Aparna Balamurali (born 11 September 1995) is an Indian actress and playback singer, who primarily works in Malayalam and Tamil films. She is the recipient of a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award South. Aparna is known for her roles in the films Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Sunday Holiday (2017), Soorarai Pottru (2020), and Kishkindha Kaandam (2024), winning the National Film Award for Best Actress for Soorarai Pottru. In 2025, Aparna was placed by Forbes Asia in their 30 Under 30 list.
Early life Aparna was born in Thrissur, Kerala, India to K. P. Balamurali Menon, a music director and Shobha Balamurali. She attended Devamatha CMI Public School. She studied architecture at Global Institute of Architecture, Palakkad. It was through her college instructor, Unnimaya Prasad, that she received an opportunity to audition for Maheshinte Prathikaram.
Career In 2015, Aparna's debut movie Oru Second Class Yathra was released. She rose to fame with her film named, Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016). She also starred in a comedy Oru Muthassi Gadha (2016). She made her Tamil debut in 8 Thottakkal (2017). She played in Sunday Holiday (2017) and Thrissivaperoor Kliptham (2017). In both films, she is paired opposite Asif Ali. Her 2018 releases are Kamuki and B. Tech. She has been cast as the Tamil film's heroine in Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019) starring G. V. Prakash Kumar. Her subsequent films in Malayalam were Mr. & Ms. Rowdy (2019) and Jeem Boom Bhaa (2019). She appeared as Bommi in Suriya starrer Soorarai Pottru (2020). The next Tamil movie was Theethum Nandrum (2021).
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Language Notes 2015 Oru Second Class Yathra Amritha Unnikrishnan Malayalam 2016 Maheshinte Prathikaaram Jimsy Augustine Oru Muthassi Gada Alice / Young Leelamma 2017 8 Thottakkal Meera Tamil Sunday Holiday Anu Malayalam Sarvopari Palakkaran Anupama Neelakandan Thrissivaperoor Kliptham Bhageerati Mayaanadhi Herself Guest appearance 2018 Kamuki Achama Varghese (Achu) B. Tech Priya 2019 Allu Ramendran Swathy Sarvam Thaala Mayam Sara Tamil Mr. & Ms. RowdyPoornima Malayalam Jeem Boom Bhaa Muth Cameo 2020 Soorarai Pottru Sundari Nedumaaran (Bommi) Tamil 2021 Theethum Nandrum Sumathi 2022Veetla VisheshamSowmya Sundari Gardens Suma (Sundari Mathews) Malayalam Ini Utharam Dr.Janaki Ganesh Nitham Oru Vaanam Mathivadani Tamil Kaapa Prameela Malayalam 2023 Thankam Keerthi 2018 Noora, T.V Reporter Dhoomam Diya Padmini Adv. Sreedevi (Sree) 2024 Raayan Meghalai Tamil Adios Amigo Minimol Malayalam Voice only Kishkindha Kaandam Aparna Rudhiram Swathy 2025 Mirage Abirami / Anjali Mindiyum Paranjum Leena 2026 Chinna Chinna Aasai Janaki Filming
Television Year Title Role Language Channel Notes Ref.2019Laughing Villa season 3HerselfMalayalamSurya TVGuest; Reality show2019Sa Re Ga Ma Pa KeralamHerselfZee KeralamGuest; Reality show2020Super 4HerselfMazhavil ManoramaGuest; Reality show 2022 Puthu Puthu Arthangal Sowmya Tamil Zee Tamil Cameo; Serial Fingertip (season 2) Shruti ZEE5 Web series 2023Star Singer season 9HerselfAsianetGuest; Reality show2024 Manorathangal Bharathi Malayalam ZEE5 Anthology web seriesSegment : Kadalkkaattu 2025Bigg Boss Malayalam season 7HerselfAsianetGuest; Reality show
Other works Year Title Language Channel Notes 2016 Mazhayayi Malayalam YouTube Music album 2017 Naadu 2020 It's me nature 2021 Bin Bulaye Hindi Short film
Discography
Year Song Film Co-singer Language2016 "Mounangal Mindumoree" Maheshinte Prathikaaram Vijay Yesudas Malayalam "Thennal Nilavinte" Oru Muthassi Gadha Vineeth Sreenivasan "Vinnil Theliyum Meghame" Pa Va Vijay Yesudas2017 "Mannippaya Ena Ketkadhe" 8 Thottakkal Udhay Kannan Tamil "Mazha Paadum" Sunday Holiday Arvind Venugopal Malayalam "Thanthane"Naadu (Music Album) 2020"Kanyamariyame"Kanyamariyame (Music album)2021"Veyil Choodum"Veyil Choodum (Music album)"Ninnil ninnum Njan"Hased (Music album)2022"Thada Buda Kaathu" (Promotional song) Nitham Oru Vaanam Tamil
Awards and nominations Year Film Award Category Result Ref 2020Soorarai Pottru National Film Award Best Actress 2020 Filmfare Awards South Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil 2020SIIMA Awards SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil2020Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2020
References
External links