Malaya Cottage' has a special place in the history of Malayalam cinema. It was a grooming ground for some of the most popular stars in the industry. Situated at Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram, the mansion was home to Penang Padmanabha Pillai, a planter who worked in Malaysia.

Pillai had six children, all boys. Karthiyayini Amma, his wife, had a liking for girls and would invite home her nieces, one of whom she eventually adopted. A great lover of dance and music, Karthiyayini Amma made arrangements for the girls to learn dance at Malaya Cottage