Venu Nagavalli

Venu Nagavally (16 April 1949 – 10 September 2010) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director best known for his work in Malayalam film industry. He has directed 12 films. Son of writer, commentator, and broadcaster Nagavally R. S. Kurup, Venu has acted in about fifty films, directed films such as ''Sukhamo Devi'' (1986), ''Sarvakalashala'' (1987), ''Lal Salam'' (1990), and ''Aye Auto'' (1990), and scripted the commercially successful ''Kilukkam'' (1991).

Venu Nagavally died at Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010.

Biography

Venu Nagavally was born on 16 April 1949 as the son of the noted play writer Nagavally R. S. Kurup and Rajamma. Ramachandran, Vasundara and Lalithambika are his siblings. He completed his education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram and University College Trivandrum. He had a bachelor's degree in Politics and a Diploma in journalism.

Venu started his career as an announcer in Akashvani. He later sung a song in the movie ''Chottanikkara Amma'' (1976) but was noticed only in 1978 when he acted in the movie ''Ulkkadal'' directed by K. G. George, thus starting his acting career in movies. His noted movies as an actor are ''Shalini Ente Koottukari'', ''Meenamasathile Sooryan'', ''Pakshe'', and ''Chillu''.

Venu's first movie as a director was Sukhamo Devi (1986) which he himself describes as his own tragical love story. Later he directed the superhit movies Lal Salam, Aey Auto, Aayirappara, Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad etc. Lal Salaam and Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad revolved around the lives of the early Communist leaders of Kerala. It was his directorial projects like "Sughamodevi", "Sarvakalashala", "Aey Auto" and "Lal Salam" that cemented Mohanlal's status as a superstar, in the late 1980s. Venu has also written scripts for a few movies including the Priyadarshan directed blockbuster movie ''Kilukkam''. His first movie as a script writer was ''Ee Ganam Marakkumo''.

His oeuvre also had a strain of his left leanings; in addition to acting in films like ''Meenamasathile Sooryan'' (about the Kayyur revolt) and heading the production wing of a pro-left television channel, two of the films he directed – ''Lal Salam'' (1990) and ''Raksthasakhikal Zindabad'' (1998) – were an introspective look at the rise and fall of communist ideals. Venu examines these issues by dealing with the cracks in political movements, its hopes and later degeneration, create in human relationships.

The movies for which he has sung songs include ''Chillu'', ''Ente Ammu, Ninte Thulasi, Avarude Chakki'', ''Oru Painkilikatha'' out of which the song "Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu" from the movie ''Ente Ammu, Ninte Thulasi, Avarude Chakki'' became quite popular.

Venu Nagavally died at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010 due to liver cirrhosis. He was 61 at the time of his death, and was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam crematorium on the same day. He is survived by his wife Meera and son Vivek.

Filmography

Actor

* ''Caribbeans'' (2013) as Joseph (posthumously)
*''College Days'' (2010)
*''Bhagyadevatha'' (2009) as Anto
*''Roudram'' (2008) as Doctor
*''Indraneelam'' (2007)
*'' Heartbeats'' (2007)
*''Anchil Oral Arjunan'' (2007) as Padmanabhan
*'' Baba Kalyani'' (2006) as V. Ninan
*Photographer (2006)
*''Out of Syllabus'' (2006)
*''Pathaka'' (2006) as Shekharji
*''Pauran'' (2005) as Chief Minister
*'' Deepangal Sakshi'' (2005) as Advocate
*''Kaazhcha'' (2004) as Magistrate
*'' Sathyam'' (2004) as Chief Minister
*'' Wanted'' (2004) as Krishnadas
*''Harikrishnans'' (1998) as Vishwambharan
*''Minnaram'' (1994) as Baby (Bobby's elder brother)
*''Pavam IA Ivachan'' (1994) as Main Villain
*''Pakshe'' (1994) as Unniyettan
*'' Devadas'' (1989) as Devadas
*''Kali karyamaai: Crime Branch'' (1989)
*''Moonnam Pakkam'' (1988)
*''Theertham'' (1987)
*'' Arinjo Ariyatheyo'' (1987)
*''Vartha'' (1986) as Devan
*''Meenamaasathile Sooryan'' (1986) as Appu
*''Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha'' (1986)
*''Sukhamo Devi'' (1986)
*''Sunil Vayassu 20'' (1986) as Jayakumar
*'' Adhyayam Onnu Muthal'' (1985) as Rameshan Nair
*''Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki'' (1985) as Shakthi
*''Meenamasathile Sooryan'' (1985) as Matathil Appu
*'' Uyarukm Njan Nadaake'' (1985)
*''Oru Kudakeezhil'' (1985) as Unni
*'' Puzhayozhukum Vazhi'' (1985) as Hari
*''Thirakal'' (1984)
*'' Oru Painkili Kadha'' (1984)
*'' Ente Nandinikutty'' (1984)
*''Thirakal'' (1984) as Balan
*'' Swantham Sarika'' (1984) as Murali
*'' Velichamillatha Veedhi'' (1984)
*'' Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla'' (1984) as Joy
*''Panchavadi Palam'' (1984) as Jeemudhavahanan
*'' Adaminte Variyellu'' (1983) as Gopi
*''April 18'' (1983) as Advocate Thomachan
*''Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback'' (1983)
*''Prasnam Gurutharam'' (1983) as Venu
*''Omanathinkal'' (1983)
*'' Oru Swakaryam'' (1983)
*'' Kathi'' (1983)
*''Rugma'' (1983)
*''Parasparam'' (1983) as Vishwanathan
*'' Premnazirne Kanmanilla'' (1983)
*'' Eenam'' (1983)
*''Chillu'' (1982) as Ananthu
*''Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam'' (1982)
*''Yavanika'' (1982) as Joseph Kollapally
*'' Kilukilukkam'' (1982)
*''Kattile Pattu'' (1982) as Devan
*''Oru Vilipadakale'' (1982) as Vishnu
*'' Kolangal'' (1981) as Cheriyan
*'' Archana Teacher'' (1981)
*'' Tharattu'' (1981)
*'' Kalopasana'' (1981)
*''Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla (1981) as Rahim
*'' Akalangalil Abhayam'' (1980)
*'' Kalika'' (1980) as Sadhan
*'' Ishtamanu Pakshe'' (1980)
*'' Aniyatha Valakkal'' (1980) as Ravi Shankar
*''Shalini Ente Koottukari'' (1980) as Prabha
*'' Ulkkadal'' (1978) as Rahulan (First film)
*''Kaamalola (1977)

As director

Writer

*''Bharya Swantham Suhruthu'' (2009) (screenplay)
*''Vishnu'' (1994) (screenplay and dialogue)
*''Aayirappara'' (1993) (writer)
*''Kalippattam'' (1993) (writer)
*''Kilukkam'' (1991) (writer)
*''Kizhakkunarum Pakshi'' (1991) (screenplay and dialogue)
*''Aye Auto'' (1990) (writer)
*'' Ardham'' (1989) (writer)
*''Sarvakalasala'' (1987) (screenplay and dialogue)
*'' Sukhamodevi'' (1986) (writer)
*''Gayathri Devi Entae Amma'' (1985) (Screenplay)
*''Guruji Oru Vaakku'' (1985)
*''Daivathae Orthu'' (1985)
*''Ee Gaanam Marakkumo'' (1978) (screenplay)

Television

*''Ente Manasaputhri'' (Asianet)
*'' Kadamattath Kathanar'' (Asianet)
*''Mizhi thurakumbol'' ( Surya TV)
* " Thinkalum Tharakangalum " (Amrita TV (TV channel)
Marubhumiyil pookkalam
Ekaakini
Arohanam
Chitta
Tanichu
Ohari
Kurukhetram
Gandhari
Mangalyam
Manaswini
Talolam
Ellam Mayajaalam

References

External links

*http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Venu%20Nagavally&limit=59
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagavalli, Venu
Male actors from Thiruvananthapuram
Malayalam film directors
Malayalam screenwriters
2010 deaths
1949 births
University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram
20th-century Indian male actors
21st-century Indian male actors
Indian male film actors
20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
Screenwriters from Thiruvananthapuram
20th-century Indian film directors
21st-century Indian film directors
Indian male television actors
Male actors in Malayalam television