# Kavya Madhavan

Kavya Madhavan (born 19 September 1984) is an Indian former actress, who acted predominantly in Malayalam films, and a few Tamil films. She made her debut in 1991 as a child artist in Pookkalam Varavayi. Her debut role as one of the lead actresses (the other being Samyuktha Varma) was in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikkil in 1999, when she was in the ninth grade. Its success established her status as one of the leading actress in the Malayalam industry during the 2000s. She has since acted in over 75 films. She has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress twice, for her performances in Perumazhakkalam (2004) and Khaddama (2010).

## Early life

Kavya Madhavan was born on 19 September 1984 to P. Madhavan and Shyamala in Nileshwaram, Kasaragod, India. She has a brother Midhun Madhavan, who is a fashion designer. She completed her schooling at Rajah's Higher Secondary School in Nileshwaram. She began learning classical dance whilst at school and participated in various dance competitions.

## Acting career

Kavya first appeared as a child artist in Kamal's film Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) at the age of six in a cameo role along the students in a bus. Subsequently, she was offered parts in other projects such as Pavam IA Ivachan (1994), Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu (1994) by P. Venu and Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), directed by Kamal. She was offered one of the female lead in Chandranudikkunna Dikkil, also starring Dileep, in 1999. After the success of Chandranudikkunna Dikhil, Kavya and Dileep became a popular pairing in Malayalam cinema, and they worked together in 21 movies. Some of their movies are Thenkasipattanam (2000), Darling Darling (2000), Dhosth (2001), Meesa Madhavan (2002) which was one of biggest grosser of the year and was directed by Lal Jose, Mizhi Randilum (2003) in which she played a double role, Sadanandante Samayam (2003), Thilakkam (2003) directed by Jayaraj, Runway (2004) directed by Joshiy, Kochi Rajavu (2005), Lion (2006) again directed by Joshiy, Chakkaramuthu (2006), Inspector Garud (2007), Paappi Appacha (2010), Vellaripravinte Changathi (2011) and Pinneyum (2016). Most of their movies were in the romantic comedy genre.
She also acted in films with Mammootty and Mohanlal, and in movies with several stars, such as Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, Christian Brothers and China Town.
She got critical acclaim for her performance of the role of Ganga in Perumazhakkalam for which she won 2004 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and for the role of Ashwati in Gaddama where she played a housemaid working in Saudi Arabia. The movie was based on a feature by K. U. Iqbal, published in Bhashaposhini. The movie was directed by her mentor Kamal, and she got her second Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for 2011. She won the 2011 Kerala Film Critics Awards for Best Actress, Amrita-FEFKA Film Awards for Best Actress, Best Actress-Malayalam cinema in 59th Filmfare Awards South and Best Actress in Thikkurissy Foundation Awards. She was part of big grossers like Christian Brothers and China Town in 2011 and was selected as Top Star (Female) 2011 in Malayalam.
She was cast in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Naalu Pennungal in which she played a supporting role.
Though she had many offers from Tamil cinema, she was very reluctant to act due to her busy schedule in Malayalam. Her first was Kasi (2001) which was the remake of Vinayans Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. She went on to act in En Mana Vaanil and Sadhu Miranda and enjoyed moderate success.
She wrote lyrics for the song "En Khalbillulloru Pennaanu" for the film One Way Ticket (2008) and for Akashavani (2016). She sang her first movie song for the Malayalam film Matinee (2012). She has appeared in many advertisements, TV shows, short films and stage shows. She also sang songs for the movies Hadiya (2017) and Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam (2018).
From acting as a child to acting as an actress, Sreeja has provided voice to her in many films. Devi, Praveena, Bhagyalakshmi and Vimmy Mariam George and Nithuna Nevil Dinesh have also lent their voices in some films.

## Personal life

Kavya married Nishal Chandra on 9 February 2009, after which she moved to Kuwait. However, she returned home in June the same year and filed for divorce on 24 July 2009. Both Kavya and Nishal appeared before the court on 25 May 2011 and expressed their willingness for a mutual divorce. The divorce was granted on 30 May 2011. She married actor Dileep on 25 November 2016 at Vedanta Hotel, Kochi. The couple have a daughter, Mahalakshmi born on 19 October 2018.
Kavya owns a textile shop named Laksyah. In April 2013, Mathrubhumi Books published a collection of memoirs written by Kavya, titled Kathayil Alpam Kavyam which gives a glimpse into her childhood memories and the experiences of her school days and in the film industry. The book was released by writers Subhash Chandran and Deedi Damodaran at a function held in K. P. Kesava Menon Hall in Kozhikode on 11 April.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Pookkalam Varavayi | Geethu's friend | Debut as Child artist |
| 1992 | Mayilppeeli | | |
| 1994 | Pavam I. A. Ivachan | Sara Ivachan | |
| 1994 | The President | | |
| 1996 | Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu | Neena | |
| 1996 | Azhakiya Ravanan | Young Anuradha | |
| 1997 | Oral Mathram | Gopika Menon | |
| 1997 | Snehasindooram | Anjali | |
| 1997 | Bhoothakkannadi | Meenu | |
| 1997 | Irattakuttikalude Achan | Dhanya | |
| 1997 | Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu | Anjali | |
| 1998 | Kattathoru Penpoovu | Yamuna | |
| 1999 | Chandranudikkunna Dikhil | Radha | Debut as Lead |
| 2000 | Madhuranombarakattu | Sunaina | |
| 2000 | Darling Darling | Padmaja/Puppy | |
| 2000 | Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | Celin | |
| 2000 | Thenkasipattanam | Devu | |
| 2001 | Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam | Maya | |
| 2001 | Rakshasa Rajavu | Daisy | |
| 2001 | Jeevan Masai | Manjula | |
| 2001 | Mazhamegha Pravukal | Malu | |
| 2001 | Dosth | Geethu | |
| 2001 | Kasi | Lakshmi | Tamil film Debut film |
| 2002 | Onnaman | Suhara | |
| 2002 | Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan | Gopika | |
| 2002 | Meesa Madhavan | Rugmini | |
| 2002 | En Mana Vaanil | Thilaka | Tamil film; remake of Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan |
| 2003 | Thilakkam | Ammu | |
| 2003 | Vellithira | Pankajam | Cameo appearance |
| 2003 | Sadanandante Samayam | Sumangala | |
| 2003 | Gourishankharam | Gauri | |
| 2003 | Kadha | Meera | |
| 2003 | Mizhi Randilum | Bhadra and Bhama | Dual role |
| 2003 | Pulival Kalyanam | Ganga | |
| 2004 | Perumazhakkalam | Ganga | |
| 2004 | Greetings | Sheethal | |
| 2004 | Runway | Gopika | |
| 2005 | Iruvattam Manavaatti | Bhumika | |
| 2005 | Annorikkal | Ponnu | |
| 2005 | Ananthabhadram | Bhadra | |
| 2005 | Seelabathi | Seelabathi | |
| 2005 | Kochi Rajavu | Ashwathy/Achu | |
| 2005 | Aparichithan | Meenakshi | |
| 2006 | Chakkara Muthu | Anitha | |
| 2006 | Vadakkumnadhan | Bhama | |
| 2006 | Vasthavam | Sumithra | |
| 2006 | Arunam | Valli | |
| 2006 | Classmates | Thara Kurup | |
| 2006 | Kilukkam Kilukilukkam | Chandini | |
| 2006 | Lion | Sharika | |
| 2007 | Athisayan | Maya | |
| 2007 | Naalu Pennungal | Subhadra | |
| 2007 | Inspector Garud | Subcollector.Sethulakshmi | |
| 2007 | Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri | Nadiya and Nadira | Dual role |
| 2007 | Kangaroo | Jancy | |
| 2008 | Sadhu Miranda | Priya | Tamil film |
| 2008 | Madampi | Jayalakshmi | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | Ancy | |
| 2009 | Ee Pattanathil Bhootham | Ancy | |
| 2009 | Banaras | Amritha | |
| 2010 | Paappi Appacha | Annie | |
| 2011 | Bhaktha Janangalude Sradhakku | Sumangala | |
| 2011 | Gaddama | Aswathy | |
| 2011 | Chinatown | Rosamma | |
| 2011 | Venicile Vyaapari | Ammu | |
| 2011 | Vellaripravinte Changathi | Sulekha / Mary Varghese | |
| 2011 | Christian Brothers | Meenakshi | |
| 2012 | Bavuttiyude Namathil | Vanaja | |
| 2013 | Players | Rose | |
| 2013 | Lokpal | Dr.Geetha | |
| 2013 | Breaking News Live | Nayana | |
| 2013 | 5 Sundarikal | Gauri | Anthology film; Segment: Gauri |
| 2015 | She Taxi | Sharika | |
| 2016 | Aakashvani | Vani | Also lyricist for the song "Kaalam Ni" |
| 2016 | Pinneyum | Devi | |

## Short films

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham | College student | Short film |
| 2016 | Kaavalal | Herself | Short film |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Award Category & Awarded Work | Ref. |
| 2004 | Kerala State Film Awards | Best Actress – Perumazhakkalam | |
| 2011 | Kerala State Film Awards | Best Actress – Gaddama | |
| 2011 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress – Gaddama | |
| 2013 | Asiavision Awards | Best Actress | |
| 2000 2001 2003 | Kerala Film Critics Awards | Second Best Actress – Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Second Best Actress – Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal Second Best Actress – Mizhi Randilum | |
| 2004 2005 2010 | Kerala Film Critics Awards | Best Actress – Perumazhakkalam & Annorikkal Best Actress – Anandabhadram Best Actress – Gaddama | |
| 2011 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress – Gaddama | |
| 2013 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Special Appreciation Award for her contribution to Malayalam Cinema | |
| 2000 2002 2004 2009 2011 2012 | Asianet Film Awards | Special Jury Award – Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal, Madhuranombarakattu Best Star Pair – Meesa Madhavan Best Actress – Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Special Jury Award – Perumazhakkalam Best Actress – Banaras Best Actress – Gaddama, Bhaktha Janangalude Sradhakku Best Actress – Bavuttiyude Namathil | |
| 2004 2006 2011 | Vanitha Film Awards | Best Actress – Mizhi Randilum Best Actress – Anandabhadram Best Actress – Gaddama | |
| 2011 | Sathyan Awards Lalitha-Padmini-Ragini Memorial Award Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress – Gaddama | [23][24] [25] |
| 2011 | Amritha TV – FEFKA Film Awards | Best Actress – Gaddama | |