Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer, better for known by her stage name
Priyamani (4 June 1984) is an Indian
film actress and number one model has appeared in several Tamil, Malayalam,
Telugu and
Kannada films. She is best known for earning a National Film award for Best Actress
for her role as "Muththazhagu" in the 2006
Tamil film Paruthi Veeran, and for her role as Malavika in the 2008
Malayalam film Thirakkatha, for which she won the Filmfare Award
for Best Actress
– Malayalam.
Priyamani was born in a Tamil-speaking Iyer family in Palakkad, Kerala to Vasudeva Mani Iyer and Latha Mani Iyer. She grew up in Bangalore. As a results
of her dynamic exposure to different South Indian states, she speaks
Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and
Hindi. After completing her schooling, Priyamani modeling print advertisements. As a result of her extended modeling, she began to earn opportunities to star in films. After being approached by several directors and being considered for roles, she finally starred in director
Bharathiraja's
Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, which was released in 2004.
[1] She is currently pursuing a degree in B.A. in psychology. She is the cousin of Bollywood actress Vidya Balan. After her debut film
Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, her Telugu debut,
Evare Atagaadu, sank without a trace. Priyamani then made her debut in the
Malayalam film industry, where she starred opposite Prithviraj in
Satyam, but this film also performed poorly at the box office. Despite these commercial failures, she was signed by Tamil film director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra to star opposite Dhanush in the 2005 drama
Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam. She won tremendous acclaim for her performance in the film, but the film's under-performance meant that box office success still eluded her. In 2006, Priyamani starred opposite
Jagapathi Babu in the film
Pellaina Kothalo. The film was a surprise hit given its low budget and modest star cast, and it propelled Priyamani to fame in Tollywood.
Priyamani was born in a Tamil-speaking Iyer family in Palakkad, Kerala to Vasudeva Mani Iyer and Latha Mani Iyer. She grew up in Bangalore. As a results of her dynamic exposure to different South Indian states, she speaks Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi. After completing her schooling, Priyamani modeling print advertisements. As a result of her extended modeling, she began to earn opportunities to star in films. After being approached by several directors and being considered for roles, she finally starred in director Bharathiraja's Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, which was released in 2004.[1] She is currently pursuing a degree in B.A. in psychology. She is the cousin of Bollywood actress Vidya Balan. After her debut film Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, her Telugu debut, Evare Atagaadu, sank without a trace. Priyamani then made her debut in the Malayalam film industry, where she starred opposite Prithviraj in Satyam, but this film also performed poorly at the box office. Despite these commercial failures, she was signed by Tamil film director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra to star opposite Dhanush in the 2005 drama Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam. She won tremendous acclaim for her performance in the film, but the film's under-performance meant that box office success still eluded her. In 2006, Priyamani starred opposite Jagapathi Babu in the film Pellaina Kothalo. The film was a surprise hit given its low budget and modest star cast, and it propelled Priyamani to fame in Tollywood.
