, Hareesh N. (16 November 2017). "Review: Young dancers take the stage at Soorya's 'Parampara' festival". The Hindu.
  9. ↑ "Review - The flavors of a festival - Padma Jayaraj". narthaki.com.
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