# Anu Sithara (അനു സിതാര)
**Anu Sithara** (അനു സിതാര) is an Indian actress and trained classical dancer who works predominantly in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema), with additional roles in Tamil films. Born in 1995 in Wayanad, Kerala, she entered films with *Pottas Bomb* (2013) and became widely known through *Happy Wedding* (2016) and her first lead role in *Ramante Edanthottam* (2017).[1](https://www.anusithara.in/) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/anu-sithara-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-actress/amp_etphotostory/65213166.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Wayanad (Kalpetta), Kerala[3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/anu-sithara.html) |
| Debut | *Pottas Bomb* (2013), Malayalam[1](https://www.anusithara.in/) |
| Breakthrough | *Happy Wedding* (2016), in the role of Shahina[4](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/interview-i-make-sure-my-characters-costume-suits-my-personality-says-actress-anu-sithara-726386) |
| First lead role | Malini in *Ramante Edanthottam* (2017), directed by Ranjith Shankar[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/anu-sithara-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-actress/amp_etphotostory/65213166.cms) |
| Notable role | Anitha Sathyan in *Captain* (2018), a biopic of footballer V P Sathyan[5](https://www.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/captain/captain-review.html) |
| Dance training | Mohiniyattam at Kerala Kalamandalam from the eighth standard[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html) |
| Marriage | Vishnu Prasad, a fashion photographer, in 2015[7](https://platinumlist.net/artist/4114/anu-sithara) |
| Output | More than 35 films within her first ten years[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/12th-man-movie-actress-anu-sithara-open-up-about-her-life-story-nd-10-years-of-movie-experience-085726.html) |
## Early life and dance training
Anu Sithara was born in Wayanad, Kerala, to Abdul Salam, a government employee and drama enthusiast, and Renuka, a dancer.[3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/anu-sithara.html) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html) She joined Kerala Kalamandalam, the arts university in [Thrissur](https://www.edgepedia.org/thrissur), while in the eighth standard and trained in [Mohiniyattam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mohiniyattam), a classical dance form of Kerala.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html) • [9](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/malayalam-actress-anu-sithara-opens-dance-school-in-sharjah-1.500359833) In an interview she described the routine there: rising at four in the morning for vocal practice, dance study until the afternoon, and school work afterward.[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2017/05/11/chat-with-anu-sithara-ramante-eden-tottam-special.html)
School youth festivals (kalolsavam) opened the path to cinema. At a district-level competition during her higher secondary years she placed second in Mohiniyattam, appealed the result, and won first place at the state level.[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2017/05/11/chat-with-anu-sithara-ramante-eden-tottam-special.html) She and her mother later ran a dance school named Navarasa in Kalpetta.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html)
## Film career
**Debut and early roles.** Her first film was *Pottas Bomb* (2013), which did not perform well at the box office.[1](https://www.anusithara.in/) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html) Because of a perceived resemblance, she was cast as the younger version of Lakshmi Gopalaswami in Sathyan Anthikkad's *Oru Indian Pranayakatha* (2013), followed by a small role in Prithviraj's *[Anarkali](https://www.edgepedia.org/anarkali-2015-film)* (2015).[3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/anu-sithara.html) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/anu-sithara-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-actress/amp_etphotostory/65213166.cms)
**Breakthrough.** The role of Shahina in Omar Lulu's *Happy Wedding* (2016) was, in her own account, the one that let audiences recognize her by name.[4](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/interview-i-make-sure-my-characters-costume-suits-my-personality-says-actress-anu-sithara-726386) She then appeared in Siddique's *Fukri* (2017).[4](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/interview-i-make-sure-my-characters-costume-suits-my-personality-says-actress-anu-sithara-726386)
**Lead roles.** *Ramante Edanthottam* (2017), directed by Ranjith Shankar, was her first film in a lead role. She played Malini, a housewife who suppresses her passion for dance because of her husband's ego; the performance won her Best Actress and Best Performance awards at several film award functions.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/anu-sithara-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-actress/amp_etphotostory/65213166.cms) In *Captain* (2018), the first sports biopic in Malayalam and a portrait of footballer V P Sathyan, she played his wife Anitha; reviewers described the performance as among her career best.[5](https://www.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/captain/captain-review.html) • [11](https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/smacks-the-post-and-fails-to-score.html)
Her 2018 releases also included *Padayottam*, *Oru Kuttanadan Blog*, *Johny Johny Yes Appa*, and *Oru Kuprasidha Payyan*, and her 2019 releases included *Neeyum Njanum*, *And the Oscar Goes To*, *Subharathri*, and *Mamangam*.[1](https://www.anusithara.in/) She worked with Mohanlal in *12th Man* (2022) and with [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) in *Oru Kuttanadan Blog* and *Mamangam*.[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/12th-man-movie-actress-anu-sithara-open-up-about-her-life-story-nd-10-years-of-movie-experience-085726.html) In Tamil cinema she appeared in *Podhu Nalan Karudhi* (2019), *Vanam* (2021), and *[Pathu Thala](https://www.edgepedia.org/pathu-thala)* (2023), the last alongside [Silambarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/silambarasan).[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anu-sithara/38160/filmography) Her official page states that she made her Tamil acting debut with *Veri* (2015).[1](https://www.anusithara.in/)
Recent Malayalam releases include *Momo in Dubai* and *Santhosham* (both 2023), *Vaathil* (2023), and *Jananam 1947: Pranayam Thudarunnu* (2024), on which she also served as co-producer.[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anu-sithara/38160/filmography)
## Awards
She won the Asianet Film Award for Most Popular Actress in 2018, shared with Prayaga Martin, and the Vanitha Film Award for Special Performance (Actress) in 2018 for *Ramante Edenthottam*.[13](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6788819/awards/) She received Filmfare Award South and SIIMA nominations for Best Actress for *Captain* (2019) and *Ramante Edenthottam* (2018), and her official page lists a Golden Star Female award at the RedFM Music Awards 2019.[13](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6788819/awards/) • [1](https://www.anusithara.in/)
## Personal life and dance school
She married Vishnu Prasad, a fashion photographer, in 2015, before her film career became established.[7](https://platinumlist.net/artist/4114/anu-sithara) • [3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/anu-sithara.html) In a 2019 interview she said her parents' marriage had been a "revolutionary" interfaith one, that her tenth-grade certificate records her as Muslim, and that she fasts and prays; the family celebrates Vishu, Onam, and Ramadan together.[14](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/anu-sithara-talks-about-her-family-052504.html)
In late 2025 she opened Kamaladhalam, a school for classical dance in Muweilah, Sharjah, in the [United Arab Emirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-arab-emirates), describing it on Instagram as a long-held dream.[9](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/malayalam-actress-anu-sithara-opens-dance-school-in-sharjah-1.500359833)
## References
1. [Anu Sithara, Official Page](https://www.anusithara.in/)
2. [Anu Sithara: All you need to know about the actress, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/anu-sithara-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-actress/amp_etphotostory/65213166.cms)
3. [അനു സിതാര: മൂവീസ്, പ്രായം, ജീവചരിത്രം, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/anu-sithara.html)
4. [Interview: Anu Sithara opens up on Ramante Edanthottam, Achayans, IBTimes India](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/interview-i-make-sure-my-characters-costume-suits-my-personality-says-actress-anu-sithara-726386)
5. [Captain Movie Review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/captain/captain-review.html)
6. [Anu Sithara, the 'village girl' who danced her way into hearts, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interview/2017/05/11/anu-sithara-ramante-edanthottam.html)
7. [Anu Sithara, Platinumlist](https://platinumlist.net/artist/4114/anu-sithara)
8. [12th Man movie actress Anu Sithara open up about her life story and 10 years of movie experience, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/12th-man-movie-actress-anu-sithara-open-up-about-her-life-story-nd-10-years-of-movie-experience-085726.html)
9. [Malayalam actress Anu Sithara opens dance school in Sharjah, Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/malayalam-actress-anu-sithara-opens-dance-school-in-sharjah-1.500359833)
10. [കാവ്യയുടെ കണ്ണും മീരയുടെ ഛായയും; ഇത് അനു സിത്താര, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2017/05/11/chat-with-anu-sithara-ramante-eden-tottam-special.html)
11. [Smacks the post, but fails to score, The Week](https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/smacks-the-post-and-fails-to-score.html)
12. [Anu Sithara Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anu-sithara/38160/filmography)
13. [Anu Sithara, Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6788819/awards/)
14. [അനു സിത്താര talks about her family, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/anu-sithara-talks-about-her-family-052504.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Malayalam film actors › Surnames S to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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