{{Short description|Indian actress and classical dancer}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Divyaa Unni | image = Divya unni.jpg | caption = | birth_date = Date of birth: {{Birth date and age|1981|09|02}} | birth_place = Kochi, Kerala, India | alma_mater = St. Teresa's College, Kochi | occupation = {{Flatlist| * Actress * classical dance performer * teacher }} | years_active = 1987{{En dash}}2019 | children = 3 | relatives = {{Ubl | Vidhya Unni (sister) | Meera Nandan (cousin) | Remya Nambeesan (cousin) }} }} '''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 and education== Divyaa Unni was born in Kochi, Kerala, to Uma Devi and Unnikrishnan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=Actress Divya Unni's father dies |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=692897&u=actress-diya-unni%E2%80%99s-father-dies |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en}}</ref> Her mother is a Sanskrit teacher and is the head of the Sanskrit department of Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Girinagar, and was awarded the National Award for Teachers (India)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bhavans.info/news/show_other_news.asp?nid=774&kid=32 |title=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. |website=bhavans.info/news/show_other_news.asp?nid=774&kid=32 |language=en-US |access-date=1 April 2017 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023165226/http://www.bhavans.info/news/show_other_news.asp?nid=774&kid=32 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.curriculum-magazine.com/list-of-teachers-who-were-awarded-national-award-on-teachers-day-2014/ |title=List of teachers who were awarded National Award on Teachers Day 2014 {{!}} Curriculum Magazine |website=www.curriculum-magazine.com |language=en-US |access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> by the President of India. She has a sister, Vidhya Unni, who has worked as a lead in a couple of Malayalam movies.

Divyaa did her schooling at Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Girinagar. She then completed her graduation in Communicative English and her postgraduation in Bharatanatyam from St. Teresa's College, Kochi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Divyaa Unni: Being a dancer is a journey, and I am figuring out my goals on the go |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/divyaa-unni-being-a-dancer-is-a-journey-and-i-am-figuring-out-my-goals-on-the-go/articleshow/72004789.cms |work=The Times of India |date=14 November 2019}}</ref>

==Dance career==

Divyaa started her Bharatanatyam dance training at the age of three,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.browngirlmagazine.com/2017/01/reinventing-the-panchakanya-women-through-bharatanatyam/ |title=Reinventing the Panchakanya Women Through Bharatanatyam |date=6 January 2017 |work=Brown Girl Magazine |access-date=27 May 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=20 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220035008/https://www.browngirlmagazine.com/2017/01/reinventing-the-panchakanya-women-through-bharatanatyam/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/divyaa-unni-on-her-tryst-with-dance-and-long-break-from-cinema/article20010331.ece |title=Artistic endeavours |first=Athira |last=M |date=9 November 2017 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/081117/a-lifelong-passion-for-dance.html |title=A lifelong passion for dance |date=9 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2017/11/11/divya-unni-back-on-stage-with-mesmerizing-dance-steps.html |title=Divya Unni back on stage with mesmerizing dance steps - Video }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/delightful-performances-by-young-classical-dancers-at-sooryas-parampara-dance-festival/article20464680.ece |title=Review: Young dancers take the stage at Soorya's 'Parampara' festival |first=Hareesh N. |last=Nampoothiri |date=16 November 2017 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> in India<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev17/rev2139.html |title=Review - The flavors of a festival - Padma Jayaraj |website=narthaki.com}}</ref> and international stages throughout North America, Europe and Persian Gulf countries.

==Filmography== {{BLP unreferenced section|date= August 2022}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !! Notes |- | 2019|| ''Aakasha Ganga 2'' || Maya / Daisy || rowspan="5" | 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 |- | rowspan="6"|2001 || ''Aandan Adimai'' || Gayathri ||Tamil|| |- | ''Oru Apoorva Pranayakatha'' || Meenakshi || rowspan="2" |Malayalam|| |- | ''Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu'' ||Shivaranjini || |- |''Vedham'' || Anitha Sanjay ||Tamil|| |- |''Jameendar'' || ||Malayalam|| |- |''Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu Neene''||Lalitha / Anita || Kannada || |- |rowspan="4"|2000 | ''Palayathu Amman'' || Savithri || rowspan="3" |Tamil|| |- || ''Sabhash''|| Shanthi || |- | ''Kannan Varuvaan'' || Parvathi|| |- | ''Mark Antony'' || Nimmi || rowspan="22" | 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 Nayakan'' || Gopika || |- | ''Karunyam'' || Indu || |- | ''Nee Varuvolam'' ||Revathi || |- | ''Shibiram'' ||Minikutty || |- | 1996 || ''Kalyana Sowgandhikam'' || Athira ||Debut as Lead actress |- | 1993 || ''Sowbhagyam'' || Indhu's Sister || rowspan="4" |Child artist |- |1993 || ''O' Faby'' ||Child artist |- | 1991 || ''Pookkalam Varavayi'' || School girl |- | 1987 || ''Neeyethra Dhanya''||Young Shyamala |}

==Television== {{BLP unreferenced section|date= August 2022}} ; Serials * Neeyum Njanum (Zee Keralam) * Iniyonnu Vishramikkate (DD Malayalam) * Shankupushpam (Asianet) * Kunjikkoonan (DD Malayalam) * Manassu (Surya TV)

; 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== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Divyaa Unni}} * {{IMDb name|id=0881285|name=Divya Unni}} * {{Facebook|DivyaaUnniOfficial}} * {{Instagram|divyaaunni}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unni, Divya}} Category:Living people Category:20th-century American dancers Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:20th-century Indian dancers Category:20th-century Indian educators Category:20th-century Indian women educators Category:20th-century Indian women artists Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses from Kochi Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Actresses in Malayalam television Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Bharatanatyam dancers Category:Child actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Dancers from Kerala Category:Educators from Kerala Category:Indian dance teachers Category:Indian film actresses Category:Indian television actresses Category:Kuchipudi dancers Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance Category:Women artists from Kerala Category:Women educators from Kerala Category:St. Teresa's College alumni Category:1981 births