Mohanlal Viswanathan is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam film industry besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 400 films. Mohanlal's contributions to the Malayalam cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2001, and Padma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highest civilian honours, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army. Mohanlal was named as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema" by CNN-News18.
Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil language films. He has also appeared in Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English-language productions. In a career spanning five decades, he has appeared in more than 400 films, predominantly in lead roles. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, eight Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South. For his contribution to film, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1998. In 2022, he was honoured with Kerala Prabha Award, the second-highest honour given by the Government of Kerala.
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Malayalam and Hindi cinema. The massive success his movies enjoyed mirrors the collective conscience of the people, especially the elite, of that era, of which the filmmaker is a part of.
Nadodikkattu is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan based on a story by the Siddique–Lal duo. It stars Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in the lead roles, along with an ensemble supporting cast featuring Shobhana, Thilakan, Innocent, Mamukkoya and Captain Raju. The story revolves around two impecunious young men, Ramdas and Vijayan who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to immigrate to Dubai to make their fortunes but get deceived and end up in Chennai. The film drew upon relevant social factors affecting Kerala of the 1980s such as widespread unemployment and poverty.
Joshiy is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and also directed Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada-language films. Joshiy is a pioneer of action thriller films in Malayalam cinema and his films are known for its stylized imagery, color grading and film noir.
Ranjith Balakrishnan is an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist, producer, and actor who works in Malayalam cinema. Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with Ravanaprabhu, the sequel to Devaasuram. His films Thirakkatha and Indian Rupee won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011 respectively. He is also the current chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
Harikrishnans is a 1998 Indian Malayalam-language mystery comedy film written and directed by Fazil. The film was produced and distributed by Suchitra Mohanlal under the production company Pranavam Arts, starring Mammootty and Mohanlal in the title roles. Juhi Chawla, Innocent, Shamili, Nedumudi Venu, Cochin Haneefa, Jagadish, Maniyanpilla Raju and Kunchacko Boban play the supporting cast. The film received a great pre-release hype due to the combined screen presence of Mohanlal and Mammootty, and was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. It was later dubbed into Tamil with the same name.
T. C. Balaji, better known by his stage name Daniel Balaji, is an Indian actor and writer, who predominantly appears in Tamil and Malayalam films.
Mammootty, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. In 1971, he made his onscreen debut as an extra in K. S. Sethumadhavan's Anubhavangal Paalichakal while studying law in Maharaja's College. Since then he has acted in more than 400 films in Malayalam and other languages including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English and Kannada films. After his debut, he appeared in an uncredited role in Kaalachakram (1973). In 1979, while he was practising law in Manjeri he was offered a pivotal role in M. T. Vasudevan Nair's Devalokam. However, this film was never released.
Adiyozhukkukal (transl. Undercurrents) is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair; starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, Seema, Balan K. Nair, Vincent and Rahman. The film was produced by Raju Mathew under the banner of Casino and was distributed by Century Films.
Rajavinte Makan is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language gangster film directed and produced by Thampi Kannanthanam from a screenplay written by Dennis Joseph and based on the 1980 novel Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon. It stars Mohanlal, Ratheesh, Ambika and Mohan Jose. In the film, Vincent Gomes sets out to exact revenge against Home Minister N. Krishnadas.
No.20 Madras Mail is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film directed by Joshiy and written by Dennis Joseph from a story by Harikumar. The film stars Mohanlal in lead role and Jagadish, Maniyanpilla Raju, M. G. Soman, Ashokan, and Suchitra Murali in supporting roles, while Mammootty appears in an extended cameo as himself. The background score was composed by S. P. Venkatesh while the song was composed by Ouseppachan. The plot follows three youngsters who are embroiled in the murder mystery of a young woman in a train journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Madras. No.20 Madras Mail was released on 16 February 1990 and received positive reviews. Almost half of the film was shot inside a train. Four years later, the film was remade in Hindi as Teesra Kaun by Partho Ghosh.
Minnaram is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language romantic tragedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan from a story by Cheriyan Kalpakavadi. The film stars Mohanlal, Shobana, and Thilakan, in main lead roles, with Sankaradi, K. P. Ummer, Jagathy Sreekumar, Geetha Vijayan, Venu Nagavally, and Lalu Alex in supporting roles. It was produced by R. Mohan through Goodknight Films. The film was a commercial success at box office.
Unnikrishnan B is an Indian film director, screenwriter, distributor and exhibitor who works in the Malayalam film industry.
Nirnayam (transl. Diagnosis) is a 1995 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film directed by Sangeeth Sivan, produced by Suresh Balaje, and written by Cheriyan Kalpakavadi. The film stars Mohanlal and Heera Rajagopal. The plot follows a physician who has been falsely accused for his wife's murder escapes from the custody to discover the truth behind the incident and the actual perpetrators. The film's music was composed by R. Anandh.
Adimakal Udamakal is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language political film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by T. Damodaran, starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, Nalini and Seema. Ratheesh, Mukesh, Urvashi, Jagathi Sreekumar, Captain Raju, Lissy, Sukumari and Santhakumari play supporting roles.
Sunitha is an Indian actress known for her roles in films made in South India from 1986 to 1996.
Bavuttiyude Namathil is a 2012 Malayalam-language drama thriller film produced and written by Ranjith, directed by G. S. Vijayan, and starring Mammootty in the title role, along with Kavya Madhavan, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Kaniha, Rima Kallingal and Vineeth. The film was earlier titled Malabar.
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram is a 1985 Indian Malayalam film, directed by P. G. Vishwambharan and produced by Hameed and K. T. Kunjumon. The film stars Mammootty, Rahman, Shobhana, Thilakan and Adoor Bhasi in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. Mohanlal's Balettan is loosely adapted from this film.
Idanilangal is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by K. Balachander. The film stars Mammootty, Mohanlal, Seema and Menaka and. The film has musical score by M. S. Viswanathan.
