Manju Warrier

Manju Warrier (ʋaːɾjər; born 10 September 1978/1979) is an Indian actress, and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. She is the recipient of a National Film Award, a Kerala State Film Award, a Tamil Nadu State Film Award and a record seven Filmfare Awards South.

Warrier made her acting debut with Sakshyam (1995). Her most notable films include Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996), Aaraam Thampuran (1997) and Summer in Bethlehem (1998). Post her marriage in 1998, she took a break from acting. Warrier returned to cinema with the acclaimed film How Old Are You? (2014).

Manju Warrier was born on 10 September 1978/1979 at Nagercoil in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu in a Malayali family. Her family is originally from Pullu village in the Thrissur district of Kerala.

Warrier's father, T. V. Madhavan, worked as an accountant at Shakthi Finance's Nagercoil regional office, and her mother, Girija (from Thiruvilwamala), was a housewife. She has an elder brother, Madhu Wariar, who is also an actor and producer.

Warrier studied at C.S.I. Matriculation School in Nagercoil. After her father was promoted, they returned to Kerala and settled in the Kannur district. She then studied at Chinmaya Vidyalaya and at Chovva Higher Secondary School in Kannur.

Manju first appeared in a television serial Moharavam which was telecast on Doordarshan.

At the age of 17, she debuted in the film Sakshyam (1995). A year later, she acted in the movie Sallapam (1996), co-starring Dileep, whom she later married.

Though her first stint in the industry was only for 3 years, Manju featured in 20 Malayalam films that won her numerous accolades from audiences and critics alike. Her performance in the film Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999) won a special mention from the jury for the National Film Awards. Her other note-worthy films during these years include: Aaraam Thampuran (1997) and Kanmadam (1998) with Mohanlal, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu and Kudamattam with her now ex-husband Dileep, Kaliyattam (1997), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), Pranayavarnangal (1998) and Pathram (1999) with Suresh Gopi, and Dilliwala Rajakumaran (1996), Kaliveedu (1996), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) and Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997) with Jayaram. In 1998, Manju was the lead in the M T Vasudevan Nair film, Daya that went onto win several awards.