K. Narayanan is an Indian film director, editor, and art director who has worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Since his debut in 1953, he has edited more than 200 films across Malayalam and Tamil. [1]
Born in 1933 at Thikkat House in Nandipuram near Trichur, he was the son of Kannan Nair and Kalyaniyamma. His father’s job with the Indian Railways took the family to Madras, where he spent his childhood. He was married to N. Lakshmi and has a son, N. Rupesh Babu.
Narayanan started his film career by assisting Sankar in 1947. His first independent project was Sadarame, a Kannada film. His first film in Malayalam was Ashadeepam (1953). [2] He is a four time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Editor.[ citation needed ]
Balakrishnan Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair was an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam cinema. Although he appeared as a villain in most films, he was also noted for his performances in strong character roles. He emerged as one of the top villain of Malayalam cinema in the second half of the 1970s and played some of the best villain characters in Malayalam films during that period. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance as Govindan in the film Oppol.
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran was an Indian film director who made over 110 films predominantly in Malayalam, in addition to Tamil and Hindi languages. In 2015, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, the highest award in Malayalam cinema. Often described as a pathbreaker, Sasi made his mark during Malayalam cinema’s transformative period from the 1970s to 1990s.
Antony Basker Raj, also known as A. Bhaskar Raj, was an Indian director of Malayalam movies.
Jeassy, also known as J. C. or Jesey, was an Indian director and actor of Malayalam movies. His first film as an actor was Ramu Kariat's Ezhu Rathrikal. Some of his notable films as an actor were Adimakal, Kallichellamma, Allahu Akbar, Manpeda, Kuttyedathi and Ganga Sangamam. Shapamoksham, made in 1974, was his first film as a director. Since the early 1970s, he has directed some 30 movies.
Padmadalakshan, better known by his stage name Kuthiravattam Pappu, was a popular Indian stage and film actor. His repertoire of acting was based on his unique style and use of the Kozhikodan dialect, impeccable timing and the capability to grasp the subtle nuances of any character and mould it into his signature "Pappu style". He acted in over a thousand Malayalam films. He made his debut in a small comic role in Bhargavi Nilayam. His character was named Kuthiravattom, a name that stuck for the rest of his career.
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.
Kachinamthoduka Puthiyapurayil Ummer known as K. P. Ummer was an Indian actor from Thekkepuram quarter of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was active in the Malayalam cinema from the early sixties until the late nineties.
Jayanan Vincent is an Indian cinematographer. He is the son of cinematographer and director A. Vincent and elder brother to Ajayan Vincent. He is known for his work in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi films and he is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC). He won two Nandi Awards.
Sumithra is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu language films. She acted as the lead heroine in films between 1974 and 1985. She became well known for her roles as a mother the 1990s onwards.
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.
Chalappurathu Raveendranatha Menon, popularly known as Ravi Menon, was a veteran Indian film actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He was born in Sreekrishnapuram, Palakkad in 1950. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his debut in the Malayalam movie Nirmalyam, for which he received the state government special jury award. He was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Mani Kaul's Duvidha. His notable movies includes Shalini Ente Koottukari, Shyama, Kilukkam, and Minnaram. He acted in more than 50 Malayalam movies.
Santhakumari is an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in more than 250 films, dramas, television serials and short films.
Sudheer was an Indian actor who predominantly worked in the Malayalam film industry. He was a lead actor during the 1970s. He acted in more than 100 movies. His role in the movie Chembarathy in 1972 was well noted. He won a Kerala State Film Award in 1975 for his performance in the movie Sathyathinte Nizhalil.
Shubha is an Indian actress who acted prominently in Malayalam films. She was a lead actress during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She also acted in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi films. She was the second lead in the cult Kannada classic Naagarahaavu (1972). For this, she received Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the year 1972–73.
Kottayam Santha was an Indian actress and dubbing artist best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in more than 300 films. She had also acted in several TV serials like Valayam, Krishnakripasagaram etc. She dubbed for almost 1000 films. She was the voice for Seema in almost all her Malayalam films.
N. Govindan Kutty was an Indian actor who worked in the Malayalam film industry. He has appeared in around 100 films, acting mainly in villain roles.
Thodupuzha Vasanthi was an Indian actress who acted mainly in Malayalam films. She appeared in over 450 movies and also in 16 tele-serials and 100 plays. She was a theater artist, before starting with small roles in movies. Her first full length role was in Kakka in 1982. Some of her most popular films include Yavanika (1982), Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984), Nirakkoottu (1985) and Godfather (1991). She was also a dance teacher at Varamani Natyalaya. She underwent treatment for throat cancer before her death on 28 November 2017 at the age of 65.
Pala Thankam was an Indian actress in Malayalam movies. She was one of the prominent supporting actresses, singers and dubbing artists in the late 1960s and 1970s in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She acted in more than 100 movies and dubbed for almost 500 films.
Alleppey Sheriff, also known as A. Sheriff, was an Indian film scriptwriter and director in Malayalam movies. He wrote the script, story and dialogue for more than 100 Malayalam movies during the 1970s and 1980s. He wrote the screenplays for movies Avalude Ravukal in 1978, Ulsavam in 1975, Eeta in 1978, and Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum in 1979.
M. Mani, also known as Aroma Mani, was an Indian film producer and director in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. He produced more than 60 movies and directed more than 10 under the banner Sunitha Productions and Aroma Movie International. He made his debut with the movie Dheerasameere Yamunaatheere in 1977. Mani died on 14 July 2024, at the age of 84.