Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer, better known by her stage name Priyamani (born 4 June 1984), is an Indian film actress and model who 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 Palakkad, Kerala to Vasudeva Mani Iyer and Latha Mani Iyer. She grew up in Bangalore. After completing her schooling, Priyamani modeled for 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, she finally starred in director Bharathiraja's Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, which was released in 2004.
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, but the film's under-performance meant that box office success still eluded her. In 2006, Priyamani starred opposite Jagapathi Babu in 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 Palakkad, Kerala to Vasudeva Mani Iyer and Latha Mani Iyer. She grew up in Bangalore. After completing her schooling, Priyamani modeled for 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, she finally starred in director Bharathiraja's Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, which was released in 2004.
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, but the film's under-performance meant that box office success still eluded her. In 2006, Priyamani starred opposite Jagapathi Babu in Pellaina Kothalo. The film was a surprise hit given its low budget and modest star cast, and it propelled Priyamani to fame in Tollywood.
