Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 25, 2026

Anna Ben

Anna Ben is an Indian actress who works primarily in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut with Kumbalangi Nights in 2019. For her starring roles in the dramas Helen (2019), Kappela (2020) and Kottukkaali (2024), she won two Kerala State Film Awards and one Filmfare Award South.

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Anna Ben
Anna in 2020
Born
Kochi, Kerala, India
Alma materSt. Teresa's College
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present
FatherBenny P. Nayarambalam

Anna Ben is an Indian actress who works primarily in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut with Kumbalangi Nights in 2019.12 For her starring roles in the dramas Helen (2019), Kappela (2020) and Kottukkaali (2024), she won two Kerala State Film Awards and one Filmfare Award South.3

She has since played a supporting role in the top-grossing Telugu science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and has won the SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu.

Early life

Anna was born and raised in Kochi, Kerala.4 She is the daughter of a screenwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam1 and Fulja. She completed schooling from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala. She is a fashion and apparel design graduate from St. Teresa's College, Kochi.5

Career

Anna made her feature movie debut in 2019 through commercially and critically successful Kumbalangi Nights in which she played the female lead Baby. She was selected through four rounds of auditions.6 She described her character as "modern and traditional simultaneously, rooted, with her own point-of-view".7 The Hindu wrote, "She stood out even in the presence of seasoned performers".8 The success of that film paved the way for Helen,9 a survival drama in which she played the titular character of Helen, and Kappela, both appreciated by audience and critics.102 Director Sathyan Anthikad praised her acting in the former,11 and Manorama Online reported, "Anna Ben makes Kappela a delightful journey".2 Anna has also appeared in music videos.12

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Films

Year Film Role Notes Ref.
2019 Kumbalangi Nights Babymol 13
Helen Helen Paul 14
2020 Kappela Jessi Varghese 15
2021 Sara's Sara Vincent 16
2022 Naaradan Shakira Mohammed 17
Night Drive Riya Roy 18
Kaapa Binu Thrivikraman 19
2023 Thrishanku Megha 20
2024 Kalki 2898 AD Kyra Telugu film 21
Kottukkaali Meena Tamil film 22
2025 Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Sunny's ex-girlfriend Cameo appearance 23

Television

Year Title Role(s) Language Platform Notes Ref.
2024 Bujji and Bhairava Kyra Telugu Amazon Prime Video Voice 24

Awards

Award Year Category Film Result
Kerala State Film Awards 2019 Special Jury Mention Helen Won25
2020 Best Actress Kappela Won26
Filmfare Awards South 2024 Best Actress - Tamil Kottukkaali Nominated
Critics Best Actress – Tamil Won
CPC Cine Awards 2019 Best Actress in Lead Role Kumbalangi Nights, Helen Won27
SIIMA Awards 2021 Best Female Debut – Malayalam Kumbalangi Nights Won28
Best Actress – Malayalam Helen Nominated29
Critics Best Actress – Malayalam Kappela Won30
Best Actress (Malayalam) Nominated29
2024 Best Supporting Actress – Telugu Kalki 2898 AD Won
Asianet Film Awards 2019 Best New Face of the Year (Female) Kumbalangi Nights Won
Vanitha Film Awards Best Debutant Actress Won31
Best Star Couple (shared with Shane Nigam) Won31
Singapore International Film Festival 2024 Special Mention for Best Performance: Ensemble cast and the nature Kottukkaali Won32
References

References

  1. V, Soorya (11 February 2020). "Anna Ben, the Babymol of Kumbalangi Nights, recalls her film debut". Manorama Online. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. Simon, Litty (7 March 2020). "Kappela movie review: A compelling narrative with outstanding performances". Manorama Online. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. "Kerala State Awards: Kani Kusruthi, Suraj, Lijo Pellissery among winners". The News Minute. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. Mukherjee, Tatsam (16 August 2021). "How Anna Ben has made her place as Malayalam cinema's everywoman". India Today. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. Theresa, Deena (28 February 2019). "Anna Ben: I never expected people to notice me or my character in Kumbalangi Nights". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  6. V, Soorya (11 February 2019). "Anna Ben, the Babymol of 'Kumbalangi Nights', recalls her film debut". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. Theresa, Deena (27 February 2019). "Anna Ben: I never expected people to notice me or my character in Kumbalangi Nights". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. Praveen, S. R. (8 February 2019). "'Kumbalangi Nights' review: Life and love in a beautiful, borderless isle". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  9. Navamy Sudhish (7 August 2019). "From 'Kumbalangi Nights' to 'Helen': Anna's on a roll". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (27 November 2019). "Interview with Anna Ben: Malayalam thriller 'Helen' is a fight for survival". Gulf News. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  11. George, Vijay (28 November 2019). "'Helen' was regarded as an experiment, says Anna Ben, the cynosure of all eyes now". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  12. MG, Gokul (10 February 2019). "A humble yet strong start". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  13. "Shane Nigam and Anna Ben reminisce 'Kumbalangi Nights' on its first anniversary". The Times of India. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  14. Express News Service (2 August 2019). "Kumbalangi Nights star Anna Ben to lead Vineeth Sreenivasan production 'Helen'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  15. Sunder, Gautam (30 June 2020). "Anna Ben on the success of 'Kappela': 'Art shouldn't be restricted to a language'". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  16. "Anna Ben stars in Jude Anthony Joseph's next 'Sara's'". The New Indian Express. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  17. "ആഷിഖ് അബു - ടൊവിനോ ചിത്രം, 'നാരദന്' തുടക്കം". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  18. "എല്ലാ യാത്രയ്ക്കും ഒരു ലക്ഷ്യമുണ്ട്; ഉദ്വേഗം നിറച്ച് 'നൈറ്റ് ഡ്രൈവ്' ട്രെയ്ലർ". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 16 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  19. "Anna Ben's next is with Ranjan Pramod". The Times of India. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  20. "Panjimittai song from Thrishanku is out". Cinema Express. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  21. "Anna Ben joins Prabhas' Kalki 2898 AD; Says Excited to foray into Telugu cinema". The Times of India. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. റിപ്പോർട്ടർ, ഫിൽമി (10 March 2023). "ശിവകാര്‍ത്തികേയന്റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണത്തില്‍ അന്ന ബെന്‍ നായികയാകുന്ന തമിഴ് ചിത്രം; 'കൊട്ടുകാളി' ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു". reporterlive.com (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  23. "Dulquer Salmaan launches Malayalam cinema's first superhero universe with Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra". Bollywood Hungama. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  24. "Bujji & Bhairava Review". 1 June 2024.
  25. "Kerala State Awards: Kani Kusruthi, Suraj, Lijo Pellissery among winners". The News Minute. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  26. "ഗരേററ ഇനതയന കിചചണ മികചച ചിതരം, നടന ജയസരയ,നടി അനന ബെന". Mathrubhumi News. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  27. "പതമരാജന ശേഷം മലയാളം കണട ഏററവം നലല തിരകകഥാകതതാണ ശയാം പഷകരൻ: ഭദരൻ". Indian Express Malayalam (in Malayalam). 16 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  28. "SIIMA Awards 2021: Take A Look At The Full Winner's List". The Hans India. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  29. "SIIMA Nominations: Here Is The Complete List Of Nominations For 2019 And 2020". The Hans India. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  30. "SIIMA awards: Check out Malayalam winners of 2019 and 2020". Online Manorama News. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  31. "Vanitha film awards 2020: Mohanlal wins best actor, Manju Warrier is best actress". OnManorama. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  32. "'Mongrel' Takes Top Prize at Singapore International Film Festival".
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