Nedumudi Venu

Kesavan Venugopal (22 May 1948 – 11 October 2021), better known by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was an Indian actor and screenwriter from Kerala, who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema.[1][2] He acted in more than 500 films, primarily in Malayalam and also in Tamil in a career spanning nearly five decades.[3][4]

Nedumudi Venu
Venu in 2007
Born
Kesavan Venugopal

(1948-05-22)22 May 1948
Nedumudi, Kingdom of Travancore, Dominion of India
(present day Alappuzha, Kerala, India)
Died11 October 2021(2021-10-11) (aged 73)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materSanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha
Occupation
  • Actor
  • Screenwriter
  • Director
Years active1978 – 2021
Spouse(s)T. R. Susheela
Children2
Parent(s)
  • P. K. Kesava Pillai
  • P. Kunjikkuttiyamma

He wrote screenplays and directed one film. Nedumudi Venu won three National Film Awards and six Kerala State Film Awards for his various performances.[5][6][7][8]

Early life

Venu was born as Venugopal to P. K. Kesava Pillai, a school master and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi as the youngest of their five children.[9] He had four elder brothers.[10] He had his primary education from NSS Higher Secondary School, Nedumudi, and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Champakulam.[11] 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 the way for his film career. He was a Mridangam player.

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 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 acted in a few Tamil films with director Shankar, such as Kamal Hasan's Indian and Vikram's Anniyan.

Venu 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.

Personal life

Venu was married to T. R. Susheela. The couple had two sons: Unni and Kannan.[12]

Death

Venu died at KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 11 October 2021, at the age of 73. He was receiving treatment for liver cancer after recovering from COVID-19 prior to his death and died from kidney-related issues and sepsis.[13][14][15] He was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam Crematorium in Thiruvananthapuram on 12 October 2021.[16]

Awards

National Film Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

Kerala State Television Awards

  • 2001 - Best Actor : Avasthatarangal

Asianet Film Awards

Vanitha Awards 2015 Best Actor In A Negative Role -Oru Second Class Yatra

Filmfare Awards

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards[20]

  • 2007 – Second Best Actor – Thaniye
  • 2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award/Prathibha Puraskaram

Other Awards

Filmography
Main article: Nedumudi Venu filmography

References
  1. Onmanorama Staff (11 October 2021). "Nedumudi Venu, who acted in 500 movies and won 3 national awards, passes away at 73". Manorama Online. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (11 October 2021). "നെടുമുടി വേണു അന്തരിച്ചു | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. Chandran, Mangala (1987). Cinema in India. 3. National Film Development Corporation.
  4. Parameswaran, Biju (30 July 2015). "Remembering Bharathan's magical trip on celluloid". Malayala Manorama. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  5. "Bring theatre to the people: Nedumudi Venu". The Hindu. 21 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. "Votary of good cinema". The Hindu. 6 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  7. "In the role of an actor". The Hindu. 27 June 2008 – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. "Another year of plenty for Malayalam cinema". The Hindu. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". cinidiary.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  10. "Onam Interview with Nedumudi Venu". asianetnews.tv. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  11. "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". cinidiary.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  12. Aiyappan, Arya (24 August 2009). "Nedumudi Venu's son ties the knot". FilmiBeat. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  13. CNN, Jeevan Ravindran. "Nedumudi Venu, acclaimed Indian film actor, dies aged 73". CNN. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  14. "National Award winning actor Nedumudi Venu passes away - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  15. "നെടുമുടി വേണു അന്തരിച്ചു; വിടവാങ്ങിയത് അഭിനയത്തിന്റെ അതുല്യ പ്രതിഭ". Manoramanews. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  16. "Kerala's thespian Nedumudi Venu laid to rest with state honours". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  17. "35th Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners : Santosh : Free Download &…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
  18. "Nedumudi Venu 35th Annual Filmfare Best Actor Malayalam Special : san…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
  19. Competition Science Vision. Pratiyogita Darpan. August 1998. p. 791. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  20. "'Thaniye' awards". ArtKerala.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  21. "TV Award for Nedumudi". The Hindu. 1 March 2004. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  22. "Sathyan Award presented". The Hindu. 10 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  23. "Bahadur Award for Nedumudi". The Hindu. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  24. "Metro Film Society to screen Saira". The Hindu. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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