View source for Malavika Avinash

{{Short description|Indian spokesperson, actress, television personality and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=October 2013}}
{{More footnotes|date=January 2012}}
}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Malavika Avinash
| image               = Malavika Avinash.jpg
| image_size          =       
| caption             = Malavika Avinash in 1998 Kannada serial ''[[Mayamruga]]''
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1976|1|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| party               = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]<br/>{{small|(2013–present)}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Actress|politician}}
| spouse              = {{Marriage|[[Avinash]]|2001}}
| children            = 1
| alma_mater          = [[Bangalore University]]
| office              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka|Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party of Karnataka]]
| term_start          = February 2014
| president           = [[Nalin Kumar Kateel]]
}}

'''Malavika Avinash''' (born 28 January 1976) is an Indian spokesperson, actress, television personality and politician who is the current State [[spokesperson]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka|Bharatiya Janata Party of Karnataka]].  She is known for her work in [[Kannada]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil films]]. She hosted ''Baduku Jataka Bandi'', a television show that aired on [[Zee Kannada]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/news/2006/malavika-avinash-zee-060906.html |title=TV star Malavika Avinash Zee head |date=6 September 2006 |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102233928/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/news/2006/malavika-avinash-zee-060906.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She is a part of the ensemble cast in the highest grossing Kannada movie - ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 1]]''. 

== Early life ==
Malavika was born on 28 January 1976, in a [[Tamil people|Tamil]] family to N. Ganesan. Her father was a banker and writer, and her mother, Savithri, a vocalist and dancer. She was initiated into classical arts under the tutelage of [[Padma Shri|Padmashree]] [[Leela Samson]] in [[Bharatanatyam]] and Pandit Partho Das on the [[sitar]]. [[G.V. Iyer]] spotted her at a dance performance as Krishna and cast her as [[Krishna]] in his ''Krishnavataar''. She then played a lead role as a princess in [[Prema Karanth]]'s Panorama children's film ''Nakkala Rajakumari''.

She completed her Bachelor of Law at [[Bangalore University]] and was awarded 3rd rank.<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP's versatile spokespersons |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/bjps-versatile-spokespersons/article5662910.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 February 2014 |accessdate=17 February 2016 }}</ref>

She married actor [[Avinash(Kannada actor)|Avinash]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/From-reel-love-to-real-love/articleshow/23854152.cms |title=From reel love to real love |work=[[Times of India]] |access-date=21 June 2011 |archive-date=5 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105181155/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/From-reel-love-to-real-love/articleshow/23854152.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> They have a son named Gaalav.

== Career ==
Malavika's stint as a child artist was followed by her entry into cinema as the heroine in award-winning Malayalam films for [[Lenin Rajendran]] and popular Kannada films. Television however, turned out to be the medium that adopted her. Her earlier television series were for [[Girish Karnad]] and [[Ashutosh Gowariker]] in Hindi, Ashok Naidu in Kannada and [[Dinesh Baboo]] in Malayalam. Her performance in ''[[Mayamruga]]'' provided her iconic status among Kannada television viewers. ''Mayamruga''{{'}}s success caught the eye of [[K. Balachander]], who then chose to usher her into Tamil cinema world with [[Anni (TV series)|''Anni'']], where Malavika played the protagonist Anni.

[[File:Avinash, Malavika Avinash.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Avinash (left), Malavika Avinash (right) in 1998 Kannada serial ''Mayamruga'']]

Malavika's Tamil films and Serials include '''Raji''' Or '''Raja Rajeshwari''' Role in ''"Raja Rajeshwari" Sun Tv Serial'' 90'S Kids Favourite (Saregama India Ltd) Company Episodes Directors are Selva Kumar and Selva Pandi and [[K. Balachander]]'s ''Nilavai Pidippom'' where she portrayed a middle-class working woman, Pudhuyugam, Pralayam in "Comedy Colony" again under her mentor Balachander. She played  Madurai Thilaka in ''Arasi'' and Muththazhagi in ''[[Chellamey]]''. She played key roles in Tamil films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellurramki18.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/mal_vt_article_240806.jpg |title=I am born to be CM |publisher=[[Vijay Times]] |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106054843/http://bellurramki18.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/mal_vt_article_240806.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another milestone was her portrayal of Nanjamma, the protagonist in [[Girish Kasaravalli]]'s film of [[S.L. Bhyrappa]]'s celebrated novel, ''Gruha Banga''. In her decade of television acting, Malavika played roles in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi productions including cross-over film ''Cyanide'', in which Malavika's portrayal of Shubha won her critical acclaim. {{Citation needed|date=July 2019}} Apart from ''Manvantara'' for [[T.N.Seetharam]], Malavika swayed the Kannada audiences with her cult figure like character of Madhavi Patel, IPS, in his ''Muktha''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}

''Agni'', a talk show that Malavika hosted on E-TV Kannada was followed by ''Baduku Jataka Bandi''. In the latter, Malavika deals with the problems of individuals, thereby providing an Alternate Dispute Resolution forum for resolving family issues. She also discusses social issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://173.193.245.59-static.reverse.softlayer.com/channels/kannada/article/47084.html |title=Malavika back to TV |publisher=Softlayer.com |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415054915/http://173.193.245.59/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was a housemate in [[Bigg Boss Kannada 4|Bigg Boss Kannada Season 4]].

In 2017, she played a judge in [[Vijay (actor)|Ilayathalapathy Vijay]]'s movie ''[[Bairavaa]].'' She also starred in the current highest grossing Kannada film [[K.G.F: Chapter 1]] as well as the highly acclaimed Tamil  movie [[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]], all 3 which have grossed more than 100 crores at the box office.

=== Journalism ===
Malavika participated in and won many international moot courts as a student, served as editor of her college journal, joined Madhyam, a development communications organization, served as assistant-editors of Madhyam journal, a legal column for the Times of India and UDAYAVANI for two years, her "Malavika Pakkam" column in Kumudam, a Tamil weekly, an Agony aunt column for Kumudam and more recently, 'Malavika order', a weekly column in Vijaya Karnataka. Malavika served as head of programming at [[Zee Kannada]].

== Dance ==

Malavika's association with [[Bharatanatyam]] commenced at age five when her mother introduced it to her. She trained under M. R. Krishnamurthy of Kalakshetra, followed by advanced tutelage under [[Leela Samson|Padmashri Leela Samson]] in Delhi. She was a recipient of the CCERT (a unit of the Culture Ministry) scholarship for Bharatanatyam.{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}} She pursued dance along with her dancer sister, an alumnus of Kalakshetra, Ranjani Ganesan Ramesh. As a duo they performed at cultural centres in India and abroad, including Hampi festival, Pattadakkal festival, Khujrajo festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali and Uttara Chidambaram. Together, they organise an annual dance festival called Arudhra at Bangalore.

Malavika served as a judge on TV dance shows and hosted ''Takadhimithaa'', a game show dedicated to Bharatanatyam on [[Jaya TV|JayaTV]].

Malavika Avinash entered politics campaigning for [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[Sushma Swaraj]] in [[Bellary]]. She is a member of the BJP's Mahila Morcha.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=130721 |title=Malavika – Another Glam Doll to Join Janata Dal (S) |publisher=[[Daiji World]] |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022190457/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=130721 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/78856.html |title=Malavika comes to JDS |publisher=IndiaGlitz.com |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331224102/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/78856.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://kannada.oneindia.in/movies/news/2012/10/actress-malavika-avinash-jds-new-secretary-069135.html |title=Actress Malavika Avinash appointed as new Secretary for JDS |language=Malayalam |publisher=OneIndia.in |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016061839/http://kannada.oneindia.in/movies/news/2012/10/actress-malavika-avinash-jds-new-secretary-069135.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in September 2013<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor Malavika joins BJP |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/actor-malavika-joins-bjp/article5176551.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=28 September 2013 |accessdate=18 October 2013 |archive-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019070836/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/actor-malavika-joins-bjp/article5176551.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> and was appointed one of its co-spokespersons in February 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Karnataka BJP gets 4 women co-spokespersons |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-bjp-gets-4-women-cospokespersons/article5657241.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=6 February 2014 |accessdate=8 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040748/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-bjp-gets-4-women-cospokespersons/article5657241.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Controversy ==
=== Sanitary pad controversy ===
[[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Service Tax]] applied on [[sanitary napkins]] when items like [[bangle]]s and [[sindhoor]] were exempted from the new tax system by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party has come under criticism from women and men.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/views/progress-and-support-not-tax/articleshow/59517053.cms|title=Progress and support, not tax|last1=N|first1=Prathibha|last2=N|first2=akumarPrathibha|website=Bangalore Mirror|language=en|access-date=2020-07-21|last3=Jul 10|first3=akumar / Updated|last4=2017|last5=Ist|first5=04:00|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721182303/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/views/progress-and-support-not-tax/articleshow/59517053.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 2017, Malavika defended the BJP and said that sanitary pads are not required as Multi-national corporations have been dumping sanitary pads in India since it was rejected by developed countries, Cloth is hygienic in contrast to sanitary pads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/karnataka/the-politics-behind-gst-sanitary-napkins-versus-periods|title=GST: Politics behind sanitary napkins and PERIODS|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|language=en|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722070059/https://newsable.asianetnews.com/karnataka/the-politics-behind-gst-sanitary-napkins-versus-periods|url-status=live}}</ref> The defense of Malavika on the decision of her party to enforce GST on sanitary pads provoked a lot of backlash from people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newskarnataka.com/bangalore/malavikas-defence-over-gst-on-sanitary-pads-irks-netizens|title=Malavika's defence over GST on sanitary pads irks netizens|last=NewsKarnataka|website=NewsKarnataka|language=en|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722063653/https://www.newskarnataka.com/bangalore/malavikas-defence-over-gst-on-sanitary-pads-irks-netizens|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}
| Denotes films that have not yet been released
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Language
! class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
| 1988 || ''Krishnaavataar'' || || [[Kannada language|Kannada]] || 
|-
| 1989 || ''Nakkala Rajakumari'' || Rajakumari || Kannada || 
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Daivathinte Vikrithikal]]'' || Elsie || [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] ||
|-
| 1993 ||'' [[Janam (1993 film)|Janam]]''|| Reshma || Malayalam ||
|-
| 1995 || ''Kalyanothsava'' || Rashmi || Kannada ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Samara (film)|Samara]]'' || Sandhya||Kannada||
|-
| 1995 || ''Ravitheja'' || Teja || Kannada ||
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Jay Jay]]'' || Meena || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || 
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Aaru (film)|Aaru]]'' || Nirmala || Tamil || 
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Cyanide (2006 film)|Cyanide]]'' || Shubha || Kannada<br />Tamil ||
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Dishyum]]'' || Malar || Tamil || 
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Aathi]]'' || Ramachandra's wife || Tamil || 
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Kalvanin Kadhali (2006 film)|Kalvanin Kadhali]]'' || Haritha's sister-in-law || Tamil || 
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Jayamkondaan]]'' || Chandrika || Tamil || 
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Irandu Mugam]]'' || Thilakavathy || Tamil || 
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Vanthaan Vendraan]]'' || Arjun and Ramana's mother || Tamil || 
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Munjane]]'' || Manu's mother || Kannada || Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Dashamukha]]'' || Madhuri || Kannada || 
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Drama (2012 film)|Drama]]'' || Gayathri || Kannada || 
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna]]'' || Goddess || Kannada || 
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Yaare Koogadali]]'' || Kumara's stepmother || Kannada || 
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Myna (film)|Myna]]'' || Revathi || Kannada ||
|-
| 2013 || ''Karodpathi'' ||  || Kannada ||
|-
| 2014 || ''Kalyanamasthu'' ||  || Kannada ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Adyaksha]]'' ||  || Kannada || 
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari]]''|| Sudha || Kannada || IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kannada)<br/>Nominated—[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada]]
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Ring Road (film)|Ring Road]]'' || || Kannada || 
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Mukunda Murari]]'' || TV interviewer || Kannada ||
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Shivalinga (2016 film)|Shivalinga]]'' || Police commissioner || Kannada ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Bairavaa]]'' || Judge || Tamil ||
|-
| 2018 || ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 1]]'' || Deepa Hegde || Kannada ||
|-
| 2018 || ''David'' || || Kannada ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Boomerang (2019 film)|Boomerang]]'' || Siva's mother || Tamil ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]'' || Nalini || Tamil || 
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Rudra Thandavam (2021 film)|Rudra Thandavam]]'' || Judge || Tamil || 
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Enemy (2021 film)|Enemy]]'' || Arundhati Mohan || Tamil || 
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Sakath]]'' || || Kannada || 
|-
| 2022 || ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 2]]'' || Deepa Hedge || Kannada || 
|}

== Television career ==
;Serials
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !!Channel !! Note(s)
|-
|1995 || Chinna Chinna Aasai-Uravu || Pooja || Tamil || [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] || 
|-
| || ''Micro Thodar Macro Sinthanaigal - Ayirathil Oruvanum Nooril Oruthiyum'' || Kamali  ||| Tamil||[[Raj TV]]||
|-
|1998–2000 || ''[[Mayamruga]]'' || Malavika ||rowspan=3|Kannada || [[DD Chandana]] || 
|-
|2001–2003 || ''Manvantara''  || Gargi || rowspan=2|[[Colors Kannada|ETV Kannada]] || 
|-
|2001–2003 || ''Grihabhanga'' || Nanjamma ||    
|-
|2001–2003 || ''[[Anni (TV series)|Anni]]'' || Angayarkkani || Tamil || [[Jaya TV]] || 
|-
|2004–2006 || ''[[Mukta (TV series)|Mukta]]'' || [[Superintendent of police (India)|SP]] Madhavi Patel|| Kannada || [[Colors Kannada|ETV Kannada]] ||<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/12/stories/2003051200710100.htm |title=Small-screen "Anni" thinks big |access-date=21 June 2011 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606150202/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/12/stories/2003051200710100.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|2004–2006 || ''Nilavai Pidippom''  || ||rowspan=6|Tamil || [[IBC Tamil]] || 
|-
|2004–2006 || ''[[Chidambara Rahasiyam (TV series)|Chidhambara Ragasiyam]]'' || Thulasi ||rowspan=2| [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] ||replaced by [[Devadarshini]]
|-
|2004–2006 || ''Raja  Rajeshwari'' ||Raja Rajeshwari || replaced by [[Abitha]] 
|-
|2008–2009 || ''Comedy Colony'' ||||[[Jaya TV]] || 
|-
|2008–2009 || ''Arasi'' || Madurai Thilakavathy ||rowspan=2|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] ||replaced by [[Sudha Chandran]]
|-
|2009–2013|| ''[[Chellamey]]'' || Muthazhagi ||  
|-
|2013–2014|| ''[[Maha Parva|Mahaparva]]'' || Judge in few episodes || rowspan=2|Kannada ||[[Colors Kannada|ETV Kannada]] ||
|-
|2019
|Magalu Janaki
|Sheela Bhushan
|[[Colors Kannada]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/malavika-avinash-is-back-on-television-as-advocate/articleshow/70629020.cms|title=Malavika Avinash is back on television as advocate - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815155252/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/malavika-avinash-is-back-on-television-as-advocate/articleshow/70629020.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|[[Kaatrukkenna Veli (TV series)|Kaatrukkenna Veli]]
|Saradha
|Tamil
|[[Star Vijay]]
|Replaced by Jyothi Rai
|-
|2021
|Paaru
|Mahalakshmi
|Kannada
|[[Zee Kannada]]
|Special Appearance
|-
|}

;Shows
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !!Channel !! Note(s) 
|-
|2010–2011 || ''Baduku Jataka Bandi'' ||rowspan=2|Host ||rowspan=3|[[Kannada]] ||[[Zee Kannada]] || 
|-
|2015|| ''Aradirali Belaku'' ||[[Udaya TV]] || 
|-
|2016–2017|| ''[[Bigg Boss Kannada]]'' || Herself || rowspan=2|[[Colors Kannada]] || As contestant; [[Bigg Boss Kannada (season 4)|season 4]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=K. |first1=Bhumika |title=Who is watching who? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Who-is-watching-who/article16938119.ece |website=The Hindu |accessdate=31 December 2018 |language=en-IN |date=24 December 2016 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228052941/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Who-is-watching-who/article16938119.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

== Awards and honours ==
# Best Actress award given by the [[Tamil Nadu]] government
# [[Kalaimamani]] award for her achievements as an actress
# Aryabhata award
# [[Kempegowda Award|Kempegowda award]]

{{commons category}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|4948556}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avinash, Malavika}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chennai]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]
[[Category:Indian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil television actresses]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1976 births]]