Nedumudi Venu
AKA: Kesavan Venu Gopal
Birthday: 1948-05-22
Died: 2021-10-11
Birthplace: Alleppey, Travancore
Kesavan Venu Gopal, known popularly by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was an Indian actor, writer and director. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema.
Venu was born as Venugopal to P. K. Kesavan Nair-a school master- and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi, Alappuzha as the youngest of their five children. He has four elder brothers. He had his primary education from N S S 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 Sanatana Dharma 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 way for his film career. He is a talented Mridangam player.
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 Njane, 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.
Filmography
Character: Kurian Fernandez
Character: Vichu's Grandfather
Character: Parthasarathy Iyengar
Character: K.R.Sathyanathan
Character: Chief Minister of Kerala
Character: C.P. Vasudevan
Character: Thankachan, Antony's father
Character: Sivadasa Menon
Character: Govindan Master
Character: Rajagopalan Thampy
Character: Havildar Vasudevan
Character: Dr. E.K.Sudharshan
Character: Father Dominic
Character: V. G. Sadasivan
Character: Sree Thankappan Nair
Character: Thiruvithamkodu Thirumanassu
Character: Maharaja Udayavarma
Character: Andrews Perreira
Character: "Society" Gopalan
Character: Palazhi Sivasankarappilla
Character: Shikhandi Pillai
Character: Jameskutty Chacko
Character: Ravunni Master
Character: Kichan's father
Character: Radha's Grand father
Character: Sreekrishnan Thampuran
Character: Dr. Unni Krishnan
Character: Unni Thampuran
Character: Sreekandan Nair
Character: Kunjikannan Nair
Character: Kaliyarmadom Kunjambu Nair
Character: Karunakara Menon
Character: Balachandran's Father
Character: Dr. Sunny Joseph
Character: Blind 'Thampuran'
Character: Mathew Varghese
Character: Sekharan Thampi
Character: Chekkodu Swamy
Character: Chandra's father
Character: Secretary of Kerala Kala Mandiram Institute
Character: Father Dominic
Character: Dr. K. K. Menon
Character: Govindankutty Maashu
Character: Meppattor Vishnu Narayanan Nampoothiri
Character: Chirukandan's Father
Character: Chellappanasar
Character: Padmanabhan Embranthiri
Character: Valliyottu Thirumeni
Character: Work Shop Master
Character: Retd D.I.G (Uncle Tom)
Character: Krishnankutty Menon
Character: Aalakkal Govindanashan
Character: Meenakshi's father
Character: Kunjammadu Sahib
Character: Prasad's father
Character: Delhi Pappachan
Character: Manikutty's Father
Character: Father Palaykkal
Character: The Headmaster
Character: Valiya Thampuran
Character: Madhavan Ezhuthachan
Character: Keerikkad Chellappan Nair
Character: Ananthan Mashu
Character: Sreedharan Nair
Character: Head of Swapna Bhoomi
Character: M. K. S. Warrier
Character: Padmanabhan Master
Character: Adv. Bharathan
Character: Periya Shasthri
Character: 'Romance' Kumaran
Character: Unnikannan Nair
Character: Haridas' father
Character: Chathukutti Bhagavathar
Character: Lathika's Uncle
Character: Dominic Fernandes
Character: Tharavadu Karanavar
Character: Justice Krishnamoorthy
Character: Kaarackal Easwaran Namboodiri
Character: Sankaran Potti
Character: Sadanadan Pillai
Character: K.P./ Advocate Immanuel / Kurian Paulose / Kumara Panickker
Character: Panchayat president
Character: Vasudevan Kartha
Character: Prabhakaran Thampi
Character: Child Psychologist
Character: Overseer Sundaresan
Character: Rama Varma Thampuran
Character: Manisankar Iyer
Character: Chief Minister Janardhanan Kurup
Character: Fr. Puthenthara
Character: Vasudeva Kaimal
Character: Adv. Santhosh Narayan
Character: Sivaramakrishnan Nair
Character: Ramavikraman Namboodiri
Character: Avhuthan's Father
Character: Kaali’s father
Character: Vellayudhachan
Character: Kosara Bhairavan
Character: Achuthankutty Nair
Character: Retd. Colonel Nair
Character: Kumaran Nair / Radhakrishnan (dual role)
Character: Sreedharan Master
Character: Venkita Ramayyar
Character: Invisible Kuttichatan (voice)
Character: Professor Varma