Maya Sundarakrishnan

Maya S. Krishnan is an Indian actress known for her work in the Tamil film industry. She made her acting debut in the musical film Vaanavil Vaazhkai (2015). In 2023 she participated in Bigg Boss 7 as a contestant and emerged as the 2nd runner up.

Beyond her film career, she is a seasoned theatre artist who has performed internationally with prestigious companies including Theatre du Soleil in Paris, Les Hommes Approximatifs in Strasbourg, and Amares Theatre in Uruguay.

Recognizing the need for a creative home for theatre artists, Maya Krishnan founded Ilulu, a theatre collective dedicated to nurturing artistic expression and fostering collaborative performance opportunities. The collective serves as a supportive community where artists can explore innovative theatrical forms while developing sustainable creative practices and meaningful connections with audiences.The collective has already made an impact in helping artists sustain themselves while creating meaningful theatre.

She has also gained popularity o
YouTube
for her character "Manjula Teacher," whose sketch comedy videos on topics like mental health and dating apps have gone viral.

Career

Theatre

Maya has a background in theatre, having performed internationally with companies such as Theatre du Soleil in Paris and
Les Hommes Approximatifs
in Strasbourg. In Uruguay, she has collaborated extensively wit
Amares Theatre
In India, she has been associated with Perch Collective, Indianostrum Theatre, Silkroute theatre, and Adishakthi Theatre.

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. The play solely featured the three actors and a bench. 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. 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".

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, 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

She volunteers at several hospitals, including APPOLO Madurai, Egmore Children’s Hospital, Adyar Cancer Institute, and Kauvery Hospital.

Comedy

Maya began her career in comedy as a member o
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

Maya debuted in James Vasanthan's '' Vaanavil Vaazhkai'', where she had to cut her hair short to play a singer. She played a reporter in ''Thodari'' (2016) and also appeared in movies like ''Dhruva Natchathiram'', '' 2.0'', '' Magalir Mattum'' and ''Server Sundaram''. Maya is part of Lokesh Cinematic Universe.

Filmography

Web series

Television

In 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".

References

External links

ILULU Collective
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Krishnan, Maya S.
Indian film actresses
Tamil actresses
Living people
21st-century Indian actresses
Indian television actresses
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses from Madurai
Year of birth missing (living people)
Indian lesbian actresses
Indian LGBTQ actors