The Innocent looks and big beautiful eyes of Kavya Madhavan(Karthika) captured the hearts of malayali movie viewers. She is noted for having retained her rural Neeleswaram accent. She is called 'Minu'. Her birthday is on 19th september,1984. She was born in the village of Neeleswaram in Kasargod district, in Kerala. She had entered the film industry as a child artist in the late 80's. Her first film as an artist is Kamal's film Pookalam Varavayi. After that she has acted as a child artist in many films.

When she was a ninth standard student that a character came in search of her as heroine and that film is Chandanudikkunna Dikkil, a Lal Jose film which became a super hit in malayalam film industry. She has now become one of the busiest female star in Malayalam.

Her famous films are Meesa Madhavan, Mizhi Randilum, Dosth, Madhura Nombarakattu, Sadananthante Samayam Ananthabadram, sheelabathi of which MeesaMadhavan bagged a record collection in malayalam film industry. She is equally accepted in Tamil also. Kasi her first film in Tamil became a successful film. She had already has bagged films of well known directors.

The awards which she received start from Kerala State Film Award for the Best Actress Award for her acting in the film'Perumazhakaalam' by Kamal. Film Critics Award 2000 for 2nd best actress (Chandranudhikkunna Dikkil) and Kerala Film Audience Award 2003 for best Actress (Oomapenninu Uriyadapayan ) add to this list. Her father is P Madhavan, mother Shyaamala and one brother Midhun.