Utthara Unni

Utthara Unni is an award-winning[1] trained and professional Bharatanatyam dancer from Kerala. She has directed some short films, documentaries and music videos. She is also an actress[2] who predominantly works in Tamil and Malayalam films. She heads a dance academy called Temple Steps[3] in Kochi, Kerala.

Utthara Unni
Unni at the shooting spot of Vavval Pasanga
Born14-10-1992
Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
NationalityIndia
Alma materB.Sc. Visual Communication from S.R.M. University, Chennai

B.F.A. Bharatanatyam from Sastra University, Tanjavur

M.A. Communication from M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai

M.A. Bharatanatyam from Tamil University, Tamil Nadu
OccupationIndian Dancer
Indian Film Actress
Years active2010–present
Parent(s)Ankarath Raman Unni
Urmila Unni
Websitewww.uttharaunni.com

Career

As a dancer

She has performed in Natyanjali festivals held at Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thirunallar, Nagapattinam, Mayavaram, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur. Some of her stages include Soorya Dance Festival – Parampara,[4] Mylapore Fine Arts – Chennai, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi – Thrissur, Nishagandhi – Trivandrum, Eranakulam Shiva temple, Guruvayur, Mookambika 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 and Kuwait.[1][5]

She is also the director of the dance school "Temple Steps" situated in Cochin,[6] [3] She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council.[7]

As a film maker and singer

Utthara's directorial debut was through a short film Randaam Varavu[8] featuring her mother Urmila Unni. The film won her five awards for best direction.[9] She later directed a supernatural short-film featuring Urmila Unni and Devan called Ninth Month.[10] She was praised about her writing and film making skills in her next short film Paw Prints[11][12] featuring Siddique. The short film is about relationship between a man and a dog.[13] She has also created music videos and documentaries.[14] Utthara Unni is also an acclaimed singer and has released a music album titled Pathirapontheril..[15]

As an actor and model

She made her debut in the Tamil film Vavval Pasanga (2012) directed by Suresh. Her first Malayalam film[16][17] was Edavappathy, directed by Lenin Rajendran. 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).[18][19]

As a tv show host

Utthara started her TV career in 2015 with a show called Mambazham in Kairali TV. Currently, she is hosting a reality show on Amrita TV called Autumn Leaf[20] to find the best music band in Kerala.

Personal life
Utthara Unni and her mother, actress Urmila Unni

Utthara Unni is the daughter of famous Malayalam actress Urmila Unni.[21]

Awards
Unni Receiving Best Dancer Award in 2017

Filmography

As actress
No. Year Film Role Co-stars Director Language Notes
12012Vavval PasangaRahulSureshTamil
22016EdavappathyVasavadatta/YaminiSiddharth LamaLenin RajendranMalayalam

As TV show host
No. Year Show Name Role Co-stars Channel Language Notes
1 2015 Mambazham Host Kairali TV Malayalam
22018Autumn LeafHostAmrita TVMalayalam

References
  1. "Uthara Unni: A dancer extraordinaire". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. "Uthara Unni-Picture Gallery". manoramaonline. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  3. "Utthara Unni heads Dance Academy". indiaglitz. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  4. "When Uthara Unni became a 'viraha nayika'". The Times of India. n.d.
  5. "Actress Utthara Unni's Bharathanatyam Recital Event | RITZ". RITZ Magazine. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. 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.
  7. "About – Utthara Unni | Official Website". www.uttharaunni.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  8. Utthara Unni (30 January 2015), Short Film [Horror] – "Randaam Varavu" by Utthara Unni, retrieved 16 January 2018
  9. "Actress Uthara Unni takes up direction". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. Utthara Unni (30 October 2016), 9th Month – A Short Film | Directed by Utthara Unni | Devan | Urmila Unni, retrieved 16 January 2018
  11. "Uttara Unni's short film explores the special relationship between man and dog". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  12. Playground Digital Cinema (4 June 2017), Paw Prints – Official Full Short Film | Utthara Unni Malayalam Short Film 2017 (English Subtitles), retrieved 16 January 2018
  13. "Story from her life: Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  14. Utthara Unni (25 May 2014), Utthara Unni's Kathakali Documentary, retrieved 16 January 2018
  15. "Pathirapontheril Malayalam Album Song-Uthara Unni". Retrieved 27 April 2015 – via YouTube.
  16. "I wanted Edavapathi to mark my debut: Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  17. "Uthara Unni makes her debut in Mollywood". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  18. "Edavappaathy Shooting Location". Retrieved 10 May 2015 – via YouTube.
  19. "Manisha Koirala praises Uthara Unni". The Times of India. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  20. "Autumn Leaf: A new reality show to crown the best music band". The Times of India. n.d.
  21. Parvathy S Nayar (17 September 2011). "Urmila Unni gets busy in Kollywood". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  22. "In love with her 'chilanka': Utthara Unni". deccanchronicle.com/. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.