Dhivyadharshini "DD" Neelakandan is an Indian television presenter, host and actress. She predominantly works in Tamil television and film industry especially in Tamil entertainment. She has hosted numerous television shows such as Koffee with DD, Anbudan DD.[1]
Dhivyadharshini | |
|---|---|
 Dhivyadharshini in 2019 | |
| Born | Dhivyadharshini Neelakandan Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Alma mater | Our Lady's Matriculation School, Anna Adarsh College for Women |
| Occupation(s) | Actress TV anchor Asst Professor |
| Known for | Koffee with DD |
| Spouse |
Srikanth Ravichandran
(m. 2014; div. 2017) |
| Family | Priyadarshini (sister) |
Initially making her debut as an actress, she featured in supporting roles in films including Kamal Haasan's production Nala Damayanthi (2003), before going on to work in television serials, drawing attention for her performances in the Raadan Media ventures Selvi and Arasi. Since 2007, she has regularly been a host for shows on Vijay TV and in 2014, began hosting Koffee with DD, her own show.
Early life
editDhivyadharshini was born to K. Neelakandan and N. Srilatha. Her sister Priyadarshini is also a television host, while her younger brother is an airline pilot.[2] She attended Our Lady's Matriculation Higher Secondary School and has since has continued part-time education at Anna Adarsh College, Chennai.[3]
Career
editDhivyadharshini made her debut as a television anchor in 1999, when she successfully auditioned to be the child anchor for Vijay TV's Ungal Theerpu. She made a breakthrough as an actress, portraying a serious character in K. Balachander's television serial Rekkai Kattiya Manasu, shown on Raj TV, and subsequently, her performance helped her to popularity and gain further acting assignments.[4][5] After a few more cameo appearances in films, Dhivyadharshini moved back to television, where she played notable roles in the Raadan Media ventures Selvi and Arase. She has also contributed as a dubbing artist in films, notably voicing Vega Tamotia in Saroja (2008) and Piaa Bajpai in Goa (2010).
Since 2007, Dhivyadharshini has become one amongst the leading TV anchors as featured on Tamil television and has notably continued to host several reality TV shows on Vijay TV. She hosted the initial seasons of Jodi Number One alongside Deepak and Aravind Akash, as well being the initial host of Boys Vs. Girls.
Personal life
editShe married her longtime friend & assistant director Srikanth Ravichandran. But the couple announced their split in 2017. They filed for divorce in a family court in Chennai subsequently.[6] Dhivyadharshini has rheumatoid arthritis, which prevents her from long-distance walking.[7]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Shubhayathra | Raman's Child | Malayalam film; child actor | |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Writer | ||
| Nala Damayanthi | Bhagyam | |||
| Whistle | Saravathy (Sara) | |||
| Five by Four | Namitha | English film | ||
| 2008 | Saroja | Special appearance in the song "Aaja Meri Soniye" | Guest appearance | |
| 2017 | Power Paandi | Poonthendral's daughter | Guest appearance | |
| 2019 | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | Anjana | ||
| 2022 | Coffee with Kadhal | Varshini Santhosh | [8] | |
| 2024 | Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha | Madhavi | [9] | |
| TBA | Kadhal Conditions Apply | TBA | ||
| Dhruva Natchathiram† | Madhavi |
Voice artist
edit| Actress | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vega Tamotia | Saroja | |
| Piaa Bajpai | Goa | |
| Bale Pandiya | ||
| Thulasi | Easan | |
| Preethi | Appa | |
| Anna | Frozen II | Tamil dubbed version |
Television
editShows
edit| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ungal Theerpu | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2006–2014 | Jodi Number One | Host (Season 1-3, 5-7) | |
| 2009 | Boys Vs Girls | Host (Season 1,2) | |
| 2012 | Jodi Number One | Contestant (Season 4) | |
| Airtel Super Singer T20 | Host | ||
| 2013–2017 | Koffee with DD | Host | |
| 2016 | Achcham Thavir | Host | |
| 2017 | Anbudan DD | Host | |
| 2018 | Jodi Fun Unlimited | Judge | |
| Bigg Boss Tamil 2 | Guest | ||
| 2018–2019 | Enkitta Modhaade | Host | |
| 2019–2020 | Dancing Super Stars | Judge | |
| Speed Get Set Go! | Host | ||
| 2021 | Bigg Boss Tamil 4 Kondattam | Host | |
| 6th annual Vijay Television Awards | Host | ||
| 2022 | RRR Special | Host | |
| Galatta Nakshatara Awards | Host | Kalaignar TV | |
| Bigg Boss (Tamil season 6) | Guest | Star Vijay |
Serial
edit| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Irandavathu Kadaimai | Usha | Raj TV |
| 2003–2004 | Rekkai Kattiya Manasu | Vidhya | |
| 2003–2005 | Thadayam | Subha | Sun TV |
| 2004–2005 | Ahalya | Gowri | |
| 2005–2006 | Selvi | Madhuvanthi | |
| 2006–2007 | Kolangal | Anjalidevi | |
| 2007 | Arasi | Madhuvanthi | |
| Kanavugal Aayiram | Bharathi | Jaya TV |
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mathagam | Sofia | Disney+ Hotstar | [10] |
Awards
editVikatan award
editAnanda Vikatan, one of the leading weeklies of Tamil Nadu has been awarding the films, actors and technicians on various criteria.[11]
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Home Sweet Home (Vijay Tv) | Best Anchor — Female | Won[12] |
Vijay television awards
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Vijay Television Awards | Best Anchor - Female | Won | [13] |
| 2015 | Won |
References
edit- ^ "Penchant for the past". The Hindu. 29 May 2004. Archived from the original on 31 October 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Divyadarshini wishes her sister". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Did you know Vijay TV Anchor DD's Sister Son?". PakkaTv. 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "GoerGo – Most Trusted Training Partner". Goergo.in. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Five by Four – Yuvan Shankar Raja". Theyuvanshankarraja.blogspot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ P Kirubhakar. "Dhivyadharshini and husband Srikanth Ravichandran file for divorce". Indiatoday.in. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Vj Dhivyadarshini shares a picture of herself in a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis; says, "That won't stop me from bringing out the child in me"". The Times of India. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "DhivyaDharshini joins the cast of Sundar C's film with Jiiva, Jai and Srikanth". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Gautham Vasudev Menon's Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha gets release date". Cinema Express. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "'Mathagam' Trailer: Atharvaa Murali, Mani Kandan, Nikhila Vimal, Dhivyadharshini "DD" Neelakandan, Gautham Menon, Dilnaz Irani, Prasath Murugesan And Darbuka Siva Starrer 'Mathagam' Official Trailer | Entertainment - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Exclusive: Results of Ananda Vikatan Awards 2010". kollywoodz.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Vikatan awards 2011". indianmalaysian.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "DD & Gopinath win Best Anchor Awards". The Times of India. 20 September 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 August 2023.