Janardhanan

Janardhanan Pillai (born 5 May 1946), simply known as Janardhanan, also known as Janardhanan Nair, is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Air Force personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He acted in his first feature film Adyathe Kadha, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1971, he acted in more than 700 films. He started his career when Malayalam films were made in black and white. He is known for his style of handling humour and his iconic voice. He started his career playing brusque villains and sub hero roles in the 1970s and early 1980s, acting along with Prem Nazir and Jayan, but later established himself as a highly sought-after comedian.

The turning point of his career was his role in the 1988 film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, which brought out his comic skills. However, he was typecast as a comedian only after the 1993 film Meleparambil Aanveedu. Mimicry artists perform with his noted role of Garvasis Aashan in Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995). But along with comic roles, he had done serious roles like D.I.G Marar in Dhruvam and Jayashankar in Mafia. Apart from stereotyped Hindu/Muslim/Christian characters, he has the distinction of portraying a Sikh and a Jewish character.

Personal life Janardhanan Pillai was born in the village of Ullala near Vaikom on May 5, 1946, to Kollarakkattu Veettil Paravoor K. Gopala Pillai and Gouri Amma, as their youngest son. He has four brothers and three sisters. He had his primary education from NSS High School, Vechoor and pre-university from NSS Hindu College, Changanassery. Later, he joined the Indian Air force for a short period. After two years in 1967, he joined Velu Thampi Memorial N.S.S. College, Dhanuvachapuram for B.Com.

He debuted in a Family Planning documentary Prathisanthi, directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, recommended by lecturer Sreevaraham Balakrishnan. He turned down the offer of bank employment and became Production Manager for Chemparathi, produced by S. K. Nair and directed by P. N. Menon. After that, he worked with Kakkanadan and V. B. C. Nair for Malayalanadu weekly. Then S. K. Nair sent him to Madras (now called Chennai) to take charge in his Madras office. While working there, he got an opportunity to act in Aadhyathe Katha in 1972.

He is married to Vijayalaksmi and they have two daughters: Rema Ranjini and Laxmi.

He also had an affair with another woman. In his own words "Around 18 years ago, I had an affair with another woman. I did my best for her. My wife was aware of the affair,".

Filmography

As actor 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1972 Aadhyathe Katha Mohan Chemparathy Vinayan 1973 Gayathri Mazhakaaru Soman Chukku 1974 Udayam Kizhakku Thanne Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu Gopi Moham 1975 Swami Ayyappan Utsavam Ouseppu Pennpada Panicker Chalanum Priyamulla Sophia Njan Ninne Premikkunnu Sathyathinte Nizhalil Omanakkunju Odakkuzhal Love Letter Cheenavala Rowdy Pachan 1976 Abhinandanam Police Inspector Mallanum Mathevanum Ponni Sub-collector Prasaadam Sukumaran Ozhikkinethire Chennai Valarthiya Kutty Anaavaranam Missi Ayalkkaari Mathew 1977 Anjali Kannappanunni Pachan Muttathe Mulla Ramesh Agninakshathram Harshabashpam Makam Piranna Manka Saritha Ivanente Priyaputhran Veedu Oru Swargam Innale Innu Chadran Aanandham Paramaanandham Inspector Raghavan Acharam Ammini Osaram Omana Ravikumar 1978 Snehikkan Samayamilla Aarum Anyaralla Baby Avalku Maranamilla Velluvili Sreedharan Yagaswam Vijayan Vadakakku Oru Hridayam Snehathinte Mukhangal Iniyum Puzhayozhukum Sukumaran Randu Penkuttikal Avalude Ravukal Kadathanaattu Maakkam Kunjikannan Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham Lopez Bandham Kanyaka Raghavan Vyaamoham Aaravam Anthony Vayanadan Thamban Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Venugopal Eeta Kurup 1979 Vijayam Nammude Senani Ezhu Nirangal Radhakrishnan Hridayathil Nee Matram Iniyathra Indradhanussu Sub Inspector Babu Prabhaathasandhya Kutty Sankaran Vijayanum Veeranum Prakash Lillypookkal Jimmy Babu Paul Simhasanam Itha Oru Theeram Chandran Vaaleduthaven Vaalaal Vellayani Paramu Kottaram Sarvadhikari Swami Yakshi Paaru Shekharan Sandhyaragam Jeevitham Oru Gaanam Varghese Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi Raghu Tamil film Ezhamkadalinakkare Raghu

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Ashwaradham Rajagopal Sathyam Balraj Theenalangal Madhavan/Rajasekharan Aagamanam Murali Saraswathi Yaamam Madhu Dwik Vijayam Pankajakshan Idi Muzhakkam Paalattu Kunjikannan Thampikutti Chandrahasam Balan Raagam Thaanam Pallavi Avan Oru Ahankaari Kadalkkaattu Gopalan Manushya Mrugam Chandran 1981 Ellaam Ninakku Vendi Somarajan Aambal Poovu Tharattu Ithihasam Itha Oru Dhikkari Koyikkal Kuruppu Nizhal Yudham Ariyappedatha Rahasyam Pappan 1982 Snehapoorvam Meera Baby Marupacha Janardhanan Njan Ekananu Raghu Keni Madhusoodanan Post Mortem Unni Ethiraalikal Hamsa Sharam Aayudham Mylanji Moideen Aarambham Lazar Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam Shekharan 1983 Samrambham Pourasham Lawrence Angam Nanayam Vasu Ee Yugam Bandham Arabikkadal Iniyengilum Kariyachan 1984 Unaroo Oru Kochu Swapnam Co-operative bank manager Uyarangalil A. K. Menon Lakshmana Rekha Balachandra Menon Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha Paul Kadamattathachan Aliyar Aksharangal Theatre Artist Babujose Ivide Thudangunnu S. P. Adiyozhukkukal Hamsa Aalkkoottathil Thaniye Balachandran 1985 Uyirthezhunnelppu Anand Pournami Raavil 3D Idanilangal Mukhyamanthri Pappachan Mulamoottil Adima Ibrahim Janakeeya Kodathi Janardanan Anubandham Police Officer Kathodu Kathoram Lazar Kattukulle Thiruvizha Tamil film 1986 Sukhamo Devi Ouseppachan Koodanayum Kattu Abhayam Thedi C. S. Nair Gandhinagar 2nd Street Professor Niramulla Ravulkal Kumaran Yuvajanotsavam Unnithan Cabaret Dancer Pournami Rathriyil Nimishangal S.P. Damodharan Pillai Aavanazhi Vincent Ee Kaikalil Madhava Menon 1987 Amme Bhagavathi Swami Siddhan Vrutham Avarachan Nadodikkattu Kovai Venkatesan Irupatham Noottandu IG Thomas IPS Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam Police Inspector Kaala Rathri Mangalya Charthu Kuruppu Thoranam Itha Samayamayi MLA Vattappara Sreedharante Onnam Thirumurivu Ramachandran Adimakal Udamakal Ramachandran Aankiliyude Tharattu Stanley 1988 Moonnam Mura IG Mathews Oru CBI Diary Kurippu K. A. Ouseppachan Abkari Karthikeyan August 1 K. Divakara Kaimal Karate Girls Evidence D I G 1921 Appunni Nair Thanthram Adv. Rajasekharan Mukthi Shekharan Nair 1989 Aksharathettu Regional Manager Varavelpu Kumaran Vandanam MP Ramachandran Pradeshika Varthakal The News Radhakrishnan Naduvazhikal Aasan Prabhatham Chuvanna Theruvil Adhipan Kaimal Charithram Cherian Adikkurippu William Jagratha Ouseppachan

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Crime Branch Charukeshan Randam Varavu Police Officer Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam Rambo Chackochan Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom Beena's Uncle Kadathanadan Ambadi May Dinam Chachappan Lal Salam Kannan Muthalali Nammude Naadu CI Joseph Arhatha Krishnakumar Appu Janardhana Kaimal No.20 Madras Mail Adv. Thomas Mathew 1991 Nattuvishesham Kattumooppan Kilukkampetti Managing Director Godfather Gopi Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty Advaitham Krishnan Kutty Menon Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu Chackochan Adayalam Adv. Haridas 1992 Mayaunna Manasukal Soorya Gayathri Babu Karunakaran Poochakkaru Mani Kettum Menon Adhwaytham Krishnankutty Menon Sathyaprathinja Kizhakkan Pathrose Ponjikkara Appa Apaaratha Phalgunan Sadayam Police Officer Oottyppattanam Menon My Dear Muthachan Adv. Ananthan Ennodishtam Koodamo Arathi's Uncle Adharam Krishna Menon Thalastaanam C.M Krishnankutty 1993 Sarovaram Porutham Aacharyan Raveendranath Varam Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans CM Govinda Menon Mithunam Sivasankaran Meleparambil Anveedu Kannappan Maya Mayooram Mohan Tharakan Janam K. Divakaran Ekalavyan Krishnan Devaasuram Kunjikrishnan Nambiar Dhruvam D.I.G. Marar Vatsalyam Ramankutty Menon Mafia DYSP Jayashankar Paalayam Lawrence 1994 Kabooliwala 'Minnal' Thomachan Vardhakya Puranam Cherian Thomas Vadhu Doctoranu Sankaran Poochakkaru Mani Kettum Menon Pingami Koshy Varghese Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu Dr. Vishnu Narayanan Potty Varanamaalyam Thomas Rajadhani Kinnaripuzhayoram Sivashankaran Nair CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Rishikeshan Nair Bheesmacharya Madhavan Nair Vishnu Divakaran 1995 Highway DYSP George Alexander No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North Kunjukkuttychayan Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu Madhavan Thampi Parvathy Parinayam Narayanankutty Minnaminuginum Minnukettu Unnithan Tom & Jerry Chachan Three Men Army K. R. G. Menon Thacholi Varghese Chekavar Mathukutty Sindoora Rekha Narayanan Nair Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan Palathara Palunni Pai Brothers Kesavan Mannar Mathai Speaking Garvasees Ashan Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta Achuthankutty Kidilol Kidilam Karunakara Kuruppu Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Kalamassery Krishnan Nair Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana Alexander Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman Phalgunan Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava Kottaram Veedan Aadyathe Kanmani Unnithan 1996 Mimics Super 1000 Easwara Kurup Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran Sadashivan Parasala Pachan Payannur Paramu Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu Manthrika Kuthira Kunjukutty Devaraagam Harihara Subramanya Iyyer Kanjirapally Kariachan 1997 The Good Boys Mohanachandran Superman Nithya's Valyachan Kilikurussiyile Kudumbamela Poonilamazha Abhimana Varma Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam Bharathan Pillai Oru Mutham Manimutham Sreedharan Poomarathanalil Fernandez Vamsam Anjarakalyanam Junior Mandrake The Car Kumarettan Kilukil Pambaram Karunyam K. K. Nair Kadhanayakan Sathrughnan Pillai Hitler Brothers Thrivikraman Aniyathi Pravu Dr. Kuttappayi Varnapakittu Ramaswamy Iyer 1998 Summer in Bethlehem Colonel C.R. Menon Punjabi House Manninder Singh Meenathil Thalikettu Kunjiraman Mayilpeelikkavu Narayanan Kutty Gloria Fernandez From USA Ormacheppu 1999 Vazhunnor Thevakattu Avarachan Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum Krishnan Nair Ustaad Swamy Pathram Kuruvithadam Baby Njangal Santhushtaranu Idikkula Ittoopp Parashala Pachan Payannur Paramu American Ammayi Menon James Bond Kunnamkulam Rappai Friends Madhava Varma F.I.R Chief Minister Crime File Kaliyar Pathrose Vaidyan Chandamama Thampy

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Sambhavana Warrier Pilots Shekharan Mr. Butler Ramakrishnan Swayamvara Panthal Radhakrishnan Dreams Thottathil Mathen Mark Antony Parel Pappu Devadoothan Principal Darling Darling Unnithan Daivathinte Makan Fr. Gabriel 2001 Saivar Thirumeni Fr. Kuruvithadam Randam Bhavam D. I. G. of Police Naranathu Thampuran Police officer Baburaj Ee Ravil Rakshasa Rajavu Chief Minister Nagaravadhu Kesari Govinda Pillai Dubai K. J. Nair Karumadikkuttan Govindan Nair Andolanam Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka Balakrishnan Nambiar Nariman Chief Minister Shekharan One Man Show Raveendran 2002 Kattuchembakam A.D.G.P Narendra Thampi Thandavam Menon Snehithan Vivek's father Kuberan Vasan Kayamkulam Kanaran Kaiyethum Doorath Passenger in the boat Chirikkudukka Prahaladhan Pillai Bamboo Boys Mula Swamy 2003 Gramophone Gregory Chronic Bachelor Parameswaran Pillai Sadanandante Samayam Menon Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam Madhavan Thampi Melvilasam Sariyanu Menon Mizhi Randilum Thampi Ivar S. K. Nair Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu Ajith's uncle 2004 Thalamelam Kochousepp Kottaram Vaidyan Marthandan Vamanapuram Bus Route Bahuleyan Sethurama Iyer CBI Ouseppachan Udayam Krishna Menon Njan Salperu Ramankutty Narayanan Kanninum Kannadikkum Narayanan Chathikkatha Chanthu Thampuran Vettam Fernandes Natturajavu Father Pappy Black Aasan Kadhavaseshan Veerabhadran Nair/Kuttammavan 2005 Five Fingers Fr. Nedumbaran Udayananu Tharam Madhumathi's father Immini Nalloraal Bhaskara Pillai Thommanum Makkalum Panikkar Alice in Wonderland Mani Kuruvilla Rappakal Sankaran Kuttiyar Kadha Madhava Menon The Tiger Ahamed Sahib 2006 Jayam Madhuchandralekha Rashtram Keshava Menon Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Sankaran Potty Thuruppu Gulan Peethambaran Chess Easwara Varma Nottam Menon Red Salute Medayil Ittichan Pathaaka Muhammed Mash Kanaka Simhasanam Upendra Varma 2007 Inspector Garud Krishnan Namboothiri Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal Raghavan Nair Panthaya Kozhi Sankaran Nair Khaki Bahuleyan July 4 Lokanathan Hallo M. N. Nambiar Nazrani Thampi 2008 Magic Lamp Anandan De Ingottu Nokkiye Raudram Chief Minister College Kumaran V Narendranath Malabar Wedding Paappan Annan Thambi Ravunni Mayabazar Kuriayachan Twenty:20 Ramakrishnapilla Crazy Gopalan Narayana Kurup 2009 Kadha, Samvidhanam Kunchakko Chief Minister Aayirathil Oruvan Eenasu Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan Lambodharan Pilla Samastha Keralam PO Valiya Ammavan Oru Black and White Kudumbam Madhava Varma Utharaswayamvaram Vasu Moz & Cat Avutha Seetha Kalyanam Thiruvattar Thankavelu Makante Achan Kurup Love In Singapore 2 Harihar Nagar Fr. Stephen Varghese Ee Pattanathil Bhootham Philipose Loudspeaker Grandpa Chattambinadu Vadival Vasu

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Body Guard Balakrishna Menon Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu Muthupandi Chettiar Bombay Mittayi Kaaryasthan Malarvaadi Arts Club Nelloor Gopalan Mummy & Me Fr. Felix Pramani Castro Vareeth Best of Luck Kuzhithura Ponnappan Chekavar P.M.V. Elsamma Enna Aankutty Balan Pillai Kudumbasree Travels Mullasery Raveendra Chakyar 2011 Lavender Makeup Man Paul, Film producer Payyans Brittas's father Violin Ulakam Chuttum Valiban Jayashankar's uncle Maharaja Talkies Lucky Jokers Madhava Varma Thampuran Nadakame Ulakam Aanni Kurup Venicile Vyapari Raghuramavarma 2012 Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O. The King & the Commissioner Central Minister G. K Trivandrum Lodge Arthur Gopal Relton Madirasi Kurup Karmayodha Narayana Menon Naughty Professor Ee Thirakkinidayil Theevram S.P Varma Namukku Parkkan Krishnan Ammavan Thiruvambadi Thamban Kunjachan 2013 Nadodimannan Damodharan Maad Dad Mamachan Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath Thirumeni Black Butterfly Lazer Careebeyans Chief Minister Vallatha Pahayan KQ 2014 Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 Garvasees Aasan Salalah Mobiles Kodaangi Guest appearance Ettekaal Second Konthayum Poonoolum Baby 2015 Bhaskar the Rascal Sankara Narayanan Pillai Utopiayile Rajavu Vasavan Pillai 2016 Savam Marupadi 2017 Fukri Venkatesh Iyer Georgettan's Pooram Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu Narayanan Lavakusha Sathyan, film producer Masterpiece Chief Minister 2018 Captain K. Karunakaran Panchavarnathatha Bride's Father Abrahaminte Santhathikal Priest Aanakkallan 2019 Kalikoottukkar Oru Yamandan Premakadha Davis's Grandfather Cameo Kuttymama Vishudha Pusthakam Pattabhiraman Varma Jack & Daniel Kerala CM

2020s Year Title Role Notes 2020 Big Brother Valliyammavan 2022 Kaduva Chief Minister Ananthanathan Paappan Dr. Pattabhiraman Autorickshawkarante Bharya French Vasu 2023 Christopher Chief Minister 2018 Chief Minister Voice of Sathyanathan Vaidyar 2024 Oru Kattil Oru Muri Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam 2025 Hridayapoorvam Chittappan Sarvam Maya Prahladan Namboothiri

Web series Year Title Role Language Notes 2024 Nagendran's Honeymoons Avarachan Malayalam Disney+ Hotstar

As dubbing artist

Television Mahathma Gandhi Colony (Asianet) Ashtapadi (Surya TV) Kanthari Badai Bungalow (Asianet) Adutha Bullodu Koodi (Zee Keralam) Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum (Flowers TV) Uppum Mulakum (Flowers TV)