Nedumudi Venu
Acting
🎂 1948-05-22
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.
Cast credits(440)
Himself
2017
Principal
2021
Madhavan Mash
2024
Thampy
1993
Parthasarathy Iyengar
2005
Samoothiri
2021
Retd D.I.G (Uncle Tom)
2004
Krishnasamy
2024
Krishnasamy
1996
Justice Krishnamoorthy
2016
Kunjappan
2015
Kaali’s father
2019
Pillai
2016
2014
Kurian Fernandez
1989
Sreedharan Master
2022
Invisible Kuttichatan (voice)
1984
2005
Sreekandan Nair
1996
Iravippilla
2022
Ravunni Master
1995
Udhaya Varma
1997
Blind 'Thampuran'
2001
Andrews
1985
Krishnan Nair
2005
Appooppan
2016
George Paul
2017
Kichan's father
2009
Madhavan Nair
2019
Father Dominic
1992
Mohan
2022
Vembu Iyer
2019
2002
Thampuran
1998
Sankaran Potti
2012
Godman
1990
Dr. Unni Krishnan
1986
Hassan Bhai
1993
Chief Minister of Kerala
2009
Padmanabhan Master
2003
Swaminathan
2002
Retd. Colonel Nair
2022
Chekkodu Swamy
1993
Warrier
1994
Varmaji, Radha's Grand father
2013
Prasad's father
2002
Sivadasa Menon
1990
Gopalettan
2013
Principal
2000
Denver Aashan
2010
Nobilettan
2014
2011
Shekharan
1988
Govindan Master
2011
2013
Johnny
1984
Unni
1982
Sankunni Nair
1999
Iyer
2009
2012
Andrews Perreira
2009
Father John
2013
Kurukkan Ponnappan
2019
Raghavan
1992
Kuttan Pillai
1985
Kaimal
1988
Thoma
2011
Tharavadu Karanavar
1986
Swaminathan
2001
Adv. Srinivasan
2018
Moopan
2009
Rajagopalan Thampy
2012
Kunjoonju
2012
1996
Appu master
1993
Kochantony
2001
2019
Father Dominic
2010
Rajappan
1991
Himself
1985
Lebba Sahib
2008
Ravi
1981
Head of Swapna Bhoomi
1998
Sadanadan Pillai
2009
Madhavan Nair
2010
Kabooliwala
1993
1999
Scariah
1989
Overseer Sundaresan
1987
Madhavan
1992
Panikker
1994
Damodharji
2014
Govindankutty
1984
Old Man
2012
Shikhandi Pillai
1984
Ramanathan
1991
1988
Lecturer
1987
Pappu Pilla
2016
Head master
2011
Chief Minister Janardhanan Kurup
2006
John Matthew
2007
Raghavan Mash
2004
Nambiar
1995
Vakkachan
1984
1991
Driver Nair
2009
Basheer
2018
Haridas' father
1992
Thankachan, Antony's father
2012
Jailer
2002
The Priest
1984
Child Psychologist
2003
2006
Shivathanu
2015
Narayanan
2015
1988
Meenakshi's father
1999
Vasu Kuttan
2015
CKAK Menon
2015
Minister
1988
Father Felix
1990
Father Dixon
2014
Dr. E. K. Sudharshan
2012
Balagopalan
1982
Potty
1984
Manikutty's Father
2001
Priest
1985
Aalakkal Govindanashan
2004
Devan Nair
1989
Krishnaswamy
Bahadur
2014
Ummini
1994
Sreekrishnan Thampuran
1994
Prabhakaran Thampi
1989
Unni's Father
2005
Teacher
1997
2000
Dr Kuriakose
1989
Dominic Fernandes
1995
Kashi
2014
Doctor
1989
2010
C.P. Vasudevan
2007
2004
Jabbar
2013
1987
Maharaja Udayavarma
1990
Unni Thampuran
1991
V. G. Sadasivan
2011
1999
Vasudevan
2021
Unnikrishnan
1985
Vasudevan Kartha
2011
Baaghavatar
2000
Shivasankara Menon
2000
Avhuthan's Father
2018
Nicholas
1988
Fr. Thayyil
1995
Appu Nair
1986
Rama Moorthy
2014
'Romance' Kumaran
1991
Vichu's Grandfather
2008
Raghavan
1983
2019
2021
Rajaguru
1988
Kaliyarmadom Kunjambu Nair
2006
1987
Lathika's Uncle
1984
2008
1993
Dr. Subhash
1998
2000
1985
The Headmaster
1998
1987
Chandikunju
1990
Palazhi Sivasankarappilla
2009
2005
Krishnanunni
1991
1984
Shekaran IAS
2010
1984
1993
Mohan
1982
Raman Nair
1997
2011
Kunnel Pappan
2010
Moosa Settu
1992
Chirukandan's Father
1986
1981
SI Kochappu
1986
Achuthankutty Nair
1987
Kuriakose
2003
2017
Dr. Korah
2010
Pavithran
1981
Viswanathan
1989
Secretary of Kerala Kala Mandiram Institute
1992
Kesavankutty
1993
Dhanapalan
1997
Vasu
1982
Krishnanunni
1983
2018
Rama Warrier
1991
Subramaniam
2013
Gopi
1986
Kumaran
1991
Adv. Bharathan
1995
Maathu
2008
Nair
1997
Paramu
1981
Ramettan
1988
M. K. Nair
1996
Unni
1983
2009
Kunjan Nair
1986
Dr. K. K. Menon
1986
Ravunni Menon
1984
Father
1980
Devan
1982
Madhavan
1990
Appunni
1984
Aditya Varma
1990
2018
1997
Balachandran's Father
2003
Charlie
1985
Teacher
2006
Dr. Sunny Joseph
2004
1982
Krishnankutty Menon
2001
2009
Dasan
1986
1981
Mathew Varghese
2002
Havildar Vasudevan
2010
Aravindan
1999
2019
Jameskutty Chacko
1991
Xavier
1981
1988
Venu
1984
Balu
1982
Murugan
2012
Madhavan Nair
2007
Maruthu
1978
Kuttiraman
1992
Kuriachen
2014
1986
Sreeni
1982
Ramakrishnan
2014
2009
Paul Raj
1983
Doctor
2011
Periya Shasthri
1995
Ravunni Nair
1987
Fr. Puthenthara
1993
2007
1994
1997
2014
Karunakara Menon
1998
Achuthanunni
1983
Damu
1982
Hameed
1989
Sasidharan
1986
Mr. Nair
2007
1993
Major Nair
1984
1998
1978
Narayana Iyer
1982
Ananthan Mashu
1993
1988
Himself
1988
Menon
2002
1984
Aasan
1987
Thomas
2013
Valiya Thampuran
1990
Kumaren Nair
1988
Fr.Vattappara
1993
Unnikannan Nair
1990
K.R.Sathyanathan
2008
Ramavikraman Namboodiri
2016
2001
Freddy Uncle
2009
Selvan Moopan
2018
Johnie
1984
Kumaran Nair / Radhakrishnan (dual role)
1986
Professor Varma
1987
Balan Mashu
1993
1991
Valliyottu Thirumeni
2015
Nedumudi Venu
1983
Balan Nambyar
1992
Chief Editor
2015
Ranganna
1995
2022
Manikunju
2013
Ambotty
1992
2019
1985
Ustad Ali
2005
Balagopalan
1997
1986
Venu
1986
Sekharan Thampi
2003
Viswanathan
2002
Adv. Santhosh Narayan
2018
1981
Venu
1984
1985
Shekharan
1986
1982
Chathukutti Bhagavathar
1995
Kumaran
2010
Kunjikannan Nair
1993
1996
1988
1987
1985
Sreedharan Nair
2007
2006
Madhava Menon
2012
Seythalavi
1980
Vasukutty
1999
Vasudeva Kaimal
2018
Fr. Felix
1991
K.P./ Advocate Immanuel / Kurian Paulose / Kumara Panickker
2012
Rama Varma Thampuran
2005
1994
Tourist Guide
1988
Jeevan Masai
2001
1983
1984
M. K. S. Warrier
1997
1986
Delhi Pappachan
1999
Sultan
1998
Manisankar Iyer
1992
2011
2008
Thambi
1991
Usha's Father
1986
1997
Thiruvithamkodu Thirumanassu
2013
Ravunni Nair
2004
Chellappanasar
1979
2003
Sakhavu
1985
"Society" Gopalan
2007
1992
Scobo Jhons
2017
1986
1992
Vasu Kumar
1983
1995
1983
Chellappan
1989
2016
1989
Meppattor Vishnu Narayanan Nampoothiri
2006
Sivaraman
1985
Dr. George
1983
Sree Thankappan Nair
1985
Philipose
2013
Onachan
2013
Balan Poduval
1993
Purushothaman
2012
2011
2019
Krishnan Nair
2012
Menon
1997
Aasan
1999
Father Palaykkal
2002
2007
Aashaan
1995
1998
1985
2011
Padmanabhan Embranthiri
2009
1987
Gowdar
2012
Vijayan
1983
Kaarackal Easwaran Namboodiri
2010
Ramdas
1985
Govindankutty Maashu
2012
God
2018
Panchayat president
2012
2019
Sivaramakrishnan Nair
1987
2011
Fernandez
2001
Ramankutty
1981
Madhavan Nair
1999
Vellayudhachan
1998
Krishnan Nair
2017
Chathukutti
1993
1997
1982
Krishnan Unni
2003
1995
1998
1989
1986
Kosara Bhairavan
1981
Madhavan Ezhuthachan
1990
2022
Kunjammadu Sahib
2015
Aravindan
1984
Venu Menon
2003
Appu
1997
Grandfather
1988
1986
Venkita Ramayyar
1991
Ravi
1983
Annadurai
2010
Gamer
2014
1989
1983
Keerikkad Chellappan Nair
1986
Antony
1983
1984
2007
Panikker
2008
Charlie
1982
Dasan
1982
1998
1982
Work Shop Master
2014
2018
Rajaram
2016
1999
Naradhan
1987
1982
1982
