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.
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]
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.
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.
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Aakasha Ganga 2 | Maya / Daisy | Malayalam | Photo archive |
| 2019 | Thanka Bhasma Kuriyitta Thamburatti | Herself | Photo archive | |
| 2013 | Musafir | Herself | Guest appearance | |
| 2010 | Upadeshiyude Makan | Irin | ||
| 2008 | Magic Lamp | Viji | Delayed release | |
| 2006 | Illalu Priyuralu | Divya | Telugu | Delayed release |
| 2001 | Aandan Adimai | Gayathri | Tamil | |
| Oru Apoorva Pranayakatha | Meenakshi | Malayalam | ||
| Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu | Shivaranjini | |||
| Vedham | Anitha Sanjay | Tamil | ||
| Jameendar | Malayalam | |||
| Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu Neene | Lalitha / Anita | |||
| 2000 | Palayathu Amman | Savithri | Tamil | |
| Sabhash | Shanthi | |||
| Kannan Varuvaan | Parvathi | |||
| Mark Antony | Nimmi | Malayalam | ||
| Rowspan=5 | 1999 | Niram | Herself | Guest appearance |
| Aakasha Ganga | Maya / Daisy | |||
| Aayiram Meni | Mallika | |||
| Usthad | Padmaja / Pappa | |||
| Friends | Uma | |||
| Rowspan=5 | 1998 | Sooryaputhran | Maya | |
| The Truth | Nimmi | |||
| Ayushman Bhava | Sumangala | |||
| Oru Maravathoor Kanavu | Annie | |||
| Pranayavarnangal | Maya | |||
| Rowspan=6 | 1997 | Varnapakittu | Nancy | |
| Churam | Maya | |||
| Katha Nayagan | Gopika | |||
| Karunyam | Indu | |||
| Nee Varuvolam | Revathi | |||
| Shibiram | Minikutty | |||
| 1996 | Kalyana Sowgandhikam | Athira | Debut as Lead actress | |
| 1993 | Sowbhagyam | Indhu's Sister | Child artist | |
| 1993 | O' Faby | Child artist | ||
| 1991 | Pookkalam Varavayi | School girl | ||
| 1987 | Neeyethra Dhanya | Young Shyamala |