Geeta Poduval (born November 10) is an actress, TV anchor, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. She is the Founder-Director of DRZYA, the only firm in India that brings differently-abled and unique performances, talks and workshops from across the world on one platform. She is the mentor of 'The Flaming Wheels' (We Are One Trust), a unique differently-abled artist group. She is an ex CAG Senior Audit Officer (Comptroller and Auditor General - India's national and state audit authority). The two notable films to her credit are Sukumarji’s Kandethal (Malayalam) and Madhu Kaithapram's Vellivelichathil (Malayalam). The third film, Dirty Game, (Hindi) is under post-production.
Early Life and Background
Geeta Poduval was born in Ahmedabad in a middle class Malayali family. She joined CAG and passed the internal officer's grade examination. During this time she handled many audits including the UN Audit in Western Africa. She worked for the organisation for twenty years until her voluntary retirement in 2014 as Senior Audit Officer. Parallel to her career, she pursued her singing, classical dancing and acting interests. She trained herself as a Bharatnatyam dancer and was one of the singers in an orchestra called Lakhia Brothers in Gujarat. While in the service, she participated in one of the talent shows on Amrita TV, and then took up various anchoring and acting projects. Geeta also wrote short stories and articles for magazines including Femina and Woman’s Era and conducted motivational talk sessions and training programs for government organisations, PSUs and Corporate houses. She has also been involved in social activism. Recently she founded DRZYA, the only firm in India that brings differently-abled and unique performances, talks and workshops from across the world on one platform. She is also the mentor of a differently-abled wheelchair performance group, 'The Flaming Wheels' by We Are One Trust.
Geeta has anchored over 100 shows in India and abroad, ranging from award functions, cultural meets, musical nights, corporate events and social meets in Hindi, English, Gujarati and Malayalam languages. Some of her anchoring projects include -
Anchor for the semi finals of first ever singing reality show for Kairali TV - Amchi Mumbai "Goodwin Golden Voice - 2016" judged by Kavalam Sreekumar, Puthusherry Janardhanan and Uttara Unni
Anchor for Malayalam Film Reviews and Box Office Reports for Idea Popcorn Street since 2015
Co-host of a television series titled “Amchi Mumbai” on Kairali TV
Host of a music concert starring Mithoon, the famous music director and singer, Arijit Singh, Roop Kumar Rathod, Palak, Mohammad Irfan, in June 2014 in Muscat
Hosted the New Year Bash of Hotel Golden Oasis, Muscat on December 31, 2014
Hosted the three-day India Fest in Abu Dhabi in December 2014
Hosted a show of handicapped artists in Muscat in September 2014
Hosted “Dance For National Unity” show which included performances of Manju Warrier, Malayalam film actress and Gracy Singh, Bollywood actress
Anchored the fund raising event of Nanma Charitable Foundation where the Chief Guest was KPAC Lalitha, National Award winning actress
Anchored the 11th Raagalaya Music Awards in Mumbai.
Hosted three years in a row, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Achievement Awards in Mumbai (2013, 2014 and 2015)
Hosted 1st Gateway Litfest at NCPA, Mumbai.
Hosted “Musical Rain” show of K. J Yesudas, K. S Chithra, Meera Nandan, Vijay Yesudas and Shweta Mohan in May 2015 in Bahrain
Hosted "Yeh Shaam Mastaani...", a musical show on the 86th Birthday celebration of Kishore Kumar with singers Amit Kumar, Shri Babul Supriyo, Shailaja Subramanian, Kavita Paudwal and Siddhant Bhosle in August 2015, Shanmukhnanda Hall, Mumbai
Anchored the Mathrubhumi-Goodwin Jewellers Kaikottikali Pookalam Contest 2015 in Mumbai
Anchored the MS Vishwanathan Night - Hridayaragam in Mumbai in September 2015 that had performances from eminent playback singer Biju Narayanan, comedians Reji and Ajish and Guiness Pakru among others
Hosted inauguration of Charm's Group megastore Hazel at Kalyan in September 2015 attended by three reigning Miss Indias Aditi Arya, Aafreen Vaz, and Vartika Singh along with other dignitaries
Anchored the 10th anniversary of St. Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church that followed 'Rimi Show' of Malayalam Playback Singer Rimi Tomy in Mumbai in November 2015
Hosted Prince Vaidyan's promoted Kashmir to Kerala Social Foundation Gala Awards Night 2016 in Mumbai attended by Indian dignitaries including Farooq Abdullah, Vivek Oberoi, Maharaja of Udaipur, Sandeep Thakur
Hosted 'Kudumbhasangamam 2016', a Nair Welfare Society's musical event by Raagalaya organised in Mumbai in October 2016
Anchored "VISMAYA 2016" event of Nanma Charitable Foundation in Mumbai in November 2016
Anchored Prince Vaidyan's promoted Kashmir to Kerala (K&K) Social Foundation Gala Awards Night 2017 in Mumbai
Anchored the 5th Chhatrapati Shivaji Awards in Mumbai in March 2017
Hosted The Nair Welfare Society's award function and mega-show 'Ganesham' by Soorya Hrishnamoorthy and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy in March 2017 Mumbai
Geeta has acted in films, TV serials, corporate films and advertisements.
Vellivelichatthil – In the Limelight (Malayalam, released 2014). She played the second heroine in the film as John Brittas’ wife. Directed by Madhu Kaithapram and music by Deepankuran Bijibal the film was completely shot in Muscat.
Kandethal – The Revelation (Malayalam, released 2016). She played the female protagonist. Directed by Sukumarji.
Dirty Game (Hindi, under post-production). In this Disha Nandwani's produced Abbas Saigara's directed film she played the female lead.
Crime Branch (Malayalam, TV serial, 2014). Played the lead role of Assistant Commissioner of Police for eight episodes for Kairali TV Channel.
A corporate film for Rohm and Hazz (erstwhile Dow Chemicals)
Appeared in an ad of Nerolac Paints with Shah Rukh Khan (2014)
Republic Day 2017 Celebration through patriotic wheelchair dance performance for NTPC, Mumbai
Inspirational wheelchair performance for cancer survivors at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
Wheelchair performance to drive awareness for an inclusive society among the students, parents and teachers of NES International School, Mumbai
Entertaining Bollywood Song-based performance at Trilogy event of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NEFT) Mumbai
Juries Special Award - Communication through Social Media 2017 by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) for outstanding contribution to the Profession, Industry and Society
Indywood Media Excellence Award 2017 in the Professional Excellence category in her capacity as an online media social activist, motivational speaker, corporate trainer and films and television
Honoured by The Western India Football Association (WIFA) for her contribution in training the Coaches
Geetha Poduval has been a speaker at various forums and events. She was recently invited as the Keynote speaker during the Daughters’ Day celebration of the Bengaluru chapters of PRCI and YCC. She has been conducting training programs in corporate houses and government organisations for many years. Some of her training and speaking topics include -
Women Leadership Program
Influencing Without Authority Program
Personal Presence Program
Women Safety at Workplace Program
Preventing Sexual Harassment and Awareness Program
Program for Managing Life and Life Goals
Program on Leveraging Social Media
Program for Nursing and Healthcare Support Staff
