Kavya Madhavan

Early life

Kavya Madhavan was born on 19 September 1984 into a Chaliya family 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.

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 whom kavya always called as a ‘daddy figure’ in her interviews after her divorce , in spite of infidelity rumours, 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.

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 in Perumazhakkalam for which she won 2004 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and for the role of Ashwati in Khaddama 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.

Filmography

Short films

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Meenakshi Dileep drops a lovely photo on Kavya Madhavan's birthday".
2. "State Film Awards (2000–12)". [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]].
3. https://theopinionatedindian.com/south/actor-kavya-madhavan-age-caste-date-of-birth-family-in-2025/cid16949985.htm
4. (19 September 2017). "Kavya Madhavan turns 33 years old today: Controversies that rocked her life". [[The Indian Express]].
5. “Dileep-Kavya Madhavan wedding divides the Internet”, Onmanorama, November 26, 2016. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/dileep-kavya-madhavan-wedding-divides-the-internet.html
6. ''“കാവ്യ ദിലീപിനെ കണ്ടത് അച്ഛനെ പോലെ, അതുപോലെ ആകുമോ”; അധിക്ഷേപിച്ചയാക്ക് രേണുവിന്റെ മറുപടി”'', OneIndia Malayalam, March 8, 2025. https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/kerala/kavya-madhavan-once-consider-dileep-as-her-father-one-comments-this-is-wht-kollam-sudhi-wife-renu-507609.html
7. [http://keralaweddingtrends.com/dileep-kavya-madhavan-wedding-live-video/ "Kavya Madhavan's Marriage Photos"] {{Webarchive. link. (28 March 2019 . Keralaweddingtrends.com. Retrieved 27 January 2017.)
8. [http://www.filmclickz.com/dileep-kavya-madhavan-marriage-photos-videos/ Dileep Kavya Madhavan Marriage Photos Videos] {{Webarchive. link. (30 January 2018 . Filmclickz.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved 27 January 2017.)
9. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pics-dileep-and-kavya-madhavans-daughter-mahalakshmi-her-first-step-into-the-world-of-letters-on-vijayadashmi-day]{{dead link. (April 2024)
10. [http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Kavya-Madhavans-Memoirs-Released/2014/04/12/article2164187.ece "Kavya Madhavan's Memoirs Released"] {{Webarchive. link. (13 April 2014 . ''The New Indian Express'')
11. C V Aravind. (29 January 2012). "Reaching new heights". [[Deccan Herald]].
12. (4 July 2017). "Sathyan Anthikad and Lal Jose: Winning the hearts of the Malayalam 'family' audience". [[The News Minute]].
13. (19 December 2011). "Kavya Dileep Kadha Ithu vare – Mazhavil Manorama Live".
14. (14 January 2011). "Maid film highlights abuse". Khaleejtimes.com.
15. (7 January 2012). "'Aadminte Makan Abu chosen best film by Thikkurissy foundation, IBN Live News". Ibnlive.in.com.
16. (n.d.). "Top 10 Highest Grossing Malayalam Movies – 2011".
17. Ajith Lal. (24 February 2004). "Kavya Madhavan". Kavyamadhavanonline.blogspot.com.
18. (12 November 2012). "Kavya Madhavan Singing – Mounamai Manasil Song – MATINEE Movie".
19. "State Film Awards (2000–12)". [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]].
20. (23 May 2011). "Adaminte Makan Abu adjudged best film". [[The Hindu]].
21. "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". [[The Times of India]].
22. Sathish, VM. "Mammotty, Kavya Madhavan bag Asiavision awards".
23. [https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/film-critics-awards-complete-list-from.html "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 – 2012"]. Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
24. [https://siima.in/index.php/awards-2012/ "SIIMA WINNER'S 2012"]. South Indian International Movie Awards. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
25. (11 September 2013). "Siimas: Kavya Madhavan's fabulous decade in film". Gulf News.
26. (October 2011). "Sathyan Awards 2011". kottaka.com.
27. (November 2011). "Lalitha Padmini ragini memorial award for Kavya". kottaka.com.
28. "Viewers Choice Award – Malayalam 2011". filmcrack.com.
29. "Kavya and Amlala Paul clench Amrita Film Awards". Keral.com.