Sshivada alias Shivada Nair – Popular South Indian Film Actress

Sshivada, also known as Shivada Nair is a popular actress who works in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. She is associated with film field since 2008, and has worked in more than 25 films in a career spanning to 15+ years. She is one among the group of married actresses, who succeeded in lead roles in their second innings after marriage.

Kerala Café, Living Together, Su.. Su… Sudhi Vathmeekam, IDI – Inspector Dawood Ibrahim, Lakshyam, Achayans, Shikkari Shambhu, Sunny, Chanakya Thanthram, 12^th Man, Meri Awas Suno etc are some of her memorable works in Malayalam while her Tamil debut flick, Nedunchaalai (2014) still remains her most popular work in Tamil. She played lead/parallel lead in Zero, Adhe Kangal and Nitham Oru Vaanam, which received rave reviews from critics. Vallavanukkum Vallavan and Maara are other major releases in Tamil.

An IT Engineer turned actor

Sshivada’s real name is K. V. Srilekha Nair. She was born in 1986 to Malayali parents in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, where she spent her early years. After primary school years, her family moved to Angamaly, her hometown where she continued her studies. Later she completed Computer Science engineering from Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering Technology. She is married to her long-time boyfriend Murali Krishnan, with whom she studied Engineering and the couple has a daughter, Arundathi.

Since young she was interested in dance and music, and attended classes as well. But she never wished to become an actress. But when she started dreaming a career in acting, she didn’t get roles. She got her first job while doing her 5^th semester engineering studies.

Shivada started her career as a video jockey in television

During her college days, she was Vice Chairperson. Murali, who was inclined towards art since then, was an organizer of art programs and college magazine. He wanted to work in films, even made portfolio and got his first break through ‘Reghuvinte Swantham Rasiya’ almost at the same time when Sshivada got Fasil’s youth-oriented film. Later Murali worked in a few films, started exporting business too, and currently works as associate director in Tamil.

Shivada was first seen in an album song – Ennakaruppin Ezhazhaku of Ninakkayi… in 2008. Then appeared in a small role in 2009 Malayalam anthology film Kerala Café, but her role went unnoticed. She began her professional career as a VJ for television and during those days she was more focussed on dance, where director Fazil spotted her. He casted her in his comeback movie – Living together (2011) opposite Hemanth Menon. The movie was panned by critics, and was a flop.

After her debut film flopped, she took break from her regular IT job and started giving auditions. It was not easy to get next break in films. When she was not getting a chance, she felt like resigning the IT job was a bad decision.

She got her first big break through Tamil films

She was casted for the Tamil film Nedunchaalai in a lead role opposite Aari Arujunan. Her lead role as Manga, a Malayali girl received praises from critics, and she received the big break she was waiting for. Though she was not fluent in Tamil, she dubbed for her debut flick. She played a speech therapist in her next Malayalam flick opposite Jayasurya, and the movie met with critical and commercial success. She got the film offer soon after her marriage was fixed. Since then she has been a part of several Malayalam films with mixed responses.

In her next Tamil film Zero, a supernatural thriller directed by debutant Shiv Mohaa, she played a modern wife and it was a commercial hit. Her role in Adhe Kangal was highly appreciated and she won SIIMA for best supporting actress – Tamil and Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Villain Female.

She returned to films after a short break

During pregnancy she took a break from acting and Maara was her first release after that. She made a glorious comeback in 2022 with Meri Awaz Suno and 12^th Man. In 2023, she played lead role in Jawanum Mullapoovum, which opened to positive reviews. Her delayed Tamil release Vallavanukkum Vallavan was panned by critics while Nitham Oru Vaanam received positive responses. Post success, she signed some projects after that – 2018, Theera Kadhal, Secret Home etc.

Shivada Nair – Some interesting and less-known facts

Mazha song from Shikkari Shambhu featuring Shivada and Kunchakko Boban

1. Shivada used her real name for her debut flick.

2. She is fluent in speaking both Malayalam and Tamil languages.

3. She played a speech therapist in her first hit Malayalam flick, Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam opposite Jayasurya. Years later when she made a magical comeback in 2022, she played Jayasurya’s wife in Meri Awaaz Suno. Interestingly the movie was also a similar subject, where Manju Warrier played speech therapist’s role for Jayasurya.

4. Her role in Achayans earned her Asianet Comedy Awards for Most Promising Actress.

5. She dubbed for the female lead Anu Sithara in Ramante Edanthottam.

6. She revealed in an interview that she faced postpartum depression after delivery.