1940s
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar | Gnanambika | Navalokam (1951), Sheriyo Thetto (1953), Vidhi Thanna Vilakku (1962) |
This list outlines the names of popular lead film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the Malayalam film industry , based in Kerala, India. The list is ordered by the year of their debut as a leading actor or the year of their landmark film. Actors who have starred in at least five films as lead are included in the list.
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | K. K. Aroor | Balan | Gnanambika (1940), Kerala Kesari (1950), Genova (1953) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar | Gnanambika | Navalokam (1951), Sheriyo Thetto (1953), Vidhi Thanna Vilakku (1962) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Prem Nazir [1] | Marumakal | Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969) |
| Sathyan [2] | Athmasakhi | Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968) | |
| 1953 | Adoor Bhasi | Thiramala | Thommante Makkal (1965), Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966), C.I.D. Nazir (1971) |
| 1958 | P. J. Antony | Randidangazhi | Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) Kurukshethram (1970), Manninte Maril (1979) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Jose Prakash [3] | Bhakta Kuchela | C.I.D. Nazir (1971), Love In Singapore (1980), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990) |
| 1964 | Madhu | Bhargavi Nilayam | Chemmeen (1965), Bobanum Moliyum (1971), Geethaanjali (2013) |
| Kuthiravattam Pappu | Bhargavi Nilayam | Lisa (1978), Aye Auto (1990), Manichitrathazhu (1993) | |
| 1968 | Raghavan | Kayalkkarayil | Swami Ayyappan (1975), Hridhayathinte Nirangal (1979), Evidence (1998) |
Prem Nazir was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. A popular cultural icon of Kerala, Nazir is often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan. Nazir began his career as a stage actor and made his film debut with the 1952 film Marumakal. He took on the stage name Prem Nazir on the sets of his second film, Visappinte Vili (1952).
Karthika Menon, better known by her stage name Bhavana, is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, in addition to Kannada and Tamil films.
Mukesh Madhavan, known mononymously as Mukesh, is an Indian actor, film producer, television presenter, and politician who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil-language films. In a film career spanning four decades, he has acted in over 275 Malayalam films.
The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
Parvathy Thiruvothu Kottuvattaa, known mononymously as Parvathy, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films. She is a recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, two Kerala State Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards South.
Tovino Thomas is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film Prabhuvinte Makkal. His breakthrough roles were in the films ABCD (2013), 7th Day (2014), and Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015). He starred in the titular character as the Netflix superhero film Minnal Murali (2021).
Dhyan Sreenivasan is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer who works in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut with Thira (2013), directed by his elder brother Vineeth Sreenivasan. He made his directorial debut with Love Action Drama (2019).
Chemban Vinod Jose is an Indian actor, film producer and screenwriter, who predominantly works in Malayalam films. He is a physiotherapist by profession. He is an established character actor and has appeared in over 50 films, mostly in comedic roles.
Shine Tom Chacko is an Indian actor and former assistant director who works in Malayalam cinema along with some Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. After working as an assistant to director Kamal for about 9 years, he forayed into acting through the film, Gaddama. He played supporting roles in several films including Ee Adutha Kaalathu, Chapters, Annayum Rasoolum ,Masala Republic, and Jigarthanda DoubleX and played his first lead role in Binu S Kalady's fantasy-comedy film Ithihasa (2014) which dealt with body-swapping.
Soubin Shahir is an Indian actor, director and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He began his film career as an assistant director in 2003 and worked under several directors. Soubin made his acting debut in 2013 with a supporting role in Annayum Rasoolum. He made his directorial debut with the drama Parava (2017). In 2018, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his leading role in Sudani from Nigeria, which was also a major commercial success. He portrayed one of the main characters in Manjummel Boys, which went on to become the highest grossing Malayalam film ever and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.
Nikhila Vimal is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films, in addition to Telugu films. After appearing in a minor role in Bhagyadevatha (2009), her lead role came in Love 24x7 (2015).
Alencier Ley Lopez is an Indian film and theatre actor, who appears in Malayalam films. Lopez made his debut in the 1998 film Daya; and he worked in films like Annayum Rasoolum (2013), Njan Steve Lopez (2013), and Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016).
Manikandan R. Achari is an Indian actor who has appeared in many Malayalam films and theatre productions. He made his film debut in the 2016 film Kammatipaadam.
Madhu Neelakandan, sometimes spelled Madhu Neelakantan is an Indian cinematographer and film producer in Malayalam and Bollywood cinema. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Cinematography in 2012 for Annayum Rasoolum and in 2021 for Churuli. He is a part of Collective Phase One, a creative group that has produced films such as ID and Njan Steve Lopez. He has done his PG diploma in cinematography from film and television institute of India, Pune.
Job Kurian is an Indian singer and composer who works in both indie music and in Malayalam films. He won the South Indian International Movie Award for Best Male Playback Singer in Malayalam in 2023.
KRG Studios is an Indian film production and distribution company based in Bengaluru, India. It primarily deals with the production and distribution of Kannada-language and non-Kannada films across Karnataka.
Jeo Baby is an Indian film director, scriptwriter and actor who works in Malayalam films. His family drama film The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) won the 51st Kerala State Film Award for Best Film and he received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay.
Rajesh Madhavan is an Indian actor and assistant director who works in Malayalam cinema. Rajesh made his acting debut in 2016 with a supporting role in Maheshinte Prathikaaram. He started his career as an assistant director in the industry with Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017). He is recognized for his works as actor and creative director for the film Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam and his role as Manaf in Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham in 2021. He is making his directorial debut with an upcoming film titled Pennum Porattum.
Lukman Avaran is an Indian actor who primarily works in Malayalam cinema. His debut film is Dayom Panthrandum (2013) was the first theatre-released film in his career. Lukman acted the lead role in the film Operation Java (2021) directed by Tharun Moorthy. He was mainly noted for his performances in the films Shibu(2019), Virus (2019), Operation Java (2021), Thallumaala (2022), Saudi Vellakka (2022).
Althaf Salim is an Indian film director and actor who is works in Malayalam film industry. He is known for directing Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela.