Maya S. Krishnan

Maya S. Krishnan is an Indian actress, comedian, singer, and seasoned theatre artist known for her work in the Tamil film industry. She made her acting debut in the musical film Vaanavil Vaazhkai (2015). Additionally, she is a skilled gymnast, hospital clown and improv artist. Beyond her on-screen roles, Maya is a founding member of ILULU Collective, an organization dedicated to support artists across the theatrical landscape.

Early life
Maya was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India and did her schooling in TVS Lakshmi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai and she did her engineering at Amrita University school of engineering, Bangalore. She was a child gymnast and placed 6th in gymnastics during the Nationals. Her sister, Swagatha S Krishnan is a singer in the Tamil industry.

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 with 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
LlShe 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 of 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.

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".