Utthara Unni

Utthara Unni
Born Utthara Unni
Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Residence Kochi, Kerala, India
Nationality Indian
Education B.Sc.Visual Communication
B.F.A Bharathanatyam
M.A Communication
Occupation Film actress
Model
Singer
Dancer
Filmmaker
Years active 2010-till date
Parent(s) Urmila Unni (mother)
Ankarath Raman Unni (father)
Website www.uttharaunni.com
www.thekalakendra.com
www.facebook.com/miss.uttharaunni

Utthara Unni is an Indian film actress[1] who predominantly works in Tamil and Malayalam films. She is a Bharatanatyam dancer and a film-maker who has directed short films, documentaries and music videos.

Career

As an Actor and Model

Utthara started her career as a model during her school days and has worked with many Indian brands such as Dhathri Real Slim Oil, SriKumarans, Bhima Jewellers, Emmanuval Silks, Asianet Broadband, Golden Lotus and many others. She has also modelled for a German brand Ground Zero which used to be represented by John Abraham. She made her debut in the Tamil film Vavval Pasanga (2012) directed by Suresh. Her first Malayalam film[2][3] Edavappathy directed by Lenin Rajendran and shot by Madhu Ambat also featured Manisha Koirala and Siddharth Lama. Utthara portrayed dual roles of Vasavadatta (a famous character from Kumaran Asan's poem Karuna) and a modern girl Yamini in the parallel story of the film. Her performance was critically acclaimed and won her the Kerala Film Critics Association Award for the best upcoming actor (debut).[4][5][6]

As a Film Maker

Utthara's directorial debut was through a horror short film Randaam Varavu[7] featuring her mother Urmila Unni. The film won her five awards for best direction.[8] She later directed a supernatural short-film featuring Urmila Unni and Devan called Ninth Month.[9] She was praised about her writing and film making skills in her next short film Paw Prints[10][11] featuring Siddique. The short film is about canine love and explores the special relationship between a man and a dog. Utthara is a well known animal welfare activist.[12] She has also created music videos and documentaries.[13] Utthara Unni is also an acclaimed singer and has released the a music album titled Pathirapontheril. [14]

As a Dancer

Being the daughter and disciple of Urmila Unni, Utthara started learning Bharatanatyam at a very young age from her mother. Later she was also trained under various gurus such as RLV Prashob Warrier, Kalamandalam Yamini, Dakshayini Ramachandran and Saikripa Prasanna. She holds a degree in B.F.A. Bharathanatyam from Sastra University under the special guidance of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and is currently doing her M.A in Bharathanatyam from Trichy University and also learning Nattuvangam from Kalakshetra Hari Padman.

She has performed in more than 100 stages in and around India. She has also performed in the Natyanjali festivals held at Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thirunallar, Nagapattinam, Mayavaram, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur. Some of her significant stages include Mylapore Fine Arts, Chennai; Nishagandhi, Trivandrum; Ernakulam Shiva temple, Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan, Trivandrum etc. Utthara has also made a name for herself by giving solo concerts in other countries such as Nepal, Thailand, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait etc.[15][16]

She is also the director of the dance school Angopanga situated at Bahrain,[17] a venture of Echo Group of Companies and Temple Steps in Mumbai.[18] She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council.[19]

Education

Having finished her schooling from Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Girinagar and Mar Thoma Public School, Cochin, Utthara graduated in Bsc. Visual Communication from SRM University, Chennai and did her master's degree in M.A. Communication from M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai under Madras University. Utthara also graduated in B.F.A Bharathanatyam from Sastra University and is currently doing her M.A in Bharathanatyam from Trichy University.

Personal life

Utthara Unni is the daughter of famous Malayalam actress Urmila Unni.[20] She was born into the Royal family of Thiruvalla Nedumbarath Palace to Ankarath Raman Unni and Urmila Unni . Malayalam film actors Samyuktha Varma and Biju Menon are also her family members.

Filmography

No. Year Film Role Co-stars Director language Notes
12012Vavval PasangaRahulSureshTamil
22016EdavappathyVasavadatta/YaminiSiddharth LamaLenin RajendranMalayalam
32016–PresentValampirishankuHostUrmila UnniJaihind TVMalayalamTelebrands TV promotional program

Awards

  1. Natyavilasini award from Bhilai Nrithyanrithyathi dance fest
  2. Natyamayoori title from Guntur dance fest in Andhra Pradesh
  3. Nrithya Shiromani title from theatre Olympiad at Odisha for excellence in Indian Classical dance
  4. Drishya award for best direction for the Short Film Randaam Varavu[8]
  5. Monisha Unni award for best direction for the short film Randaam Varavu
  6. Shanthadevi award for Best Direction for the short film Randaam Varavu.
  7. K.P Ummar award for Best Direction for the short film Randaam Varavu.
  8. Lions film and TV award for best direction for the short film Randaam Varavu
  9. Padmavati Pratibha Puraskar from Odisha for promoting Indian classical arts
  10. Sukumari Memorial award by True Indian Federation
  11. Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2016 for Best debut actress female for Edavappathy
  12. Guru Gopikrishna National Award for Bharatanatyam in 2016[21]
  13. N. P Abu award for best dancer of the year 2017
  14. Best direction, Best screenplay and Best film award at the Mumbai Short Film Festival for Paw Prints

References

  1. ↑ "Uthara Unni-Picture Gallery". manoramaonline. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  2. ↑ "I wanted Edavapathi to mark my debut: Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  3. ↑ "Uthara Unni makes her debut in Mollywood - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  4. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Association Awards". Wikipedia. 2018-01-16.
  5. ↑ "Edavappaathy Shooting Location". youtube. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  6. ↑ "Manisha Koirala praises Uthara Unni". timesofindia. 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  7. ↑ Utthara Unni (2015-01-30), Short Film [Horror] - "Randaam Varavu" by Utthara Unni, retrieved 2018-01-16
  8. 1 2 "Actress Uthara Unni takes up direction - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  9. ↑ Utthara Unni (2016-10-30), 9th Month - A Short Film | Directed by Utthara Unni | Devan | Urmila Unni, retrieved 2018-01-16
  10. ↑ "Uttara Unni's short film explores the special relationship between man and dog - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  11. ↑ Playground Digital Cinema (2017-06-04), Paw Prints - Official Full Short Film | Utthara Unni Malayalam Short Film 2017 (English Subtitles), retrieved 2018-01-16
  12. ↑ "Story from her life: Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  13. ↑ Utthara Unni (2014-05-25), Utthara Unni's Kathakali Documentary, retrieved 2018-01-16
  14. ↑ "Pathirapontheril Malayalam Album Song-Uthara Unni". youtube. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  15. ↑ "Uthara Unni: A dancer extraordinaire". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  16. ↑ "Actress Utthara Unni's Bharathanatyam Recital Event | RITZ". RITZ Magazine. 2016-11-11. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  17. ↑ Maattumantha, MS Das (16 March 2015). "ബഹറിനിൽ ഊർമിള ഉണ്ണിയും ഉത്തര ഉണ്ണിയും ഡാൻസ് സ്കൂൾ തുടങ്ങി". Cinema Mangalam. pp. 42, 43, 44, 45. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Utthara Unni heads Dance Academy". indiaglitz. 2015-03-05. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  19. ↑ "About - Utthara Unni | Official Website". www.uttharaunni.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  20. ↑ Parvathy S Nayar (17 September 2011). "Urmila Unni gets busy in Kollywood". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "In love with her 'chilanka': Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
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