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.
Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English-language productions. In a career spanning five decades, he has appeared in more than 420 films, predominantly in lead roles. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, eleven Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and fifteen Filmfare Awards South. He was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award by the Government of India in 1998, for his contributions to cinema. He was also honored with the Kerala Prabha Award by the Government of Kerala in 2022.
Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor, playback singer, television presenter and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Tourism since June 2024. He was elected as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha in the 2024 general election from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, becoming the first BJP MP from Kerala, marking the party’s first-ever victory in a Lok Sabha election in the state. He is also serving as the President of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute from September 2023.
Ranjith Balakrishnan is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor who works in Malayalam cinema. Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with Ravanaprabhu, the sequel to Devaasuram. He has won three National Film Awards, including one for his film Spirit, which received the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues. His films Thirakkatha and Indian Rupee won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011, respectively. He has also received six Kerala State Film Awards.
Sai Kumar, also credited as Saikumar, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is the son of Malayalam actor late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. He appears in both positive and negative roles. He notably plays the hero role in Ramji Rao Speaking, and the villain in Makkal Mahatmyam.
Siddique (born 1 October 1962) is an Indian actor and producer, who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. Along with appearing in over 350 Malayalam films, he has also acted in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. He is known for having played a wide range of starring and supporting roles, including comic characters, romantic leads, anti-heroes and villains.
Shaji Kailas is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film Dr. Pasupathy (1990).
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.
Renji Panicker is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005.
Lelam (transl. Auction) is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Joshiy and written by Renji Panicker. It stars Suresh Gopi and M. G. Soman with Siddique, N. F. Varghese, Nandini, Maniyanpilla Raju, Vijayakumar, Spadikam George, and Kaviyoor Renuka in supporting roles. It was also the last film of the veteran actor M.G. Soman. The story revolves around the rivalry between two liquor business groups, the Aanakkattil family and Kadayadi family. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Yelam and into Telugu as Royal Challenge. Lelam was a blockbuster at the box-office and is also among the highest grossers of the 1990s.
Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor and playback singer who has predominantly acts in Malayalam Cinema, in addition to a few Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Kannada cinema and Hindi cinema films.
New Delhi is a 1987 Malayalam language action thriller film written by Dennis Joseph and directed by Joshiy and produced by Joy Thomas. It stars Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Thiagarajan, Sumalatha, Urvashi, Siddique, Vijayaraghavan, Mohan Jose, Devan, and Jagannatha Varma.
Dhruvam (transl. Pole) is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Joshiy, story and dialogue by S. N. Swamy and A. K. Sajan, respectively, and screenplay by S. N. Swamy. It stars an ensemble cast, including Mammootty in the lead with Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Vikram, Janardhanan, Gauthami, and Tiger Prabhakar. The musical score and songs were composed by S. P. Venkatesh. It was Vikram's debut in Malayalam cinema.
A. K. Sajan is an Indian screenwriter and film director who is best known for his directorial debut Stop Violence (2002). The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Chandra Lakshman. He is also known for scripting many movies in the industry. His notable works include Dhruvam (1993), Butterflies (1993), Kashmeeram (1994), Crime File (1999), Chinthamani Kolacase (2006), Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri (2007) and Puthiya Niyamam (2016).
Udaykrishna–Sibi K. Thomas is an Indian screenwriting duo known for their works in Malayalam cinema. Most of their works are in the comedy, action crime film and masala genre. They wrote films such as Mattupetti Machan (1998), Udayapuram Sulthan (1999), Dhosth (2001), C.I.D. Moosa (2003), Runway (2004), Kochi Rajavu (2005), Thuruppu Gulan (2006), Twenty:20 (2008), Pokkiri Raja (2010),Kaaryasthan(2010),Christian Brothers (2011) Mayamohini(2012),Mr. Marumakan(2012), Kammath and Kammath(2013)Rajadhi Raja(2014) and Ivan Maryadaraman(2015).
Dennis Joseph was an Indian scriptwriter and director known for his work in Malayalam films. He was active during the 1980s and early 1990s. He frequently collaborated with directors Joshiy and Thambi Kannanthanam. He is known for scripting films including Nirakkoottu (1985), Rajavinte Makan (1986), Shyama (1986), New Delhi (1987), No.20 Madras Mail (1990), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Indrajaalam (1990), Appu (1990), Akashadoothu (1993), Palayam (1994), and F.I.R. (1999). He also directed five films, including Manu Uncle, which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 1988 and the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Children's Film in 1989.
Lailaa O Lailaa is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language action spy thriller film directed by Joshiy. It stars Mohanlal and Amala Paul alongside a supporting cast of Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew, Sreerag Nambiar, Rahul Dev and Kainaat Arora. Bollywood screenwriter Suresh Nair debuted in Malayalam as writer in the film. The original soundtrack and background score were composed by Gopi Sunder.
Kaloor Dennis is an Indian film scriptwriter and novelist. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He started his career with Anubhavangale Nandi in 1979. He worked in more than 100 Malayalam movies with the areas of his contribution including script, story and dialogue. Popular movies scripted by him are Raktham (1981), Aa Rathri (1983), Sandarbam (1984), January Oru Orma (1986),Gajakesariyogam (1990), Mimics Parade (1991), Welcome to Kodaikanal (1992), Kudumbasametham (1992) and Paithrukam (1993). He won the 1992 Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Kudumbasametham His son Dinu Dennis has acted in the films Ottananayam (2005) and Ennitum (2006).
Junaid Sheikh is an Indian actor and model. Since 2010, Junaid has starred in many commercially successful films in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, often as an antagonist.
Gokul Suresh is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is the son of film actor and politician Suresh Gopi.
