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.

Early Life

Divyaa Unni was born in 2nd September 1979 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, 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 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, 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 in India 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
2001Aandan AdimaiGayathriManivannanTamil
2000Palayathu AmmanSavithriRamaTamil
2000SabhashShanthiK.SubashTamil
2000Kannan VaruvaanParvathiSundar CTamil
2000Nakshathragal ParayathirunnathuShivaranjiniC.S.SudheeshMalayalam
2000Mark 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
;TV shows as Host