Shylaja Chetlur
Shylaja Chetlur is a popular media artist working across television, theatre & films, both as a performer & content creator. She is an actor, filmmaker & entrepreneur earnestly bonded to the development of fine arts & culture - theatrical & visual.
As an actor, her selective performances with reputed names on TV shows, advertisements & stage plays have fetched her a recognition that she puts to good use in other spheres of her interests. Popular Sun TV series like Rudraveenai, Sahana, Lakshmi, Selvi, Vijay TV's Ladies Club & Cinema Karam Coffee which she anchored interviewing film personalities, have all brought her distinct smile & voice into the households.
She is the Founder & Managing Trustee of the not-for-profit Cinema Rendezvous Trust, that runs the popular film club Cinema Rendezvous (Established 2012) showcasing & discussing World Cinemas of substance to promote cross-cultural understanding. The trust's objective is to create awareness about Cinema as a social tool. Medical and educational aid, particularly to girl children, is a priority in the trust's social activities. It had instituted the Bala Kailasam Memorial Award (BKMA) since 2015, an annual recognition with a cash prize, for national level excellence in documentary filmmaking having a social impact.
Shylaja is a visiting faculty in Film Appreciation elective course at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. She has been a core committee member for the Chennai International Film Festival since 2009 . She is the Indian Associate of The Taste of India in Melbourne, exploring Australian milieu in the context of Indian classical / fusion arts. She is the festival consultant for Hosuril Thirivaiyaaru a new festival in the industrial town of Hosur, curating music and dance programs..
Shylaar Production is her production house that produces corporate films, documentaries and Public Service Announcement films. PSAs on Eye Donation, National Association for the Blind's early intervention centre, vocational projects etc are all part of her repertoire of individual social responsibility and social entrepreneurship.
Wanderlust, the travel lounge she operates in Hotel Savera, is involved in conducting heritage & temple tours. She co-promoted a contemporary art gallery - Art & Soul promoting visual artists, holding several exhibitions from 2010- 2013.
Endowed with entrepreneurship Shylaja has a contagious enthusiasm and passion that leave a qualitative mark on all that she carefully chooses to pursue whether in media, social work or the art.