Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema, known mostly for his villain roles in an eight decade long career. He has also appeared in a few Malayalam films.
Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair was an Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padma Shri from the Government of India, which is one of the highest civilian honours in India. In a career that spanned about 47 years, he acted in over 700 films. He is considered to be the "first superstar of Malayalam cinema". In 1993, he was honoured with the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.
Miss Kumari (1932–1969) was an Indian actress working in the Malayalam film industry between 1949 and 1969. In the '50s and early '60s she was the most prominent female lead in the Malayalam film industry. She briefly worked as a teacher before she made her film debut in the 1949 film Vellinakshatram. She took on the stage name Miss Kumari on the sets of her second film, Nalla Thanka.
Christmas Rathri is a 1961 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam and was filmed at Merryland Studio. The film stars T. K. Balachandran, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Miss Kumari, M. G. Soman and Adoor Pankajam. The film had musical score by Br. Lakshmanan. The plot revolves around Advocate George (Thikkurissi) and Annie. Despite its title, the film has very little to do with Christmas, except that the climax of the film occurs on Christmas Eve. The film was made in Tamil also and released on 22 September 1961 as Yar Manamagan?.
Chithramela is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language anthology film directed and produced by T. S. Muthaiah. It was Malayalam cinema's first anthology film. The cast includes Prem Nazir, Sharada, Sheela, K. P. Ummer, Kottayam Chellappan, S. P. Pillai, Adoor Bhasi, Bahadoor and Manavalan Joseph.
Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan is a 1971 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Rajasree, C. L. Anandan, K. V. Shanthi and Vijayanirmala. It is a sequel to the Subramaniam's 1959 film Aana Valarthiya Vanampadi. The film had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan. The film is said to be the first sequel for a Malayalam film. It was dubbed in Tamil as Yaanai Valartha Vaanampadi Magan.
Merryland Studio is an Indian film studio based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was the second film studio in Kerala, established in 1950 by former Thiruvananthapuram mayor and businessman P. Subramaniam. He produced 70 films, 59 of them directed by himself. He was active between 1951 – 1979. The studio's home productions were made under the company Neela Productions. Merryland Studio was famous for their professional rivalry with Kunchacko's Udaya Studio, the first film studio in Kerala. They resumed film production under the newly christened company Merryland Cinemas, debuting with Hridayam (2022).
Padatha Painkili is a 1957 Indian Malayalam-language drama film based on the novel of the same name by Muttathu Varkey and directed by P. Subramaniam from a screenplay by Varkey. The film revolves around marriage and dowry problems. It depicts the machinations of a wicked, though wealthy man, against a poverty-stricken, God-fearing school master, with the final defeat of evil in the end. It stars Prem Nazir, Miss Kumari and Shanthi.
Randidangazhi is a 1958 Malayalam political film based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and directed by P. Subramaniam with Miss Kumari, P. J. Antony, T. S. Muthaiah, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, S. P. Pillai, Bahadoor, Adoor Pankajam, Soman and J. A. R. Anand in the star cast. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards.
C.I.D. is a 1955 Indian Malayalam film made for Merryland Studio by director M. Krishnan Nair which stars Prem Nazir, Miss Kumari, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and Kumari Thankam. It is generally considered as the first crime thriller movie in Malayalam.
Lakshmi Menon is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Tamil films. After making her acting debut in a supporting role in the Malayalam film Raghuvinte Swantham Raziya (2011). She made her first main female lead with her Tamil debut film Sundara Pandian in 2012. She is a recipient of a Filmfare Award South, one Tamil Nadu State Film Award and two SIIMA Awards.
Chechi is a 1950 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by T. Janaki Ram and produced by Swami Narayanan. The film stars Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and Miss Kumari in lead roles. The film was dubbed into Tamil with the title Nadigai and was released in 1951. It is the debut film of music director G. K. Venkatesh, playback singer T. A. Lakshmi and director T. Janakiram. It is known for the classical-based song "Kalitha Kalamaya Kailasavasa".
Aathmasanthi is a 1952 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Joseph Thaliyath. The film stars T. K. Madhavan Nair and Miss Kumari.
Avakasi is a 1954 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Antony Mitradas and produced by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Prem Nazir and Miss Kumari. The film had musical score by Br. Lakshmanan.
Mathravadi is a 1956 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P Subramaniam. The film stars Prem Nazir, Kumari Thankam in lead roles. The film had musical score by Brother Laxmanan and lyrics by Thirunainarkurichy Madhavan Nair.
Jailppulli is a 1957 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Prem Nazir and Miss Kumari. It was released on 3 October 1957.
Mariakutty is a 1958 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and written by Muttathu Varkey. The film stars Prem Nazir and Miss Kumari. It is based on Varkey's 1957 novel of the same name.
By The People is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language vigilante thriller film directed by Jayaraj and starring Narain. It is the sequel of 4 the People (2004) and the prequel of Of the People (2008). The film marks the debut of Surabhi Lakshmi.
Anandan, born as C. L. Anandan, was an Indian actor and producer who was active in Tamil cinema as well in Malayalam cinema during the second half of the 20th century. He was well known for his hero, supporting, and villain roles. In a career spanning close to three decades, he acted in about 60 films in Tamil and Malayalam, in which 25 films had him as hero. Anandan debuted in a supporting role in the Tamil movie Thandhai, and later he holds the heroic role in Vijayapuri Veeran. He made a move on the Malayalam film industry; Kaattumaina was his first Malayalam movie, which was also re-shot in Tamil. He appeared in a song sequence "Us Paar Saajan" as a fisherman dancer from the Hindi film Chori Chori (1956).
