Devan

Devan Sreenivasan is an Indian film and television actor and politician. He is known for his character roles, mostly as villain, in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and a few Kannada and Hindi films.

He began his film career as a producer with Vellam (1985). Before its release, he turned into an actor. He made his breakthrough in the 1987 film New Delhi. He played lead roles in films like Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987), Oozham (1988), Simon Peter Ninakku Vendi (1988) and Aranyakam (1988). In his later career, he mostly played prominent supporting roles, mostly as villain. His well-known such films include Vietnam Colony (1992), Ekalavyan (1993), Honest Raj (1994), Baashha (1995) and Indraprasdham (1996).

Devan founded the political party Kerala People's Party in 2004. He relaunched the party as Nava Kerala People's Party in 2020, which was merged with the Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) in 2021. In 2023, he was appointed as the state vice-president of BJP in Kerala. In 2026, he resigned from the party. In the same year, he joined Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam.

Early life

Devan was born on 8th January 1952 in Thrissur, Kerala. His father, Sreenivasan, was a public prosecutor, and his mother, Lalitha, was a doctor. He has three siblings: Shobha, Sheela, and Sureshbabu. Malayalam filmmaker Ramu Kariat was his uncle.

Devan did his schooling at the Government Model School, Thrissur. He then completed his B.Sc. degree from St. Thomas College, Thrissur. During his college time, he was a member of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), and his parents were Indian National Congress-leaning.

Devan's father wanted him to be a police officer, but he wanted to be in the army. After graduation, he tried at the National Defence Academy but was not selected. He went to Madras (now Chennai) in search of a job and later took post-graduation in Master of Business Administration. He was engaged in several business ventures before starting his career in movies.

Career Acting During his time in college, he used to read books a lot. He found possibility for a film in N. N. Pisharody's novel Vellam, he approached director Hariharan, who agreed with him, M. T. Vasudevan Nair wrote the screenplay, it was the first and last screenplay of his not based on his own story. Devan produced the film, filming was halted midway due to financial crisis. He made his acting debut in Ashatapathi to raise fund to resume filming, it was followed by a number of acting projects. After which, shooting resumed, but upon release, the film failed at the box office. In an interview, he said that Vellam (1985) is the best film come out from Hariharan-M. T. Vasudevan Nair combination. It was in the 1987 film New Delhi that he first appeared as a villain, since then he was typecast as a villain in Malayalam cinema. However, in Telugu cinema, he is known for character roles. Devan recalled in an interview that his best roles were in Telugu and Tamil cinema. His most notable movies are Ekalavyan, Baasha and Indraprasdham. He has also acted in several TV series. Politics Devan was active in Kerala Students Union (KSU) in his college days. In 2004, he founded the Kerala People's Party, a political party in Kerala. He contested and lost in the Wadakkanchery Assembly constituency by-election in the same year as an independent candidate. He contested in the 2006 assembly election from Thiruvananthapuram West as an independent candidate, but lost. In a 2014 interview, Devan revealed his admiration for politician Ramakrishna Hegde. In 2021, it was merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Home Minister of India Amit Shah. In 2023, Devan was made the state vice-president of BJP in Kerala. In 2026, he resigned from the party. Then he joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Personal life

He was married to his uncle Ramu Kariat's daughter, Suma. The couple has a daughter named Lakshmi. His wife Suma died on 12 July 2019 due to H1N1 infection.

Filmography Malayalam 1980s Year Title Role Notes 1983 Naadam Ashtapadi Sairandri 1984 Aagraham Aashamsakalode Vellam Producer Paavam Krooran 1985 Jwalanam Shathru Rajasekharan Kiraatham Artist Kaiyum Thlayum Purathidaruthe Mahadevan Madhuvidhu Theerum Mumbe Sunny 1986 Oru Yugasandhya Balachandran Padayani SI Rajashekaran Niramulla Ravulkal Soman Panchagni Prabhakaran Nair Vartha Revenue Minister Philip Ithu Oru Thudakkom Mathram 1987 Adimakal Udamakal Vijayan Aadhya Rathrikku Munbu Vrutham Devadas Amrutham Gamaya Raghu Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal Josephkutty Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam Ravi Chanthayil Choodi Nilkkunna Pennu Naalkavala Dr. Devadas New Delhi Shankar 1988 Ormayil Ennum Suku Innaleyude Baakki Adv. Rajasekharan Mattoru Pranaya Kadha Simon Peter Ninakku Vendi Simon Peter Vida Parayaan Mathrem Mrithyunjayam Issac Vaisali Oozham Athirthikal Guest appearance Uyaran Omanikkan Mattoru Pranayakatha Onninu Purake Mattonnu Inspector Mohandas Oru Vivaada Vishayam Aranyakam Naxal activist David David Mr. David Mohan Dhinarathrangal Unni Theerthinariyam Thirayude Vedhana Abkari Excise officer Jayaprakash 1989 Bhadrachitta Haridasan Jeevitham Oru Raagam Adhipan Mohan Ulsavapittennu Balan Master Ashokante Aswathikuttikku Ramji Rao Speaking Urumees Thampan Nair Saab Kumar Naduvazhikal Mathukutty Jagratha Actor Viswam Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas Jameskutty Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Unnikonnar Maharajavu

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Iyer the Great Gabria Brahmmarakshassu Marupuram Francis Judgement Shesham Screenil Keli Kottu Vyooham Raveendranath Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu Rosario Fernandez Randaam Varavu DYSP Balu Malootty Wilson Cherian 1991 Thudar Katha Prince Ravi Varma Kilukkam Kannan Anaswaram Police officer 1992 Police Diary Poochakkaru Mani Kettum H/o Kunjukutti Amma Grihapravesam Manthrikacheppu John Samuel Ponnaramthottathe Rajavu Kaazhchakkappuram Harikumar Kauravar George Mathew MLA 1993 O' Faby John Aalavattam Dr. Narayankutty Ghoshayaathra Jamal Gandharvam Meleveetil Vishnu Menon Vietnam Colony Adv. Thomas Ekalavyan Mahesh Nair Yaadhavam Mohan Thampi Jackpot Jayan 1994 Chief Minister K. R. Gowthami K.V Chakko Ezhuthachan Rudraksham Patel Pingami Vijay's father Cabinet 1995 The King Sundarimaare Sookshikkuka Raju Hijack Swami/Ravindra Varma Chantha Alexander Agnidevan Rama "Appan" Varma Nirnayam Dr. Menon 1996 Mahathma James Kutty Indraprastham Paul B. Issac Dominic Presentation Sulthan Hyderali Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan Idikkula Abraham 1997 Janathipathyam Vishakom Thirunal Prathapa Varma Poomarathanalil Narendran Ranger Professor Devan Gangothri DCP Alexander IPS Bhoopathi Lawrence Masmaram Munna Bhaai Kannur Snehasindooram Rajeevan Sankeerthanam Pole Five Star Hospital Varma 1998 Harthaal Dharam Pal Yadav / Vincent Cavelli Sooryaputhran Deva Varma Chitrashalabham Dr. Raveendranath Achaammakkuttiyude Achaayan Dr. John Zecharia Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu Mohanan 1999 Pallavur Devanarayanan Brahmadattan Captain John Samuel Jananayakan Sathyapalan Niram Er. Jacob / Job Garshom Hakkim Red Indians CI Harisankar F. I. R. Brigadier Giridhar Baruva

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Arayannangalude Veedu Rajendranath Menon Millennium Stars Indriyam Rajaraja Varma Thirumanas Nisheedhini Madhu Rapid Action Force The Judgement Sradha Dr. Balachandran The Warrant Mohan Gandhi Raman Priyam Joshua Summer Palace Raveendran 2001 Akashathile Paravakal Karunan Onnam Raagam Nee Enikkayi Mathrem Ee Raavil Praja DGP Guest Appearance Sraavu Captain Napoleon Sathyameva Jayathe DCP Mathew Tharakan IPS Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam Goa Sam Alex Achaneyanenikkishtam Andrews Issac Jwalanam 2002 Khakhi Nakshatram George Kalachakram Kanmashi Chandramohan Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha Chandu Chekavar Vaanibham Niramulla Swapnagal Desam Unni Akhila Balan India Gate Vishwanadhan 2003 Mr. Brahmachari 2004 Priyam Priyankaram Nirappakittu Ennittum Chandu Udayam 2005 December Issac Finger Print Adv. Murali Mohan Bunglavil Outha Bus Conductor 2006 Pathaaka Rajan Nadar Highway Police DSP Somanathan Red Salute Kolappalli Govindan Narakasuran Badri Bada Dosth Minister K.D Balram vs. Tharadas DGP Madhavadas IPS Vargam Ummen Chacko Thuruppugulan Chandrasekhara Menon 2007 Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal Ashok Detective DGP Mauryan Athisayan Kuwait Nazar Nasrani Thampan Joseph July 4 Viswanathan 2008 Bullet Yamuna Prasad Parunthu Mahesh Novel Cycle 2009 My Big Father Colonel Varghese I. G. – Inspector General DGP Varghese Philip IPS Gulumaal: The Escape Emir Harish Rahman Ivar Vivahitharayal Treesa's father The Trigger Pathaam Adyaayam Banaras Balakrishnan Nair Nizhal Pazhassi Raja Kannavathu Nambiar Black Dalia Raveendren

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Yugapurushan Madhavan Koottukar Krishnan Nair Nizhal 24 Hrs Vikramaditya Varma Kaanakazchakal Nanthuni Naale Arayan Drona 2010 DIG Beeran Sahib IPS 2011 Avan Manushyamrugam Olikkal Kochupaulose The Filmstaar Minister Thamban Manikyakkallu Ramachandran Master Christian Brothers Home Minister Sudhakaran Mohabbath Kabeer Ithu Nammude Katha Vijayarakhavan Janapriyan Meera's father Veeraputhran Adv. Krishnan 2012 Yaathrakkoduvil David Aakasmikam Doctor Innocent Aanu Dr. James Namukku Parkkan Varghese Yakshi – Faithfully Yours Appan Thampuran Grand Master ADGP Vijayan IPS The King & the Commissioner IG Shankar Ramadas IPS Manthrikan Shenoy Simhasanam Bhargavanunni 2013 Weeping Boy Jail Superintendent Immanuel Kuwait Kumaran Cameo Aan Piranna Veedu Red Rain Pakaram Manikya Thampurattiyum Christmas Carolum Blackberry Minister Ramachandran Breaking News Live 3 G Last Bus 8:30 PM 2014 Law Point Mohan Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 How Old Are You? Setharaman Iyer Mammiyude Swantham Achoos Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil Dial 1091 Gamer Uthara Chemmeen Kunjaayi Solar Swapnam Avatharam Dr. Mathew Philip Asha Black Srinivas Ettekaal Second Mr. Fraud Sri Krishna Varma 2015 Wonderful Journey Raag Rangeela Female Unnikrishnan Madhavan Nair Namasthe Bali Anto Chakkalakyal Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander Surya Das Rudra Simhasanam Neelakanda Raja Oru New Generation Pani Rasam Shekhar Menon Calling Bell Plus Or Minus Just Married Marutha Village Guys 2016 Marupadi Daffedar Angane Thanne Nethave Anjettanam Pinnale Pretham Principal of National Law College Ore Mukham Older Aravindan 2017 1971: Beyond Borders IB Director Nair IPS Vishwa Vikhyatharaya Payyanmar Fa.Baby John Hello Dubaikkaran Pranayatheertham 2018 Marubhoomiyile Mazhathullikal Ippozhum Eppozhum Sthuthiyayirikkatte Koodasha Aravindante Athidhikal Geethalakshmi's husband Koode Ouseppachan 2019 Vijay Superum Pournamiyum Kanaran Pattabhiraman Rajasekhara Varma Ganagandharvan Sivadasan 1948 Kaalam Paranjathu Mangalath Vasundhara Jack & Daniel GK Nair A for Apple Ahmed Haji Oru Caribbean Udayippu Munthiri Monchan Madhavan Kutty

2020s Year Title Role Notes 2020 Love FM Big Brother ADGP Prathapachandra Menon 2021 Kshanam Vincent 2022 Kalachekon Mahi 2024 Bad Boyz Antappan's father 2025 Bha Bha Ba Commissioner Dev G. 2026

Tamil Year Title Role Notes 1993 Prathap Michael Raj 1994 Honest Raj Varadharajan Jai Hind Sriram 1995 Baashha Kesavan Nandhavana Theru Adhiseshan Ragasiya Police ACP Dinesh 1997 Mannava Suriya Ullaasam Chatterjee Thadayam Pandian Veerapandi Kottayiley My India 1998 Iniyavale Meena and Manju's uncle 1999 En Swasa Kaatre ACP Siragugal Viswa Sun TV telefilm Rajasthan Periyanna Varadharajan Nenjinile Samraj Manam Virumbuthe Unnai Ramesh Time Seetharaman 2000 Vaanathaippola Dharmalingam Ennamma Kannu Vaanavil Major Saravanan 2001 Rishi Minister Devaraj Citizen DGP Devasagayam IPS Shahjahan Mahee's father 2002 Punnagai Desam Rajarathinam Roja Kootam Raja Priya's father Maaran Central Minister April Maadhathil Shwetha's father 2003 Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu Ashok Thithikudhe Anu's father Indru Ramprasad 2004 Campus R. K. Devaraj Jai Nandhini's uncle Adi Thadi Perazhagan DSP Nair Shock Dr. Shyam Arivumani Mariyanayagam Arasatchi Karunakaran Bose Col. Sharma Gomathi Nayagam 2005 Sivakasi Rathnavelu 2006 Aathi Shankar Aacharya Vanjagan Arunachalam Vathiyar Factory Owner Manasukkule 2008 Satyam Police Inspector Aegan Ram Prasad 2010 Thairiyam Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Joseph 2011 Kanchana MLA Shankar Konjam Sirippu Konjam Kobam 2012 Murattu Kaalai 2013 Chennaiyil Oru Naal Dr. Senthil Masani Swami 2014 Nee Naan Nizhal Appavi Katteri 2016 Ennam Pudhu Vannam 2018 Imaikkaa Nodigal CBI Officer Narayan Gowda

Telugu Year Title Role Notes 1992 Dharma Kshetram Pandu 1993 Aasayam Reddappa Rowdy Mogudu Sarvarayudu Ratha Sarathi 1994 Police Brothers Captain Jaya 1995 Street Fighter Sagar 1996 Sampradayam Bhupathi Raja Akka! Bagunnava? 1997 Subhakankshalu Balaramaiah Pelli Chesukundam Krishna Prasad 2000 Maa Annayya 2002 Mounamelanoyi Mounika's father 2003 Okariki Okaru Swapna Rao's father 2004 Sivaram Chennakesava Reddy Judge Ravi Reddy Anandamanandamaye Bhuvana's father Kaasi GK Kushi Kushiga 2007 Desamuduru Narayan Patwari 2010 Vareva Ye Maaya Chesave Joseph 2012 Dhamarukam Vishwanath Sarocharu Vasudha's father 2014 Heart Attack Madhusudhan 2015 Soukhyam Shailu's father 2017 Raju Gari Gadhi 2 Vice Chancellor Chandra Shekar 2019 Saaho IG Devan Varma

Kannada Year Title Role Notes 1995 Deergha Sumangali 1997 Rough and Tough

Hindi Year Title Role Notes 1988 New Delhi Shankar 2019 Saaho IG Devan Varma

Television