Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acting debut as a child in the 1965 film Odayil Ninnu. He made his debut as an adult in 1986 and since then, he has acted in more than 250 films. Suresh Gopi is a recipient of the National Film Award and the Kerala State Film Award in 1998 for his performance in Kaliyattam. He was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.
Kalamandalam Hyderali was one of the best Kathakali singers of his generation, and the first non-Hindu artiste to make a mark in the four-century-old classical dance-drama from Kerala in south India.
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).
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 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.
Thalasthanam is a 1992 Malayalam-language crime action film written by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas. The film stars Suresh Gopi in the lead role, along with Geetha, Narendra Prasad, Monisha, M. G. Soman, K. B. Ganesh Kumar and Vijayakumar in supporting roles. The film explores the concepts of campus politics and the impact of anti social elements in students.
Dubai is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Joshiy starring Mammootty, N. F. Varghese, Biju Menon and Nirmal Pandey. Anjala Zaveri, Vijayakumar, Cochin Haneefa, Janardhanan, Nedumudi Venu and Preetha Vijayakumar play supporting roles. The script for the film was written by Renji Panicker. It received negative reviews from the critics and was a failure at the box office.
M. J. Radhakrishnan was an Indian cinematographer working mainly in Malayalam films. He got National film award 2018 as best cinematographer for his work on Malayalam movie Oolu. He won Kerala State Award for Best Cinematography 7 times, equal with Mankada Ravi Varma. Earlier he worked as a still photographer and then as an associate to cinematographer turned director Shaji N. Karun. His important works included Deshadanam (1996), Karunam (1999) Naalu Pennungal (2007), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010) and Akasathinte Niram. His films were screened at several prominent film festivals around the world including Cannes, Shanghai, Cairo, Montreal, Telluride, Jeonju, Toronto, Chicago, Rhode Island and Rotterdam. One of his works, Marana Simhasanam, won Caméra d'Or in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. Another film Veyilmarangal won Golden Goblet award for Outstanding Artistic achievement at Shanghai International Film Festival 2019. He worked on over 117 feature films and several documentaries and worked with some of the prominent Indian filmmakers including Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Murali Nair, Shaji N. Karun, TV Chandran, Dr. Biju, Jayaraj and Renjith. He mostly worked on arthouse films and was known for his natural lighting styles. In a career spanning more than two decades, he worked with a number of young film makers, mostly in their maiden ventures. Film Kalamandalam Hyderali 2019, directed by Kiran G. Nath was his last completed work as director of photography.
Jacobinte Swargarajyam is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The film stars Nivin Pauly and Renji Panicker. It revolves around a wealthy businessman and the struggles faced by his son to clear his father's debts after a business associate cheats him. The film was released on 8 April 2016 in India and later in foreign countries.
Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Rishi Sivakumar. It stars Kunchacko Boban, Renji Panicker, Manoj K.Jayan, Saiju Kurup and Shamili. The film hinges on cinema culture and the presentation of 1990s film themes & styles. The film was released on 12 May 2016 to an opening of 4.9 cr which is the highest till date for a solo Kunchacko Boban movie but was panned and flopped at the box office.
Orayiram Kinakkalal is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film directed by Pramod Mohan. The screenplay was written by Kiran Varma and Mohan, with dialogues co-written by Hrishikesh Mundani. The film stars Biju Menon, Roshan Mathew, Sharu Varghese, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Nirmal Palazhi, and Sakshi Agarwal. Orayiram Kinakkalal was released on 6 April 2018.
Role Models is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Rafi. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Vinayakan, Namitha Pramod, Sharaf U Dheen and Vinay Forrt. The film was shot in various locations of Goa and Dubai. Role Models was released on 25 June 2017 all over Kerala.
Bhayanakam is a 2018 Indian Malayalam–language period drama war film directed by Jayaraj, produced by Sureshkumar Muttath, and stars writer-turned-actor Renji Panicker and Asha Sarath. The film is an adaptation of two chapters from Takazhy Sivasankara Pillai's epic Malayalam novel Coir (1978). The production design for the film was carried out by artist K. M. V. Namboothiri. The film is the sixth movie in director Jayaraj's "Navarasa Series".
Oru Yamandan Premakadha is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama spoof film directed by B. C. Noufal and written by Bibin George and Vishnu Unnikrishnan. It stars Dulquer Salmaan, Nikhila Vimal, Soubin Shahir, Salim Kumar and Vishnu Unnikrishnan in the lead roles. The film's production began on 3 July 2017 and was completely shot in Kochi. It was released on 25 April 2019.
Kolaambi (transl. Loudspeaker) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar, starring Nithya Menen, Renji Panicker, Rohini, Sijoy Varghese and Dileesh Pothan. The film is produced by Roopesh Omana under the production house Nirmalyam Cinema. Resul Pookutty handles the sound recording, while music is composed by Ramesh Narayan and cinematography is done by Ravi Varman. Production design is done by Sabu Cyril.
Kaaval (transl. Guard) is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language drama action thriller film written and directed by Nithin Renji Panicker. Produced by Joby George under the banner of Goodwill Entertainments, the film stars Suresh Gopi and Renji Panicker in the lead roles. Ranjin Raj composes the film's original score and soundtrack, Production Controller Sanjay Padiyoor Nikhil S. Praveen is its cinematographer. The film was released on 04 November 2021 coinciding with Diwali.
Thakkol (transl. Key) is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language thriller film directed by Kiron Prabhakaran and starring Indrajith Sukumaran and Murali Gopy. The film was in production for over a year. The lead cast had previously starred together in Ee Adutha Kaalathu (2012), Left Right Left (2013) and Tiyaan (2017). The film is produced by director Shaji Kailas. Sukumaran and Gopy play priests in the film. The film was predominantly shot in Goa.
Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri is a Maddalam exponent from Kerala, India, best known for playing Maddalam for Kathakali performances. He received several noted awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Gurupooja Award and Kerala Kalamandalam Award.
Kooman (transl. Owl) is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by Jeethu Joseph, written by K. R. Krishna Kumar and jointly produced by Listin Stephen and Allwin Antony. The film stars Asif Ali, with Renji Panicker, Jaffar Idukki, Baburaj, Hannah Reji Koshy, and Meghanathan. The plot follows Giri Shankar, a C.P.O. disregarded by his colleagues and looked upon with contempt by his villagers, as he takes revenge for a humiliating incident, his life turns upside down. The original background score and a song was composed by Vishnu Shyam.
Roudram 2018 is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Jayaraj. It stars Renji Panicker and K. P. A. C. Leela. The film was released on 18 October 2019.
