Niyas Backer

Biography

Niyas Backer is an Indian actor, mimicry artist and occasional film director who primarily works in the Malayalam film and television industries. He is also known as Kalabhavan Niyas. He is the son of Malayalam actor Aboobacker and the elder brother of the late actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Navas.

Niyas began his entertainment career through stage performances, theatre programmes and mimicry shows. He gradually entered the Malayalam film industry and made his early appearance in Venkalam (1993), directed by Bharathan. He subsequently appeared in films such as Chamayam (1993), Kudamattam (1997) and Ishtam (2001), in which he played Babukuttan.

He continued his acting career with supporting roles in films including Gramophone (2003), Youth Festival (2004), Speed Track (2007), Spanish Masala (2012), Jawan of Vellimala (2012), Ordinary (2012) and Run Baby Run (2012). His performances helped him establish himself as a familiar character actor in Malayalam cinema.

Apart from films, Niyas gained considerable popularity through the Malayalam television sitcom Marimayam, in which he portrayed the character Koya. The show became an important milestone in his career and brought him recognition among television audiences.

In 2013, Niyas made his directorial debut with Vallatha Pahayan, a Malayalam film that he co-directed and also acted in. He later played the lead role of Jackson in Manja (2014). His other notable acting credits include Fukri (2017), Queen (2018), Lonappante Mamodeesa (2019), Porinju Mariam Jose (2019), Munthiri Monchan (2019), Vivekanandan Viralanu (2024) and Pravinkoodu Shappu (2025).