Maya S. Krishnan is an Indian actress, comedian, and seasoned theatre artist known for her work in the Tamil film industry.[1] She made her acting debut in the musical film Vaanavil Vaazhkai (2015). Additionally, she is a skilled gymnast, hospital clown and improv artist. Beyond her on-screen roles, Maya is a founding member of ILULU Collective, an organisation dedicated to supporting artists across the theatrical landscape.
Maya S. Krishnan | |
|---|---|
 Maya in 2024 | |
| Born | Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
Early life
editMaya was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India and did her schooling in TVS Lakshmi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai and she did her engineering at Amrita University school of engineering, Bangalore.[2][3] She was a child gymnast and placed 6th in gymnastics during the Nationals. Her sister, Swagatha S Krishnan is a singer in the Tamil industry.[4]
Career
editTheatre
editMaya has a background in theatre, having performed internationally with companies such as Theatre du Soleil in Paris[5] and Les Hommes Approximatifs in Strasbourg. In Uruguay, she has collaborated extensively with Amares Theatre. In India, she has been associated with Perch Collective, Indianostrum Theatre, Silkroute theatre, and Adishakthi Theatre.
| Theatre | Play | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Perch | Ki Ra Kozhambu[6] | 100 shows |
| Perch | Birds | |
| Amares theatro | Love All | |
| Silkroute | The Little Prince | 45 shows |
| Indianostrum | Hinge yellama | |
| Indianostrum | Boys drama company | |
| Indianostrum | Flying chariot | |
| Indianostrum | School for wives | |
| Silkroute | A pair of wings I wish for | 13 shows |
| The Perch | Kindhan Charithiram[7] | 47 shows. |
Maya, as part of the perch theatre group, toured various cities performing the stage play Kira Kozhambu along with Ravindra Vijay and Anand Sami. They have done almost 100 performances across the country so far.[8] The play solely featured the three actors and a bench.[8][9] The play was based on Ki. Rajanarayanan's collection of short stories titled Nattuppura Kadhai Kalanjiyam with Anandsami reprising his role from the original play.[10] A critic stated that "Actors Anand Sami, Maya S. Krishnan and Ravindra Vijay were in their elements with their seamless blend of art and entertainment".[8]
Maya has demonstrated a unique creative flair through her work with string puppets in the production of "The Little Prince" at Silk Route Theatre. For this show, she utilized puppets that are approximately 70 years old,[11] reclaimed from a village near Pondicherry. Mastering the art of puppetry, they skillfully manipulated these historic puppets to bring characters to life on stage.
In her expansive theatre career, Maya has continually embraced new challenges and cultural experiences. Notably, for the Boys Drama Company production, she immersed herself in learning Devarattam, a traditional folk dance of Tamil Nadu.
Hospital Clown
editLlShe volunteers at several hospitals, including APPOLO Madurai, Egmore Children’s Hospital, Adyar Cancer Institute, and Kauvery Hospital.[12]
Comedy
editMaya began her career in comedy as a member of Half Boiled Inc, the first-ever improv club in South India. Her time with Half Boiled Inc allowed them to hone her improvisational skills and establish a strong foundation in comedic performance. Specializing in social media sketch comedy, Maya has gained a significant following for her witty and relatable content.
Film
editMaya debuted in James Vasanthan's Vaanavil Vaazhkai, where she had to cut her hair short to play a singer.[13][14] She played a reporter in Thodari (2016) and also appeared in movies like Dhruva Natchathiram, 2.0, Magalir Mattum and Server Sundaram.[15][16]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Vaanavil Vaazhkai | Swetha | |
| 2016 | Thodari | News Reporter | |
| TBA | Server Sundaram | TBA | Completed, unreleased |
| 2017 | Magalir Mattum | Ameena | |
| Velaikkaran | Actress | ||
| My Son Is Gay | Maya | ||
| 2018 | Yenda Thalaiyila Yenna Vekkala | Dora | |
| 2.0 | Visitor | ||
| 2022 | Vikram | Maya | |
| 2023 | Leo | Maya | |
| 2024 | Weapon | Akira | |
| TBA | Dhruva Natchathiram † | TBA | [citation needed] |
| TBA | Fighter Raja | Lucky | Telugu film[17] |
Web series
edit| Year | Program | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Time Enna Boss | Velleli | Amazon Prime | Special appearance[18] |
| 2021 | LOL - Enga Siri Paappom | Maya | [19][20] | |
| 2022 | 3BHK | Anjana V | YouTube | [21] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MONTAGE (21 Days Of Solitude) | [22] |
| 2020 | Maya Unleashed | India’s first-ever female action short film[23] |
Television
editIn 2023, she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss (Tamil season 7) and became the second runner-up. Maya became one of season's most popular contestants, earning a dedicated fandom known as "Maya Squad".[24]
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bigg Boss Tamil Season 7 | Contestant | Vijay TV | 2nd Runner Up |
References
edit- ^ "Vijay Sethupathi sir was impressed with my work: Maya S Krishnan". The New Indian Express. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Saravanan, T. (24 November 2016). "Sharing screen space with the Superstar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ Nath, Parshathy J. (4 May 2017). "The illusion of cinema". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "'The final recording of Aalalilo took four hours: Swagatha". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ ""Flying Chariot(s)" au Théâtre du Soleil : Une farce tragi-comique entre Brecht et Shakespeare". 15 October 2021.
- ^ Datta, Sravasti (17 May 2018). "Ki Ra Kozhambu: Universal folk tales". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ C, Manasa Vijaylakshmi (5 August 2023). "A Tamil play that tells you how MGR's songs can help resolve life's problems". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Saravanan, T. (27 April 2018). "A story well told". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Paul, Papri (16 December 2016). "This children's theatre fest was a blockbuster". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Kira's folktales in a play". The New Indian Express. 31 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Kannadasan, Akila (24 February 2022). "The Little Prince". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "From clowning around to Kollywood". DT Next. 27 April 2018.
- ^ "Vaanavil Vaazhkai Movie Review". The Times of India. 14 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Menon, Vishal (23 May 2016). "Good music, no movie". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "Stage to screen". The Hindu. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Nath, Parshathy J. (4 May 2017). "The illusion of cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Bigg Boss Maya Krishnan to make her Tollywood debut". The Times of India. 6 April 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Time Enna Boss trailer: A fun Tamil series about time travel". The Indian Express. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Prime Video: LOL - Enga Siri Paappom - Season 1". primevideo.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Manoj Kumar R (27 August 2021). "LOL Enga Siri Paappom first impression: A binge-worthy comedy show". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "3BHK- Full Series | Madras Meter Original | ft.Abhishek Kumar, Maya S.Krishnan #bingewatching". Madras Meter. 24 December 2022. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ MONTAGE (21 Days Of Solitude) - Official Shortfilm | Sarjun KM | Maya S Krishnan | Sundaramurthy KS, 18 September 2020, archived from the original on 26 March 2024, retrieved 26 March 2024
- ^ Kollywood, Only (1 June 2020). "Vignesh Shivan unveils Maya Unleashed – India's first-ever female action short". Only Kollywood. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Bigg Boss Tamil 7: Second runner-up Maya Krishnan expresses gratitude to fans". The Times of India. 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.