Madhu

Biography

Madhu, born Madhavan Nair, is a veteran Indian actor, director, and producer who has made a major contribution to Malayalam cinema. He was born on 23 September 1933 in Gowreesapattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was a prominent leading actor during the 1960s and 1970s and has appeared in hundreds of films over a career spanning several decades.

Before entering cinema, Madhu worked as a college lecturer and studied Hindi at Banaras Hindu University. He later trained in acting at the National School of Drama. His screen name was given to him by veteran actor Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair.

Madhu made his film debut with Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963). His breakthrough came with Chemmeen (1965), in which he portrayed Pareekkutty, one of the most memorable characters of his career. The success of the film established him as one of the leading actors of Malayalam cinema.

He subsequently appeared in numerous Malayalam films and also worked in Tamil and Hindi cinema. Some of his notable films include Nadhi, Swayamvaram, Theekkanal, Yuddha Kandam, Padayottam, Naanayam, Ithrayum Kalam, Twenty:20 and Passenger.

In addition to acting, Madhu became a director and producer. His first directorial venture was Priya (1970), which received critical acclaim. He later directed several films and produced numerous projects. He also founded and owned the Uma Film Studio in Thiruvananthapuram.

For his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, Madhu received the J. C. Daniel Award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2013. He remains one of the most respected figures in the history of Malayalam cinema.