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. His 1996 film Kaanaakkinaavu premiered at the IFFI and won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. He co-produced Kadha Parayumbol (2007), which won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. He also produced the 2012 film Thattathin Marayathu, which is considered one of the defining films of the Malayalam New Wave.
Biju Menon is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, and also has a few Tamil and Telugu film credits. He made his debut in the 1994 Malayalam film Puthran. In a career spanning over two decades, he has appeared in over 150 films, and has won one National film award for Best Supporting Actor, three Kerala State Film Awards including one best actor, two Filmfare Awards South and nine Asianet Film Awards. He got the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in 2021 for the film Aarkkariyam.
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–Lal are a screenwriter and director duo, consisting of Siddique and Lal. They were active together in Malayalam cinema during 1986–1995. They were initially assistant directors to director Fazil. Particularly known for making films in the comedy genre, the films that came out of the partnership include Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1992), and Kabooliwala (1993). All of these films were some of the biggest hits in Malayalam cinema and many of them have a cult following in Kerala. The duo broke off in 1993, but later continued their association by Lal producing some of the films directed by Siddique. The duo reunited again after two decades in 2016 to co-write the film King Liar which was directed by Lal.
Brahmanandam Drama Company is a 2008 Indian Telugu comedy film starring Sivaji, Ravi Krishna, Brahmanandam and Kamalinee Mukherjee. The film is directed by E. Srikanth Nahatha and produced by: Palli Kesava Rao and K. Kishore Reddy. The film is a Telugu remake of Hindi film Bhagam Bhag, which itself is the official remake of the 1995 Malayalam film Mannar Mathai Speaking with comedy sequences and sub plot borrowed from another 1987 Malayalam film Nadodikkattu. The film was a box office failure.
Ramji Rao Speaking is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-thriller film written and directed by the duo Siddique–Lal and produced by Fazil, Swargachitra Appachan, and Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy. It stars Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Innocent, Vijayaraghavan, Devan, Rekha, with Sankaradi, Sukumari, Kunchan and Mamukkoya in other supporting roles. The film deals with social factors affecting Kerala including unemployment during the 1980s, and went on to achieve a cult classic status.
Rahul Raj is an Indian music composer. He has composed and produced scores and soundtracks predominantly for Malayalam movies. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Berklee College of Music and holds a postgraduate degree in scoring for films, TV and video games.
Ee Parakkum Thalika is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language slapstick comedy drama film starring Dileep, Harisree Ashokan, Nithya Das and Cochin Haneefa. It was directed by Thaha and written by V. R. Gopalakrishnan. The film was also the debut film of Nithya Das. The story follows bus owner Unnikrishnan and his assistant Sundareshan who live and sleep in their bus. It is considered one of the best slapstick comedy movies in Malayalam cinema and was one of the highest grossing Malayalam movie in 2001. The bus known as Thamarakshan Pilla, which is a central figure in the movie eventually developed into a cult figure in Kerala.
JanardhananPillai, also known as JanardhananNair, is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Air Force personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He acted in his first feature film Adyathe Kadha, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1971, he acted in more than 700 films. He started his career when Malayalam films were made in black and white. He is known for his style of handling humour and his iconic voice. He started his career playing brusque villains and sub hero roles in the 1970s and early 1980s, acting along with Prem Nazir and Jayan, but later established himself as a highly sought-after comedian.
Mannar Mathai Speaking is a 1995 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film produced and directed by Mani C. Kappan and written by Siddique-Lal. The film stars Mukesh, Innocent, Sai Kumar, Vani Viswanath, Biju Menon, Geetha Vijayan, K. P. Ummer, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Janardhanan, Indrans, Vijayaraghavan, Sukumari, Harisree Ashokan and Cochin Haneefa. It is a sequel to the 1989 film Ramji Rao Speaking, and is followed by Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014). Vani Viswanath made her debut in this film as a leading actress.
S. Balakrishnan was an Indian film score composer and music director who worked mainly in Malayalam cinema. Best known for his association with the director duo Siddique-Lal, he has scored some of the all-time hit songs in late 1980s and early 1990s.
Poppins is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language anthology film directed by V. K. Prakash. It stars ten lead actors, appearing as five couples; the characters are played by Kunchacko Boban and Nithya Menen, Jayasurya and Meghna Raj, Indrajith and Padmapriya, Shankar Ramakrishnan and Mythili, and Siddique and Ann Augustine. The film was shot with two cameras at the same time handled by Jomon T. John and Arun.
Inspector Garud is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Johny Antony, starring Dileep and Kavya Madhavan as the lead roles. The film was a commercial success at the box office.
ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Martin Prakkat, produced by Shibu Thameens under the banner of Thameens Films. It stars Dulquer Salmaan, Jacob Gregory, Tovino Thomas and Aparna Gopinath. The film features music composed by Gopi Sunder, cinematography is handled by Jomon T. John. The film deals about the journey of two young American Malayalees to Kerala. The title is based on the term American-Born Confused Desi. Released on 14 June 2013, the film received positive reviews and was commercially successful. It marked the first collaboration between Dulquer Salmaan and Martin Prakkat. The film was remade into Telugu in 2019 with the same name.
RajadhiRaja is a 2014 Malayalam-language action thriller film, directed by Ajai Vasudev and written by the duo of Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas. The film stars Mammootty and Siddique, alongside an ensemble supporting cast including Joju George, Raai Laxmi, Mukesh Khanna, Raza Murad, Sijoy Varghese, Rahul Dev, Nawab Shah and Joy Mathew.
Munnariyippu (transl. Warning) is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language psychological experimental thriller film directed by Venu and produced by Ranjith, screenplay by Unni R. The film stars Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath, with Nedumudi Venu, Joy Mathew, Prathap Pothan, Sreeraman, Renji Panicker, Saiju Kurup, Joshy Mathew, and Sudheesh in supporting roles. Prithviraj Sukumaran appears in a cameo role.
Sunday Holiday is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film Produced by MAQTRO Motion Pictures, written and directed by Jis Joy, based on a story by Kiran. V.S and Urasu. The film features an ensemble cast including Asif Ali, Sreenivasan, Lal Jose, Aparna Balamurali, Asha Sarath, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Siddique, Bhagath Manuel, Alphy Panjikkaaran and Alencier Ley Lopez. The music was composed by Deepak Dev. The film was released on 14 July 2017, and received positive reviews from critics.
Santhwanam (transl. Consolation) is an Indian Malayalam-language soap opera directed by Aadithyan. The show premiered on 21 September 2020 on Asianet and aires on-demand through Disney+ Hotstar. It stars Rajeev Parameshwar, Chippy Renjith, Girish Nambiar, Raksha Raj, Sajin TP, Gopika Anil, Achu Sugandh and Manjusha Martin in lead roles. It is an official remake of Tamil soap opera Pandian Stores, airing on Star Vijay.
