Kalpana Ranjani known mononymously as Kalpana, was an Indian film actress best known for her work in South Indian films, primarily Malayalam and Tamil films. Kalpana has acted in over 300 films in various South Indian languages. She was born on 13 October 1965 in Chavara, Kollam, India. Kalpana made her debut in the 1983 film Manju directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Her Tamil debut was through the movie - Chinna Veedu opposite K. Bhagyaraj in the year 1985. Since then, she has been an active member of Malayalam cinema and though given bit roles, she has always did the best to give it the perfect touch. A few of her most memorable movies since 2000 include - Spirit, Vadhyar, Loud speaker, Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonu, Kerala cafe, Seeta kalyanam, Senior Mandrake, Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan, Twenty 20, Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O.Kannaki, Athbhutha Dweepu, Balram Vs Tharadas, Salt and Pepper, Nizhal, Kudambasree Travels, Indian rupee and Oru Small Family.

A few of her hits of 90's are Saandhram, Dr Pasupathy, Butterflies, Pidakozhi koovunna noottandu, Pookkalam varavai, Ennathe Programme, CID Unnikrishnan BA, BEd, Kottapurathe Koottukudumbam, Ullasa poonkattu, Junior Mandrake, Charlie chaplin, Gandharvam, Ottayal Pattalam, Inspector Balram, Ennodishtam Koodamo, Punnaram, Pai brothers, Kudumbakodathi, Manadiyar Peninu Chenkota Chekkan and Cheppadi vidya. She has also acted in a few Tamil movies like Dumm dumm dumm staring Madhavan and Jyothika in pivot roles and Pammal K. Sambandam with Kamal Hassan and Simran in leading roles. Kalpana joined the industry to become heroine. But she was not slim and her body language and timing suited well for comedy scenes and eventually resulted in the transformation of this actress from supporting actor to the greatest female comedy actress of Malayalam. In all terms, she is really a versatile actor. Last year she won National awards for the Best Supporting Actress role for her performance in Thanichalla Njan (2012). Recently she has performed in a music album with Usha Uthup and has published her memoirs, Njan Kalpana (I am Kalpana).