Ratheesh (1954–2002) was an Indian actor best known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He was a native of Kalavoor in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. He performed villainous roles during the 1990s. He had acted in 158 films with directors such as K. G. George, I. V. Sasi, Joshiy, P. G. Vishwambharan, Thampy Kannamthanam, Sreekumaran Thampi, Rajasenan,P.K.Joseph and Shaji Kailas. Unlike other villains of the time, Ratheesh captivated the Malayalam movie lovers with his charms and handsome looks.He attained superstardom for a brief while during the 80s.
Mohan Sithara is an Indian music composer. He received the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Music Director (2009) for the songs in Priyanandan's Soofi Paranja Kadha. Since 1986 he has been an active musician in the Malayalam film industry. His work mixes Western, Classical and folk styles. He has worked with lyricists and poets like O. N. V Kurup, Yusufali Kechery, Sreekumaran Thampi, Rajeev Alunkal, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, S. Ramesan Nair, Vinayan, Bharanikkavu Sivakumar, Anil Panachooran, Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma, Gireesh Puthenchery, and Bichu Thirumala. Many prominent singers have sung his songs, including K. J. Yesudas, P. Jayachandran, M.G.Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra, Shreya Ghoshal, Sujatha Mohan, Madhu Balakrishnan, G. Venugopal, Vidhu Prathap, Afsal, Manjari, Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, and Biju Narayanan.
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.
Keezhoote Balakrishna Ganesh Kumar is an Indian actor, television host, and politician who is serving as the Minister for Transport of Kerala since December 2023 and previously from 2001 to 2003. He has also served as the Minister for Forests and Environment, Sports and Cinema of Kerala from 2011 to 2013. He is a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly representing Pathanapuram since 2001. He is the Chairman of the Kerala Congress (B) party. He made his debut as an actor in the film Irakal (1985) directed by K. G. George. He has starred in over 100 Malayalam films, performing a variety of roles.
Sufi Paranja Katha is the debut novel of Malayalam novelist K. P. Ramanunni. It was originally serialised in Kalakaumudi in 1989 and published as a book in 1993. The novel has been translated into eight languages, including English and French. Priyanandanan adapted the novel into a film of the same name in 2010. K. P. Ramanunni himself wrote the dialogue and script of the film.
Vincent was an Indian actor from Kerala. He was active during the 1970s and 80s and acted in about 160+ Malayalam films, many of them as leading actor. Born in Edavanakad Vypin, he was a romantic and action hero of his time.
K. P. Ramanunni (Malayalam:കെ.പി.രാമനുണ്ണി) is a novelist and short-story writer from Kerala, India. His first novel Sufi Paranja Katha won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 and the novel Daivathinte Pusthakam won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2017. Jeevithathinte Pusthakam won the 2011 Vayalar Award.
Mullanezhi Neelakandan Namboothiri, known mononymously as Mullanezhi, was an Indian poet, playwright, lyricist and actor from Thrissur. He was awarded the Nalapadan Award in 1989 for his poem "Naranath Brandhan". He was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award twice: in 1995 for the drama Samathalam and in 2010 for the poetry collection Kavitha. He wrote more than 70 songs for 25 movies and also acted in films like Uppu, Piravi, Kazhakam and Neelathamara.
Jayan K. Cherian is an Indian poet filmmaker who lives in New York City, US. He used to write in Malayalam and English languages. His documentary film Shape of the Shapeless got wide popularity on Many film festivals like International festival circuit, The International Film Festival of South Africa, as well as several festivals in North America. It won the Silver Jury Prize at the San Francisco Short Film Festival 2010, the Eastman Kodak award for Best Cinematography, and City Visions 2010 award for Best Documentary. Graduated with honors from Hunter College, BA in Film and Creative Writing and MFA from The City College of New York in Writing Directing Film, and Cinematography. Ka Bodyscapes (2016) is his new feature film, Papilio Buddha (2013), his critically acclaimed debut feature film, was screened in the Panorama Section at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. He made several experimental documentaries and narrative shorts such as: Shape of the Shapeless (2010) Love in the Time of Foreclosure (2009), Hidden Things (2009), Soul of Solomon (2008), Capturing the Signs of God (2008), Holy Mass (2007), Tree of Life (2007), Simulacra the Reality of the Unreal (2007), The Inner Silence of the Tumult (2007), Hid-entity (2007), and Tandava the Dance of Dissolution(2006).
Papilio Buddha is an Indian film written and directed by Jayan K. Cherian. The film focuses on the atrocities committed against Dalits, women, and the environment. It features S. P. Sreekumar, David Briggs, and Saritha Sunil while Padmapriya, Prakash Bare, and Thampy Antony play supporting roles. Kerala-based environmentalist Kallen Pokkudan appears in another important role in the film, which also casts 150 Adivasis. The film was completely shot in Wayanad, Kerala and the cinematography was done by M J Radhakrishnan. The story deals with discrimination against landless Dalits and the politics of suppression of their struggle against the upper castes and other powerful elements locally.
Vettiyattil Krishnan Sreeraman is an Indian actor, writer, TV anchor and social worker. He Acted In More Than 150 Films.
Prakash Bare is an Indian theater and film actor focusing on Malayalam, English and other south Indian language productions. Starting with the 2010 Malayalam film Sufi Paranja Katha, Prakash has acted in more than 30 films directed by some of the most eminent filmmakers. He is now a live presence in south Indian art house movies and theater scene. Prakash is also a technologist and entrepreneur focusing on VLSI, Software, media production etc. As a social activist, Prakash is involved in the Endosulfan struggle of Kasaragod and is the president of CERV Collectives which secured interim compensation of 5Lakhs for 6000 plus affected patients through a legal campaign
Kallen Pokkudan, also known as Kandal Pokkudan, was an Indian environmental activist and writer from Kerala. He was known for his efforts for the protection and proliferation of the mangrove forests in Kerala, since 1989.
Parudeesa (Paradise) is a 2012 Malayalam–language Indian feature film written by Vinu Abraham and directed by national award-winning filmmaker R. Sarath. The film stars Sreenivasan, Thampy Antony and Swetha Menon in the lead roles. Like in his previous films, Sarath interweaves a complex theme in Parudeesa—that of conflict of belief, the perpetual disagreement between orthodox and unorthodox paths of religion. The film, set against the backdrop of a remote hillside hamlet, unravels the story of a priest and a verger. While the priest is still lost in the labyrinth of orthodoxy, verger has a very liberated outlook about religion, or rather life in general. The film captures the quintessential conflict flickered by the situation. Sreenivasan plays the Bishop while Thampy Antony appears as the Priest and Swetha Menon plays the role of a cook at the nearby convent. Noted comedian and actor Jagathy Sreekumar plays another full-length character, Parudeesa being the last film he completed before the accident. The film released on 26 October 2012 and met with a mixed reaction. Reviews among major critics and parallel movie buffs have been positive but most online critics of mainstream cinema have given the film negative reviews.
Monsoon Mangoes is a 2016 Malayalam comedy film written and directed by Abi Varghese. The film stars Fahadh Faasil in the lead, with Iswarya Menon, Vinay Forrt, and Vijay Raaz in supporting roles. The movie was produced by Thampy Antony. The film was released on 15 January 2016.
Sufi Paranja Katha is a Malayalam-language film directed by Priyanandanan based on K. P. Ramanunni's novel with the same title. Ramanunni himself wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues for the film. Thampi Antony, Prakash Bare, and Sharbani Mukherjee did the main roles in this film. The film has been distributed by Central Pictures. It is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the Malayalam New Wave.
Hesham Abdul Wahab is an Indian music director, Music Producer, singer and audio engineer. Best known for his compositions for the soundtrack of the 2022 Malayalam film Hridayam and the music album Qadham Badha produced by British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf. Wahab is the recipient of 2021 Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for the soundtrack of the film Hridayam.
Vannadil Puthiyaveettil "V. P." Krishnakumar is a sound engineer, editor and recordist known mostly for his works in Malayalam films, documentaries and TV series. He has worked with acclaimed film directors including G. Aravindan, Padmarajan, T. V. Chandran and K. P. Kumaran. He specializes in Sync sound—for many of his notable works, audio was recorded live. He has also worked on foreign projects, including a documentary with German documentary filmmaker and director Andreas Voigt. After long stints with Kerala State Film Development Corporation's Chitranjali Studio and Kalabhavan Digital Studios in Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi, he heads the Department of Sound Recording at Chitranjali Studio, Thiruvananthapuram.
Honey Bee 2: Celebrations is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Lal Jr. It is a sequel to the 2013 film Honey Bee and features an ensemble cast, including Asif Ali, Bhavana, Baburaj, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Lal, Sreenivasan, Mamitha Baiju, Lena, Suresh Krishna, and Assim Jamal. The film is produced by Lal under Lal Creations. Honey Bee 2: Celebrations released on 23 March 2017.
