Bhavana (Karthika Menon)
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Winner of two Kerala State Awards, Bhavana's actual name is Karthika Menon. She made her acting debut in the Malayalam movie Nammal, which won her critical acclaim. Bhavana has acted in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films as well.
Personal facts
Date Of Birth: 06 June 1986
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Weight: 58kg
Born April 1987
In Thrissur , Thrissur (Trichur), India
Biography
Bhavana was born Karthika Menon in Nellangara, Thrissur, Kerala
Alternate Names:
Bhavna| Bhawana| Mamta| Bhavana Menon
She is the daughter of Pushpa and assistant cinematographer, G. Balachandra Menon. She has one brother, Jayadev, who currently lives in Vancouver, Canada. She studied at Holy Family Girls' High School, Chembukkavu, near Kerala state zoo Thrissur. Bhavana, who describes herself as a restless and a confused person and someone who's "hard to handle", states that she had grown up with a dream to become an actress. She recalls that, as a five-year-old, she used to imitate actress Amala's scenes from the Malayalam film Ente Sooryaputhrikku in front of the mirror and was even willing to jump from a building and break her arm, like Amala's character did in the film.[4]
She is the brand ambassador along with actress Mamta Mohandas for team Kerala Strikers for the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), captained by Mohanlal, who is also one of the owners of the team, and vice-captain Indrajith
Early career
2002: Actress Bhavana had begun her career with the super hit Malayalam movie ‘Nammal’ directed by veteran film- maker Kamal in the year 2002. Though she did a character-role named Parimalam with a de-glam look, the actress was noted for her talent and more projects followed. Bhavana also won a State Award for her performance in the 2005 film 'Daivanamathil,' directed by Jayaraj.. For the bubbly actress who is popular and loved by Malayalis, there has been no looking back ever since. (Financial Express, The Times of India)
2002-2007
ChilliBreeze had written this very detailed account of Bhavana’s early career in 2007. It was published on a site called Window2India. Indpaedia volunteers chanced upon a reference to this article and extracted a ‘cached’ copy because the link is no longer working.
Bhavana - versatile star of south Indian cinema
Formidable talent and girl-next-door looks. That’s 21-year-old Bhavana for you – the actress who’s been making waves in Malayalam and Tamil cinema ever since she debuted on the silver screen.
With a father who’s part of the film industry – he’s an assistant cinematographer – the movies are obviously in her blood. Bhavana essayed her first film role in 2002 when she was just 14 years old, in the Malayalam film ‘Nammal’. It was an impressive performance that got her a State award. The year 2003 saw her starring in films like ‘CID Moosa’, ‘Swapnakoodu’ and ‘Chronic Bachelor’, covering several genres. Her tragic role in ‘Swapnakoodu’ was one that particularly touched audiences.
Bagging awards
Bhavana’s career touched a low in 2004, when several of her films failed to make the grade. But it was not for long. In 2006, she made her debut in the Tamil film ‘Chithiram Pesuthadi’ – another good performance that got her a Filmfare Best Actress award. The same year saw her bagging a Best Character Actress award for her role in the Malayalam film ‘Daivamanathil’. Her other well-known Tamil films are ‘Kizhakku Kadalkarai Salai’, ‘Veyil’ and ‘Deepavali’. ‘Veyil’ was a hit film, while ‘Deepavali’, released early this year, won rave reviews for her sensitive performance.
What sets Bhavana apart from many actresses in commercial cinema is her lack of concern about maintaining any particular image in the public eye. For instance, many leading actresses refused the role of a girl who is abducted and gang raped by a group of young men in the Malayalam film ‘Chintamani Kola Case’. But Bhavana took it on as a creative challenge, unfazed by the possibility of its negatively affecting her career.
Southern belle
It’s this can-do attitude and confidence in her acting skills that has allowed Bhavana to attain a high degree of versatility at such a young age and make a mark in two regional film industries. In the course of her career, she has appeared in films starring a long list of leading men in both Malayalam and Tamil cinema – Madhavan, Mohanlal, Dileep, Mammooty, Bharat and Jeyam Ravi, to name a few.
Having carved out her niche in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, what’s the next challenge for Bhavana? Andhra Pradesh, of course! Come January 2008, Bhavana will debut in ‘Ontari’, a Telugu action film directed by B. V. Ramana in which she will star opposite Gopichand.
2015: Bhavana's Malayalam career ruined by an actor
The actor who interfered in Bhavana's career | December 19, 2015 | IndiaGlitz
IndiaGlitz wrote in 2015: “Actress Bhavana has been away from mainstream cinema for a while now. Though she had done a few movies including 'Ivide', the talented actress is keeping a low profile. There were speculations that the interference of a popular actor in her career in what kept her away. The social media was abuzz that [a top Malayalam actor] was behind this because she supported Manju Warrier. The Dileep- Bhavana pair was quite a hit, but they are not on talking terms now.
“Bhavana, without revealing any names revealed that a popular actor has been taking away her chances by asking makers to deny her roles in their movies. She says that a friend of hers had come to her for help and that she had helped her thinking that she could also be in that same situation. She also added that the friend was having family problems at that time. This lull in her career has actually helped the actress in choosing better roles as well as keeping her ideals of good script and good pay intact.”
2015 Dec: Bhavana: I have been 'unofficially banned' from Malayalam films
Though Manju Warrier clarified that Bhavana had nothing to do with her divorce with Dileep, there still seem to have been issues for Bhavana.
Malayalam actress Bhavana has not been seen in films for a while now. In a recent interview to Deccan Chronicle the actress has alleged that there has been an unofficial ban against her in the Malayalam film industry.
In the interview, Bhavana has stated that her troubles started when she helped a close friend through some family problems. While she has not named anyone, stories in the film industry are rife that it was actor Dileep who was the cause of the ban. Bhavana is reportedly close to actress Manju Warrier who was married to Dileep. Manju and Dileep got divorced after nearly 15 years in 2014.
In her Facebook page, Manju Warrier had written, "My decision to get divorced is very personal. I write this note as my decision has started affecting the lives of those who are supporting me. It hurts more when certain allegations are pointed against those who love and care about me, who stood by me in all my tough times. Dileep and I have jointly approached the family court. The reason for our divorce is highly personal and I kindly request everyone to respect our privacy regarding the matter. At the same time, there are many rumours about my friends Geethu, Samyuktha, Bhavana, Poornima and Shwetha Menon, who are pointed out as a reason for our separation. It hurts them as well as me to hear such rumours, as it has now started affecting their personal and professional space. These decisions are completely mine and I alone will be responsible for all the repercussions. None of my friends compelled or forced me to make any such decisions and are not responsible for it. I believe I have cleared all the doubts with this note."
In Bhavana's interview, she stated that she lost out on many films, but it didn't bother her as all those films turned out to be flops.
Personal life
Malayalam Actress Bhavana gets engaged to Kannada producer Naveen| March 9, 2017 | Financial Express
Malayalis are happy to hear the news of Malayalam actress Bhavana getting engaged to Naveen, a Kannada producer.
They had planned to get married in 2014 but with the many commitments that she had, everything got postponed.
Just after the ceremony, he posted a picture stating, “With our father’s blessings and his mother’s blessings from heavens, and after a rough patch of time, it’s official that she got engaged. ..Forgive us for not informing you, it was a closed ceremony, but leaks do happen and sorry that you had to know this way. We hope to have your continuous support and blessings for the times to come.”
A VIP wanted to stop Bhavana’s marriage
Bhavana suffered because VIP wanted to stop her marriage | Thursday, July 06, 2017|IndiaGlitz
IndiaGlitz wrote on July 06, 2017, almost a week before actor Dileep’s arrest, ‘It has also come to light that a VIP of the Malayalam industry did not want Bhavana's marriage to Kannada producer Naveen to take place and thus hired Pulsar Suni to commit [a] horrible crime. The Kerala press reports suggest that the VIP in question could be [a famous actor], his manager, [his actor friend] and [his second wife].’
2017: Sexual assault
The actress was kidnapped in 2017 when she was returning home from a shooting location and was subjected to sexual assault by a gang of men.
The incident snowballed into a major controversy after the main accused, Pulsar Sunil, revealed that popular Malayalam actor Dileep (Gopalakrishnan Pillai) was behind the assault. Dileep was arrested and is now on bail.
Actress Bhavana has said that she was devastated and wanted to get her dignity back after she was sexually assaulted in 2017.
In a live interview to a private YouTube channel, 'The Mojo Story', the noted actress spoke up, ending her five-year silence, and declared that she would give a strong fight without thinking about the outcome.
The actress said her family, including her husband, close relatives, friends and the general public had supported her during her traumatic period.
Bhavna said: "My dignity has been shredded to a million pieces." It was sheer willpower that kept her going, she added. The actress said she felt lonely despite the strong support extended to her by her family and friends.
She recalled how she was in the courtroom for 15 days in 2020 from morning till evening. Each time a lawyer cross-examined her and she was quizzed by a battery of seven lawyers she had to prove that she was innocent.
Bhavana said the perpetrators were insulting her on social media after the traumatic incident and added that after the incident she was denied acting jobs in the Malayalam film industry. The notable exceptions were directors such as Aashiq Abu and Shaji Kailas, actor-turned-director Prithviraj, and actor Jayasurya.
In 2018 Bhavana married her longtime boyfriend and Kannada film producer Naveen at Thrissur. The function, which had the presence of many celebs from across film industries, was held at Thiruvambadi Temple in Thrissur in the morning around 10 am.
The bride, who wore a golden coloured sari, had her hair put up into a bun wrapped with jasmine flowers. Noted make-up artiste Renju Renjimar had earlier posted a selfie with the pretty bride on her social media page, which hints that its Renju's hands which were behind making Bhavana the pretty bride that she is, on her D-day. The close friends of the bride and groom, including celebrities such as Manju Warrier, Navya Nair, Sayanora Philip, Miya, Shamna Kasim aka Poorna, Remya Nambeesan and the like were also spotted at the venue, decked up in their best ethnic attires. Actor Sidhique was also present at the function.
Filmography
As an actor
2002 Nammal
2003 C.I.D. Moosa
2003 Chronic Bachelor
2003 Ivar
2003 Swapnakoodu
2003 Thilakkam
2003 Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu
2004 Amrutham
2004 Chathikkatha Chanthu
2004 Runway
2004 Youth Festival
2005 Bungalowil Outha
2005 Chanthupottu
2005 Daivanamathil
2005 Hridayathil Sookshikkan
2005 Naran
2005 Police
2005 Udayananu Tharam
2006 Chess
2006 Chinthamani Kolacase
2006 Chithiram Pesuthadi
2006 Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai
2006 Veyyil
2007 Aarya
2007 Chota Mumbai
2007 Deepavali
2007 Koodal Nagar
2007 My Dear Big B
2008 Hero
2008 Jayam Kondaan
2008 Lollipop
2008 Mulla
2008 Ontari
2008 Twenty:20
2008 Vaazhthugal
2009 Garjjanam
2009 Mahathma
2009 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
2009 Sagar Alias Jackie: Reloaded
2009 Winter
2010 Asal
2010 Happy Husbands
2010 Jackie
2010 Marykkundoru Kunjaadu
2011 Doctor Love
2011 Kudumbasree Travels
2011 The Arab, The Camel, and P. Madhavan Nair
2011 Vishnuvardhana
2012 Nippu
2012 Ozhimuri
2012 Romeo
2012 Trivandrum Lodge
2013 Bachchan
2013 Ezhamathe Varavu
2013 Honey Bee
2013 Topiwala
2014 Angry Babies in Love
2014 Koothara
2014 Polytechnic
2015 Ivide
2015 Kohinoor
2016 Hello Namasthe
2016 Kuttikalundu Sookshikkuka
2016 Mukunda Murari
2017 Adventures of Omanakuttan
2017 Chowka
2017 Honey Bee2: Celebrations
2017 Vilakkumaram
2017 Adam Joan
2017 Oru Visheshapetta Biriyani Kissa
Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
2002 - Special Jury Award for Best Actress - Nammal
2005 - Second Best Actress – Daivanamathil
Filmfare Awards South
2006 - Best Actress - Chithiram Pesuthadi
Asianet Film Award
2002 - Best Supporting Actress Award - Nammal
2005 - Best Supporting Actress Award – Daivanamathil
Other Awards
2002 - Mathrubhumi Award for Best New Actress - Nammal
2003 - Mathrubhumi Award for Most Entertaining Actress - Swapnakoodu, C.I.D. Moosa
2005 - Grihalakshmy Special Jury Award - Daivanamathil
2005 - Jersey Foundation Award for Best Actress - Daivanamathil
2005 - Kalakeralam Awardfor Best Actress - Daivanamathil
2006 - Sathyan Award for Best Tamil Actress
2007 - Mathrubhumi Award for Best New Actress - Nammal
2008 - Mathrubhumi Award for Most Entertaining Actress - Swapnakoodu, C.I.D. Moosa
2009 - Grihalakshmy Special Jury Award - Daivanamathil
2010 - Jersey Foundation Award for Best Actress - Daivanamathil
2011 - Kalakeralam Awardfor Best Actress - Daivanamathil
2012 - Sathyan Award for Best Tamil Actress
See also
Box office records of Malayalam films
Malayalam cinema: 2010 onwards
Dileep (Gopalakrishnan Pillai)
Bhavana (Karthika Menon)
…and several other pages on Malayalam cinema.
