Sobha Viswanath is an Indian social entrepreneur, artist, designer, and activist. She is the founder of Weavers Village, a clothing store located in Kerala, India. In 2023, she appeared in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Sobha Viswanath was born as Sobha Vishwanath [1]Sobha Viswanath – Facebook on Saturday, 10 August 1985 (age 37 years; as of 2022) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, where she grew up. Her zodiac sign is Leo.
Sobha Viswanath’s childhood picture with her mother
She studied at Holy Angels’ Convent Higher Secondary School. Thereafter, Sobha attended All Saints’ College in Thiruvananthapuram. After she completed her graduation, Sobha enrolled at the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Kerala, where she pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing and Human Resources (dual specialization) and Finance. [2]Sobha Viswanath – Facebook
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 55 kg
Hair Colour: Black with Light Golden Brown highlights
Eye Colour: Black
Figure Measurements (approx.): 32-30-32
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Vishwanathan. Sobha has a brother named Krishnakumar KV, who is a businessman.
Sobha Viswanath with her family
Husband
Sobha was married to Ashwin Rajendran, but their marriage was marred by Ashwin’s abusiveness, which led to their separation. [3]Talks – Let Me talk – YouTube
Sobha Viswanath’s wedding picture
Career
Handloom Industry
Sobha Viswanath embarked on her journey in the handloom industry in 2012 when she founded ‘Weavers Village,’ a clothing store in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The founding principle of Weavers Village was centred around the upliftment of the local weaving community and the preservation of the Indian rich handloom heritage. Sobha initiated the ‘Bhoomika’ fundraising campaign on 7 April 2019 to support those impacted by the 2019 Kerala floods. The campaign involved the creation of a doll, seated inside a boat, which was made using handloom and textile waste. The project employed women from NGOs such as Mahila Mandiram including those with physical and mental disabilities. In an interview, Sobha talked about the making of the Bhoomika dolls and revealed that Deepak, who worked on designing the dolls, was unsure about the expression he should give the dolls; therefore, he purposefully did not design their mouth.
A Bhoomika doll on the display
The dolls gained immense popularity and caught the attention of well-known figures like Katrina Kaif, Sonu Nigam, and Nithya Menen. While talking about the Bhoomika initiative and the dolls, in an interview, Sobha said,
Bhoomika means ‘daughter of Mother Earth’ and Deepak Shivraj of Pava Creative Studio came up with the mascot which is a doll. The dolls are made of handloom and textile waste. The ‘bindi’ stands for hope and the boat represents sustainability. The dolls do not have a mouth because Deepak did not know what expression it should have. When we reached out to different places during the floods, we saw children fighting for a bottle of potable water, women in wet clothes with no sanitary napkins and we heard pangs of hunger. Our hearts sank when we saw this and hence we decided that the mascot will not have any expression.” [4]The Indian Express
Sobha Viswanath while making a Bhoomika doll
Chekutty Dolls
She started working as a director at Balaramapuram Handlooms Producers Company on 19 January 2022.
Bigg Boss
In 2023, she appeared in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5’ as a contestant; the show was aired on Asianet.
Sobha Viswanath in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5’ (2023)
Social Activism
Sobha is connected to various non-profit organisations. In 2012, she co-founded ‘Save A Rupee, Spread A Smile’ (SARSAS), a charitable organisation in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. On 27 September 2019, she joined Jyothirgamaya Foundation as an advisory board member. On 1 September 2020, Sobha became the executive founding board member at Ashtamudi, a non-profit organisation in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She has worked as a board of trustee at El Shaddai Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization located in Goa.
Controversy
Framed in Narcotics Case
Sobha was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on 31 January 2021 for possessing 480 grams of ganja that the NCB found in her clothing store in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She was later released on bail since the quantity seized was less than one kilogram. Sobha reached out to the Chief Minister of Kerala and the Director General of Police for help following which the case was transferred to the Thiruvananthapuram Crime Branch. The investigation revealed that the incident was a set-up by a UK-based businessman, Harish Haridas, the son of the founder of Lords Hospital, who had been stalking her after she rejected his marriage proposal. The Crime Branch team, led by Deputy Superintendent S Amminikuttan, discovered a CCTV footage that showed suspicious movements by a maid, who worked in Sobha’s store. After the cops arrested the maid, she revealed the involvement of a former employee named Vivek Raj in the incident. [5]India Today
Awards
In 2016, she was awarded the Kerala Business Visionary Award.
Sobha Viswanath’s Kerala Business Visionary Award 2016
Tattoos
Sobha has got multiple tattoos inked on her body including a pair of paw tattoos on her left leg, Lotus, Om, and Rudraksha tattoos on her back, and ‘Amma and Trishul’ tattoo inked on her right wrist.
Sobha Viswanath’s tattoo
Sobha Viswanath’s tattoo on the left shoulder
Sobha Viswanath’s tattoo on her left leg
Sobha Viswanath’s Instagram post about the tattoo on her back
Sobha Viswanath’s tattoo on her right wrist
Piercings
She has got six piercings on her left ear.
Sobha Viswanath’s ear piercings
Facts/Trivia
- Shobha is fondly called ‘Shobhz’ and ‘Mowgli’ by her friends and family members. [6]Sobha Viswanath – Facebook [7]Sobha Viswanath – Instagram
- She also goes by the name Shobha Ashwin.
- She has an immense passion for wearing sarees, and she can often be spotted flaunting her self-designed outfits on social media and at various events.
- Sobha is the first ambassador of Pinkathon from Kerala. She is credited with bringing Pinkathon to Kerala and has participated in Pinkathons multiple times across various cities. Notably, she runs barefoot while draped in a saree to advocate for handloom.
Sobha Viswanath while promoting Pinkathon
- She follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Sobha Viswanath’s Instagram post
- Sobha was given a remarkable opportunity to design clothing for Sophia, the world’s first AI human.
Sobha Viswanath’s Instagram post about designing and styling clothes for the world’s first AI human Sophia
- Sobha Viswanath is an avid animal lover. She has a dog named Pumpkin and four cats as pets.
Sobha Viswanath’s Instagram post about her pet cats
Sobha Viswanath’s pet dog, Pumpkin
- Sobha’s wanderlust is fueled by her love for exploring unique and exotic destinations. Beaches, however, have a special place in her heart. In an interview, she shared her fondness for beach escapades and said,
I can’t stay away from the beach. The beaches have heard all my stories.” [8]The Hindu
