Nedumudi Venu

Kesavan Venugopal (born 22 May 1948), known popularly by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, is an Indian film actor from Kerala, who predominantly works in the Malayalam Cinema. Considered as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema, he has acted in more than 500 films, primarily in Malayalam and also in Tamil. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film. He has won two National Film Awards and six Kerala State Film Awards for his various performances.

Early life
Venu was born as Venugopal to P. K. Kesavan Nair, a school master and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi as the youngest of their five children. He has four elder brothers. He had his primary education from NSS Higher Secondary School, Nedumudi, and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Champakulam. He was involved in art and music since his academic period. After graduating from S. D. College, Alappuzha, he worked as a journalist in Kalakaumudi and as a teacher in a tutorial institute. Venu was living in Thiruvananthapuram when he made friends with the likes of Aravindan, Padmarajan and Bharath Gopi. This ultimately paved the way for his film career. He is a talented Mridangam player.

Family
He is married to T. R. Susheela. The couple has two sons, Unni and Kannan.

Career
Venu started his career in theater and went on to act in films. He was a member of Kavalam Narayana Panicker's dramas. He debuted in the film Thambu (1978), by director G Aravindan. His acting skills were showcased in the Bharathan film Aaravam. Padmarajan's Oridathoru Phayalwan and Kallan Pavithran set a milestone for him. It marked his start in Karanavar (head of the family) roles, which included most of his memorable performances.

Venu also wrote scripts for movies. He wrote the stories for the films Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Theertham, Sruthi, Ambada Njaane!, Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha, Savidham and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu. He also tried his hand in direction with Pooram. He has also acted in a few Tamil films with director Shankar, such as Kamal Hasan's Indian and Vikram's Anniyan.

Venu has also acted in some television serials. He acted in NFDC film Parinamam (The Change), directed by P Venu that won the best screenplay award at the Ashdod International Film Festival held in Israel. He won the Best Actor award for his role in Saira at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival which concluded in September 2007; Saira was the only film from India to be included in the festival. The committee mentioned that he acted compellingly and convincingly in his portrayal of a man caught between secularism and fundamentalism.

Awards
National Film Awards


 * 1990 – Best Supporting Actor – His Highness Abdullah
 * 2003 – Special Jury Award – Margam
 * 2006 – National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Narration / Voice Over – Minukku

Kerala State Film Awards
 * 1980 – Second Best Actor – Chamaram
 * 1981 – Best Actor – Vidaparayum Munpe
 * 1987 – Best Actor – Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
 * 1990 – Special Jury Award – Bharatham, Santhwanam
 * 1994 – Second Best Actor – Thenmavin Kombath
 * 2003 – Best Actor – Margam

Kerala State Television Awards
 * 2001 - Best Actor : Avasthatarangal

Asianet Film Awards
 * 2005 – Best Supporting Actor Award – Thanmatra
 * 2007 – Best Script Writer Award – Thaniye
 * 2011 – Best Supporting Actor – Best Actor, Elsamma Enna Aankutty
 * 2013 – Best Character Actor – North 24 Kaatham
 * 2015 – Best Villain – Oru Second Class Yathra, Rudra Simhasanam
 * 2017 - Asianet Film Award for Lifetime Achievement

Filmfare Awards
 * 1981 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Vida Parayum Munpe
 * 1987 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam -Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
 * 1997 – Lifetime Achievement Award

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards
 * 2007 – Second Best Actor – Thaniye
 * 2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award/Prathibha Puraskaram

Other Awards
 * 2003 – Best Actor Award won in Television Gallup Poll conducted by University of Kerala union for Ragardram (Doordarshan)
 * 2006 – Sathyan Award
 * 2006 – Kalavedi International Prathibha Award was presented at Tagore Theatre, Trivandrum in 2006.
 * 2007 – Bahadoor Award
 * 2008 – Kala Ratnam Award of KALA Abu Dhabi
 * 2011 – Serve India Media Award
 * 2015 – Vanitha Film Award for Best Villain for Oru Second Class Yathra and Rudra Simhasanam

Film festivals

 * 2003 – Arimpara at the Cannes Film Festival & other film festivals
 * 2005 – Margam at the Havana International Film Festival
 * 2007 – Saira – Best Actor award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival

Tamil

 * 2020 – Indian 2
 * 2019 – Sarvam Thaala Mayam
 * 2008 – Silambaattam
 * 2008 – Poi Solla Porom
 * 2005 – Anniyan
 * 1996 – Indian
 * 1995 – Mogamul

English

 * 2007 Chaurahen

Television

 * Kairali Vilasam Lodge (Doordarshan) (Direction, acting)
 * Verukal (Doordarshan) (based on the Novel by Sri – Malayattoor Ramakrishnan  )
 * Jwalayayi (Doordarshan)
 * Poovanpazham (Telefilm) (Doordarshan)
 * Swapnam (Asianet)
 * Avasthantarangal (Kairali TV)
 * Oomakkuyil (Surya TV)
 * Raagardram (Doordarshan)
 * Sree Guruvayorappan (Surya TV)
 * Prayanam (Surya TV)
 * Peythozhiyathe (Surya TV)
 * Kunjalimarakkar(Asianet)
 * Sreekrishnan (Surya TV)