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Manju Pillai Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth11 May 1975

Age48 Years

BirthplaceKottayam, Kerala, India

ProfessionActress, Comedian

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSujith Vaassudev

FamilyDaughter - Daya Sujith; Father - NK Narayana Pillai; Mother - Saraswathy Amma; Grandfather - S. P. Pillai

Manju Pillai Biography

Manju Pillai is a Kerala-born actress and comedian known for a wide body of work across Malayalam film, television and digital platforms. With a career 시작한

Early life and background
Manju Pillai was born on 11 May 1975 in Kottayam, Kerala. She grew up in a family with roots in the Malayalam film world; her grandfather was actor S. P. Pillai. Her early education included St. Goretti Convent School in Nalanjira, and she went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram.

Manju’s interest in performing began while she was still in school. As a tenth-grade student she took part in a Light & Sound stage show that set her on the path to acting. The transition from stage to screen followed quickly, with a telefilm appearance early in her teens and subsequent work in both television and cinema.

Career
Manju Pillai’s screen debut in feature films came in 1992 with Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam, in which she appeared as the daughter of a character named Chandran Pillai. She had already been active on television, appearing in telefilms and Doordarshan productions, and her TV break continued with shows such as Scooter on DD Malayalam.

Over the years she has appeared in more than fifty films, taking on a mixture of comic and character roles. Notable film appearances include Mazhayethum Munpe (1995) as Anjana, Ayushman Bhava (1998) as a dance teacher, Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Naalu Pennungal (2007) and later roles such as Jessica Moses in Love 24x7 (2015) and a lawyer in Kolaambi (2021). She also worked in Tamil cinema, sharing screen space with Kamal Haasan in Manmadhan Ambu (2010).

On television, Manju became a familiar presence in serials and programs across Malayalam channels. Early serials included Sathyavum Mithyayum and Seemanthanam on Doordarshan Malayalam. She went on to play characters such as Hema in Thali (2000), Sulochana Vishwanathan in Chila Kudumba Chitrangal (2002), Pavizham in Kavyanjali (2004) and Sethulakshmi in Nirmalyam (2008). From 2012 onward she was widely recognized for her role as Mohanavally in Thatteem Mutteem on Mazhavil Manorama. In 2021 she took on the lead role in the Kaumudy TV serial Madhavi Naadu Vaanidum Kalam.

Manju expanded her on-screen presence into reality and non-fiction television beginning in 2010. She has worked as a judge, mentor, host and contestant on shows including Vodafone Comedy Stars (as a judge), Kinginikoottam (host), D3 – D 4 Dance (mentor), Super Dupe 2 (judge) and contest appearances on Udan Panam 3.0 and Panam Tharum Padam.

Her work has also reached digital audiences through web series roles such as Manju Aunty in Lockdown Bros (2020) and a part in Ohm Sthuthiyayi Erikatte (2021). In film, her portrayal of Kuttiamma in Home (2021) on Amazon Prime Video was widely noted and brought renewed attention to her film work. Recent film credits include The Teacher and Oh My Darling (both 2023) and Falimy (2023), which streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.

Accolades
Manju Pillai’s performances have been recognized repeatedly. She won the Kerala State Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in back-to-back years, 2001 and 2002. Additional honors include a Best Actress television award in 2003, comedian awards from FRAME and Flowers TV, industry recognitions such as the Good Knight Film and Business award, and awards from Janmabhoomi Television and the Kerala Film Critics Association. In 2021 she received a Best Supporting Actress award from Reporter TV for her role in Home.

Public profile
Beyond acting, Manju has appeared in numerous television commercials for brands and media outlets including Mazhavil Manorama, Mazhavil FM, Samson & Samson Lifestyle, Maa Washing Powder, Mahilaratnam Magazine and Asian Paints Ultima Protek. She has taken part in live TV and radio talk shows and has modeled on fashion ramps for Indian designers.

Manju is an avid traveler who has spoken about visiting destinations in Europe, the UAE and Singapore, with a particular fondness for Venice. She is an animal lover and keeps a pet dog. Personal touches such as a tattoo of her daughter’s picture on her left forearm are part of her public profile.

Personal life
Manju Pillai is married to filmmaker Sujith Vaassudev; the couple married on 23 December 2000. She has a daughter, Daya Sujith, who works as a model. Her parents are NK Narayana Pillai and Saraswathy Amma, and she has at least one sister.

Latest updates
In recent years Manju has remained active across mediums: she appeared in web series and films released through streaming services, continued to feature on television serials and reality programming, and received a Kerala Film Critics Association award in 2022. Her work in 2023 included film roles in The Teacher, Oh My Darling and the Disney+ Hotstar release Falimy.

Manju Pillai continues to work steadily in Malayalam entertainment, balancing character and comedic roles across film, television and digital platforms.
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Recent Work

The Teacher

Played Kalyani (2023)

2023
Oh My Darling

Played Meritta (2023)

2023
Falimy

Film that streamed on Disney+ Hotstar (2023)

2023
Home

Played Kuttiamma; released on Amazon Prime Video (2021)

2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut film: Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam (1992)
  2. Appeared in over 50 films across Malayalam cinema
  3. Kerala State Television Award – Best Supporting Actress (2001, 2002)
  4. Notable TV role: Mohanavally in Thatteem Mutteem (2012–2023)
  5. Portrayal of Kuttiamma in Home (2021) drew wide recognition
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manju Pillai born?

11 May 1975

What is Manju Pillai known for?

Actress, Comedian

What is Manju Pillai’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manju Pillai married to?

Sujith Vaassudev