Aparna Balamurali

Biography

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).