Vineeth

Vineeth Radhakrishnan (born 23 August 1969) is an Indian actor, Bharatanatyam dancer, voice artist and choreographer who primarily works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu language films. He has also appeared in a few Hindi and Kannada films. He has won several awards including 3 Kerala State Film Awards, Kalaimamani honour from Government of Tamil Nadu and Filmfare Award South nominations.

Early life

Vineeth was born to K. T. Radhakrishnan and P. K. Shanthakumari on 23 August 1969 at Thalassery in Kannur district, Kerala. His family hails from the Travancore region (present-day Southern Kerala districts). He has a sister, Kavitha Dinesh. Vineeth is the nephew of Ramachandran Nair, the husband of actress Padmini of the Travancore sisters. His aunt, Padmini, and her sister, Ragini, convinced his parents to send him to dancing school. Actress Shobana is his cousin.

Vineeth attended Good Shepherd International School, Ooty, St Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thalassery, and St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode. He then pursued a Bachelor of Commerce from The New College, Chennai, in 1991.

Vineeth started training in Bharathanatyam at the age of six and won several dance prizes while a student, including the first prize at the Kerala School Kalolsavam for four years in a row, also winning the top title of "Kalaprathibha" in 1986.

Film career

Vineeth entered films with the I. V. Sasi film '' Idanilangal'' in 1985, and caught the public eye with his second film, '' Nakhakshathangal'', in 1986. His dancing skills were prominently displayed in several films as well. He played the lead characters in '' Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha'' (1987), a story by poet Balachandran Chullikkadu and '' Oru Muthassi Katha'' (1988) directed by Priyadarshan. '' Aavarampoo'' (1992), the Tamil remake of '' Thakara'' changed everything for Vineeth directed by Bharathan. As soon as ''Aavarampoo'' ended, Hariharan called him for '' Sargam'' (1992), in which he played a musical genius. Suddenly Vineeth was doing multiple films in Malayalam and Tamil. '' Kabooliwala'' (1994) and '' Manathe Vellitheru'' (1994) became two turning points in his Malayalam career, one establishing him as a young romantic hero, the other proving he could handle negative shades really well. Though his films impressed both critics and front benchers, he did not become a super hero, a sought after actor. He had appeared in maximum Malayalam films. But his career did not pick up as expected.

His roles in successful Tamil films also include ''Gentleman'' (1993), '' Pudhiya Mugam'' (1993), '' Jaathi Malli'' (1993) and '' May Maadham'' (1994). Among other projects came '' Kadhal Desam'' (1996), where Vineeth and Abbas played college students in love with the same woman, played by Tabu. The movie, with its themes of friendship and romance and the music of A. R. Rahman, became very popular. He has acted in several well received films since then in all South Indian languages. In spite of his success in films, he still considers dance as his first love and is undergoing advanced training in Bharatanatyam and participates in several dance programmes all over the world as well as the Surya Dance Festival. He has worked in several Telugu films such as '' Aaro Pranam'' (1997), '' Maa Annayya'' (2000), '' Ammayi Kosam'' (2001), '' Nee Premakai'' (2002) and '' Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo'' (2002). Vineeth, who disappeared from both Tamil and Malayalam cinema, made a comeback with Rajinikanth starrer '' Chandramukhi'' (2005). He played the same role in the Hindi version of '' Bhool Bhulaiyaa'' (2007) as well. He also played in many roles in Malayalam films such as '' Rathri Mazha'' (2007), '' Banaras'' (2009), ''Thathwamasi'' (2010), ''Ideal Couple'' (2012), ''Omega Brothers'' (2012), '' Aattakatha'' (2013), ''Sukhamayirikkatte'' (2015) and ''Pallikoodam'' (2016).

He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreography for '' Kambhoji'' in 2017. Vineeth has collaborated with G. V. Prakash Kumar in '' Sarvam Thaala Mayam'' (2019). It was a Tamil musical drama that was written and directed by Rajiv Menon. Actor singer Krishnachandran dubbed for Vineeth in most of his early movies. Ironically, Vineeth won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist in 2020 for giving voice to Vivek Oberoi's character in ''Lucifer'', actor Prithviraj’s first as a director. In Malayalam, he was seen in Kavya Prakash's debut film '' Vaanku'' (2021), based on a story by Unni R. In '' Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea'' (2021), he dubbed for the character played by Tamil star Arjun Sarja. Vineeth won the award for his dubbing. In 2023, he co-starred with Fahadh Faasil in '' Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum'' and '' Dhoomam''. He is making his comeback in Tamil cinema and plays a father in the drama film, '' Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai'' (2025).

Personal life

Vineeth married Priscilla Menon, who hails from Thalassery, in August 2004. They live in Chennai, and a daughter was born to them in 2006. His fans fondly call him Anuraga Singam.

Awards and nominations

* 1986 - ''Kalaprathibha'' - Kerala School Kalolsavam
* 1992 - Best New Face award by Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu for '' Aavarampoo''
* 1992 - Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Second Best Actor award for '' Daivathinte Vikrithikal'' and '' Sargam''
* 1993 - Supporting Actor award by Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu for '' Jathi Malli'' and '' Pudhiya Mugam''
* 2006 - Yuvakala Bharathi award - ''Bharath Kalachar''
* 2009 - Kalaimamani Award from Government of Tamil Nadu
* 2013 - Asiavision Awards for Best Supporting Actor
* 2013 - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam - Nominated for '' Bavuttiyude Namathil''
* 2017 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreography - '' Kambhoji'' for the song "Chenthar Nermukhi"
* 2020 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist - ''Lucifer'' (dubbed for Vivek Oberoi)
* 2021 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist - '' Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham'' (dubbed for Arjun Sarja)

Filmography

Malayalam films

Tamil films

Telugu films

Other language films

Dubbing

References

External links

Actor Vineeth - Official Website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vineeth
1969 births
Living people
Bharatanatyam exponents
Male actors from Kannur
People from Thalassery
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Male actors in Tamil cinema
Male actors in Kannada cinema
Male actors in Telugu cinema
Indian male film actors
Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award
20th-century Indian dancers
Indian male dancers
20th-century Indian male actors
21st-century Indian dancers
21st-century Indian male actors
Dancers from Kerala
Kerala Film Critics Awards winners