Indrans

Kochuvelu Surendran (born 16 March 1956), better known by his stage name Indrans, is an Indian actor and former costume designer, who appears in Malayalam films. He started his film career as a costume designer and actor in 1981 and got a breakthrough in 1994 with the comedy movie CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Indrans was popular for his comedy roles in the 1990s and 2000s.

He found success in playing character roles in his later career and won the National Film Awards-Special Mention for his performance in Home in 2023 and the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for Apothecary in 2014. In 2018, Indrans won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Aalorukkam. His performance in Veyilmarangal won him the Best Actor Award at the 2019 Singapore International Film Festival. As of November 2021, he had starred in over 550 films.

Early life Indrans was born on 16 March 1956. He is third among the seven children of Palavila Kochuvelu and Gomathi at Kumarapuram, Thiruvananthapuram. He has four sisters and two brothers.

Indrans faced financial problems at his house and had to join his uncle to learn tailoring. Later, he joined amateur arts clubs and began acting in dramas. He started his acting career in television serial Kaliveedu in Doordarshan. Along with his brother, K. Jayakumar, he opened a tailoring shop named Indran's Brothers Tailors in Kumarapuram, Thiruvananthapuram.

Acting career Indrans made his debut in the 1981 film Choothattam both as a costume designer and as an actor. The producer, TMN Charley, offered him a chance to assist him in costume designing and he worked with designing costumes for several years, acting in various small roles. He got noticed for playing a small role of a marriage broker in the 1993 film Meleparambil Anveedu. Indrans got his breakthrough with his role in CID Unnikrishnan B.A., BEd (1994). This led to him being cast in various comedic roles in the films of the 1990s. Indrans’ lean figure and peculiar way of delivering his dialogue and mannerisms made him a popular comedian in Malayalam cinema during these period. Some of his memorable roles came with the movies such as Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji, Manathe Kottaram, Vadhu Doctoranu, Aadyathe Kanmani, Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava etc. He played the character "Uthaman" in the 1998 cult hit Punjabi House. Indrans' combination with Harishree Ashokan resulted in some of the successful films.

In the early 2000s he also started playing some minor character roles. Subsequently, his role of a thief in the 2004 film Kathavasheshan got him noticed as a character actor. In Rahasya Police (2009), Indrans was revealed to be the villain of the movie at the end. He played another villain role in Pottas Bomb (2013). Indrans won the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for his performance in the 2014 film Apothecary.

In 2016, Indrans got noticed for his portrayal of a serious role, in the film Mundrothuruth, directed by Manu. After this movie, he played several serious character roles. He appeared in serious avatars in Kaadu Pookunna Neram (2016) and God Say (2017). Indrans played several notable roles in films such as Makkana, Lonam, Paathi and Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu. In 2018, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2017 film Aalorukkam. In 2019, he was awarded Singapore South Asian International Film Best actor award for his performance in Veyilmarangal. Veyil Marangal also won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai International film festival. Indrans played the lead role in the movie Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla (2019). His brief cameo as the serial killer Ripper Ravi in the crime thriller Anjaam Pathiraa (2020) was critically acclaimed.

In 2021, he played the lead role of Oliver Twist in Home. The movie was well acclaimed by the critics and audience especially praising Indrans' performance.

Personal life Indrans married Santhakumari on 23 February 1985. They have a daughter Mahitha and a son Mahendran.

Indrans' autobiography, titled Indradhanussu, was serialised in Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly and published as a book in 2024 by Mathrubhumi Books. The work earned him the Cherukad Award for the year 2024.

Awards

2014 - Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for the film Apothecary 2016 - CPC Cine Awards – Special Honorary Award 2018 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for the film Aalorukkam 2019 - Singapore South Asian International Film Festival Best actor award for Veyilmarangal 2019 - Shanghai International Film Festival Award for Best Film N.N. Pillai Smaraka Puraskaram (N.N. Pillai Memorial Award) 2023 - National Film Awards-Special Mention for the film Home 2023 - 68th Filmfare Awards South - Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam for the film Udal 2024 - Cherukad Award - Indradhanussu (Autobiography)

2020s Year Title Role Notes 2020 Anjaam Pathiraa Ripper Ravi Uriyadi Head Constable Panchavarnaksharan Pilla 2 States Judge Cameo Kozhipporu George Maniyarayile Ashokan Priest Anan Sayanna Varthakal Raghavan Veyilmarangal Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam Abdu 2021 Yuvam Adv. Sreekanth Panicker Aapahasyam Vellam Chandran Cameo Anugraheethan Antony Madhavan Innu Muthal Maniyappan Velukkakka Oppu Ka Velukkakka Lead role Malik C. I. George Zachariah Home Oliver Twist Lead role Ellam Sheriyakum Tailor Madhuram Ravi Ooham Karanakaran 2022 Randu Meppadiyan Hajjiyar Member Rameshan 9am Ward Ormanakuttan Karnan Napoleon Bhagath Singh Ummar Pada Sakhaavu Kannan Mundoor Naaradan Judge Chothi Aaraattu Tabalist Balan Archana 31 Not Out Lord Salute Home Guard Pathonpatham Noottandu Kelu 19(1)(A) Police Officer Mohanan Puzhu Mathachan Jack N' Jill Anthrappan Udal Kuttichayan Kochaal Constable Paulose Vamanan Malayankunju Surendran Palthu Janwar Kochu George Padavettu Raghavan Mash Gila Eesho Varghese Aanandam Paramanandam Divakara Kurup 2023 Higuita Kunjananthan master Kaipola Kadina Kadoramee Andakadaham Hasaan 2018 Bhasi Jackson Bazaar Youth CI Sadashivam Within Seconds Kizhangu Mohanan Pendulum Amir's father Valatty Labrador Voice only Jaladhara Pumpset Since 1962 Mani Otta Adrishya Jalakangal Pulli Bhaskaran 2024 Anweshippin Kandethum DYSP Krishnan Unni (SIT) Nadikar David's co-actor Cameo CID Ramachandran Retd. SI Kanakarajyam Ramanadhan Jamalinte Punjiri Kunddala Puranam Venu Manorathangal Kuttinarayanan Segment: Swargam Thurakkuna Samayam Kuttante Shinigami Anand Sreebala Coroner's attender 2025 Rekhachithram Chandrappan Pariwar Bheeman Nancy Rani Mani United Kingdom of Kerala Fr. Michael Private Balan Marar Kerala Crime Files 2 CPO Ambili Raju Disney+ Hotstar web series 2026 Aashaan Aashaan Aadu 3: One Last Ride - Part 1 P.P. Sasi (present), Baaba (future), Valiya Kelu (past) Bhishmar Patriot ASI Satheeshan Chinna Chinna Aasai Madhavan Ananthan Kaadu Krishnankutty Bilingual film Khalifa: The Ruler Hamsa

Tamil Year Title Role Notes 2005 Aadum Koothu Manimegalai's ogler at the library 2012 Nanban Govindan 2026 Karuppu Mattancherry Sukumaran

Costume designer

Aniyatha Valakal (1980) Choothaattam (1981) Oru Madapravinte Katha (1983) Vanitha Police (1984) Sammelanam (1985) Principal Olivil (1985) Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986) Thoovanathumbikal (1987) Sarvakalasala (1987) Moonam Pakkam (1988) Aazhikkoru Muthu (1989) Season (1989) Innale (1989) Rajavazhcha (1990) Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum (1990) Maala Yogam (1990) Njan Gandharvan (1991) Kaazhchakkppuram (1992) Ayalathe Addeham (1992) Kavadiyattam (1993) Bhagyavan (1993) Sphadikam (1995) Kalyana Uniikal (1997)

Singer

Kadhanayakan (1997)

Television serials Kadalinakare (Asianet) Hukka Hua Mikkado (Asianet) Ellaam Mayajaalam (Asianet) Devimahatmyam (Asianet) Pattukalude Paattu (Surya TV) Sabarimala Sridharmashashtha (Asianet) Nirupama Fans (Flowers TV) Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Amrita TV) Kaliveedu (Doordarshan) Kunjammayum Koottukarum (Doordarshan) Smarakasilakal (Doordarshan)