Anna Ben

Anna Ben
Anna in 2020
Born
Kochi, Kerala, India
Alma materSt. Teresa's College
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present
FatherBenny P. Nayarambalam

Anna Ben is an Indian actress who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. The daughter of screenwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam, she made her acting debut with Kumbalangi Nights in 2019.[1][2] For her starring roles in the dramas Helen (2019) and Kappela (2020), she won two Kerala State Film Awards.[3] She has since played a supporting role in the top-grossing Telugu science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD (2024).

Early life

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Anna was born and raised in Kochi, Kerala.[4] She is the daughter of a screenwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam[1] and Fulja. She completed schooling from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala. She is a fashion and apparel design graduate from St. Teresa's College, Kochi.[5]

Career

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Anna made her feature movie debut in 2019 through commercially and critically successful Kumbalangi Nights in which she played the female lead Baby. She was selected through four rounds of auditions.[6] She described her character as "modern and traditional simultaneously, rooted, with her own point-of-view".[7] The Hindu wrote, "She stood out even in the presence of seasoned performers".[8] The success of that film paved the way for Helen,[9] a survival drama in which she played the titular character of Helen, and Kappela, both appreciated by audience and critics.[10][2] Director Sathyan Anthikad praised her acting in the former,[11] and Manorama Online reported, "Anna Ben makes Kappela a delightful journey" about the latter.[2] Anna has also appeared in music videos.[12]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Films

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Year Film Role Notes Ref.
2019 Kumbalangi Nights Babymol Debut film [13]
Helen Helen Paul [14]
2020 Kappela Jessi Varghese [15]
2021 Sara's Sara Vincent [16]
2022 Naaradan Shakira Mohammed [17]
Night Drive Riya Roy [18]
Kaapa Binu Thrivikraman [19]
2023 Thrishanku Megha [20]
2024 Kalki 2898 AD Kyra Telugu film [21]
Kottukkaali Meena Tamil film [22]
TBA Anchu Centum Celeenayum † TBA Filming [23]

Television

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Year Title Role(s) Language Platform Notes Ref.
2024 Bujji and Bhairava Kyra Telugu Amazon Prime Video Voice [24]

Awards

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Award Year Category Film Result
Kerala State Film Awards 2019 Special Jury Mention Helen Won[25]
2020 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress Kappela Won[26]
CPC Cine Awards 2019 Best Actress in Lead Role Kumbalangi Nights, Helen Won[27]
SIIMA Awards 2019 Best Debutant Actress (Malayalam) Kumbalangi Nights Won[28]
Best Actress (Malayalam) Helen Nominated[29]
2020 Best Actress Critics (Malayalam) Kappela Won[30]
Best Actress (Malayalam) Nominated[29]
Asianet Film Awards 2019 Best New Face of the Year (Female) Kumbalangi Nights Won[citation needed]
Vanitha Film Awards Best Debutant Actress Won[31]
Best Star Couple (shared with Shane Nigam) Won[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b V, Soorya (11 February 2020). "Anna Ben, the Babymol of Kumbalangi Nights, recalls her film debut". Manorama Online. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Simon, Litty (7 March 2020). "Kappela movie review: A compelling narrative with outstanding performances". Manorama Online. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Kerala State Awards: Kani Kusruthi, Suraj, Lijo Pellissery among winners". The News Minute. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. ^ Mukherjee, Tatsam (16 August 2021). "How Anna Ben has made her place as Malayalam cinema's everywoman". India Today. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ Theresa, Deena (28 February 2019). "Anna Ben: I never expected people to notice me or my character in Kumbalangi Nights". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  6. ^ V, Soorya (11 February 2019). "Anna Ben, the Babymol of 'Kumbalangi Nights', recalls her film debut". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ Theresa, Deena (27 February 2019). "Anna Ben: I never expected people to notice me or my character in Kumbalangi Nights". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ Praveen, S. R. (8 February 2019). "'Kumbalangi Nights' review: Life and love in a beautiful, borderless isle". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  9. ^ Navamy Sudhish (7 August 2019). "From 'Kumbalangi Nights' to 'Helen': Anna's on a roll". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. ^ Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (27 November 2019). "Interview with Anna Ben: Malayalam thriller 'Helen' is a fight for survival". Gulf News. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  11. ^ George, Vijay (28 November 2019). "'Helen' was regarded as an experiment, says Anna Ben, the cynosure of all eyes now". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  12. ^ MG, Gokul (10 February 2019). "A humble yet strong start". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Shane Nigam and Anna Ben reminisce 'Kumbalangi Nights' on its first anniversary". The Times of India. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  14. ^ Express News Service (2 August 2019). "Kumbalangi Nights star Anna Ben to lead Vineeth Sreenivasan production 'Helen'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  15. ^ Sunder, Gautam (30 June 2020). "Anna Ben on the success of 'Kappela': 'Art shouldn't be restricted to a language'". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Anna Ben stars in Jude Anthony Joseph's next 'Sara's'". The New Indian Express. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  17. ^ "ആഷിഖ് അബു - ടൊവിനോ ചിത്രം, 'നാരദന്' തുടക്കം". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  18. ^ "എല്ലാ യാത്രയ്ക്കും ഒരു ലക്ഷ്യമുണ്ട്; ഉദ്വേഗം നിറച്ച് 'നൈറ്റ് ഡ്രൈവ്' ട്രെയ്ലർ". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 16 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Anna Ben's next is with Ranjan Pramod". The Times of India. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Panjimittai song from Thrishanku is out". Cinema Express. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Anna Ben joins Prabhas' Kalki 2898 AD; Says Excited to foray into Telugu cinema". The Times of India. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. ^ റിപ്പോർട്ടർ, ഫിൽമി (10 March 2023). "ശിവകാര്‍ത്തികേയന്റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണത്തില്‍ അന്ന ബെന്‍ നായികയാകുന്ന തമിഴ് ചിത്രം; 'കൊട്ടുകാളി' ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു". reporterlive.com (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Anna Ben's next project starts rolling". The New Indian Express. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Bujji & Bhairava Review". 1 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Kerala State Awards: Kani Kusruthi, Suraj, Lijo Pellissery among winners". The News Minute. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  26. ^ "ഗരേററ ഇനതയന കിചചണ മികചച ചിതരം, നടന ജയസരയ,നടി അനന ബെന". Mathrubhumi News. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^ "പതമരാജന ശേഷം മലയാളം കണട ഏററവം നലല തിരകകഥാകതതാണ ശയാം പഷകരൻ: ഭദരൻ". Indian Express Malayalam (in Malayalam). 16 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  28. ^ "SIIMA Awards 2021: Take A Look At The Full Winner's List". The Hans India. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  29. ^ a b "SIIMA Nominations: Here Is The Complete List Of Nominations For 2019 And 2020". The Hans India. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  30. ^ "SIIMA awards: Check out Malayalam winners of 2019 and 2020". Online Manorama News. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Vanitha film awards 2020: Mohanlal wins best actor, Manju Warrier is best actress". OnManorama. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
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