M. G. Soman

M. G. Somashekharan Nair (28 October 1941 – 12 December 1997), professionally credited by his stage name M. G. Soman was an Indian actor and former Indian Air Force officer who appeared in Malayalam films. He was among the actors who played leading roles in Malayalam cinema during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He also had some Tamil films to his credit, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. However, in the late 1980s and 1990s, he switched to character and villainous roles.

Early life He was born as Somashekharan Nair to Konni Kudukkillethu Veettil Govinda Panicker and P. K. Bhavani Amma, in Thiruvalla, Travancore, on 28 September 1941. He had his primary education from Balikamadom H. S. S., Thiruvalla, St Thomas HSS Thirumoolapuram. While studying at seventh grade he started a drama troupe with his friend and performed the drama Manaltharikal Garjikkunnu. He did his pre-university degree at St. Berchmans College, Changanassery. He was also part of the Indian Air Force.

Film career Soman joined Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair's drama troupe Jayasree and then moved to the film industry. He worked at Kerala Arts Theaters and KPAC. Ramarajyam of Kerala Arts Theaters opened him a way to the movie industry. His first film was Gayatri directed by P. N. Menon in 1973. He acted in the role of a hero from 1976 to 1983 and later played the roles of villains, comedians and supporting roles. In 1977, his best known film was released under the direction of I. V. Sasi – Itha Ivide Vare. He soon rose to become the busiest actor in the industry. In 1978, Soman had acted in 44 films, which was till today kept as a record. After 1984, he had shifted from heroic roles to character roles, notably in films like Poochakkoru Mookkuthi. In 1997, Lelam, directed by Joshiy, was his last film and his performance as Aanakkattil Eappachan was greatly appreciated and received critical acclaim. He died on 12 December 1997 due to jaundice. He was 56. He produced a Malayalam movie titled as Bhoomika in 1991 which was directed by I.V.Sasi, starring Jayaram, Suresh Gopi, Mukesh and Urvashi in lead roles.

Personal life Soman was married to Sujatha. They have a son Saji and a daughter Sindhu. Saji is married to Bindu and has a son Shekhar and a daughter Shivanghe. Sindhu Soman is married to Girish and has two daughters, Lekshmi Girish and Gayatri Girish.

Awards Kerala State Film Awards:

Best Actor (1976) – Thanal, Pallavi Second Best Actor (1975) – Swapnadanam, Chuvanna Sandhyakal

Filmography Malayalam 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1973 Gayathri Rajamany Mazhakaaru Gopi Madhavikutty Chukku 1974 Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree Balan Pancha Thanthram Prince in the dance drama Chattakari Richard Rajahamsam Nanukuttan Manyasree Viswamithran Ramesh Thacholi Marumakan Chandu 1975 Utsavam Bhargavan Picnic Chudala Muthu Chattambikkalyaani Kochu Thampuran Pulivalu Makkal Ullasa Yaathra Mattoru Seetha Odakkuzhal Bhaaryaye Aavashyamundu Raasaleela Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre Thiruvonam Padmakumar Mucheettukalikkarante Makal Priest Sooryavamsham Tourist Bungalow Chuvanna Sandhyakal Abhimaanam Venugopal Malsaram 1976 Anubhavam Bosco Ayalkkaari Suku Sindhooram Rajaankanam Kaayamkulam Kochunniyude Makan Amrithavaahini Sudhakaran Madhuram Thirumadhuram Bhaskaran Agni Pushpam Swapnadanam Mohan Paalkkadal Narendran Kuttavum Shikshayum Seemantha Puthran Abhinandanam Sreedharan Missi Romeo Swimming Pool Vazhivilakku Ponni Chellan Pick Pocket Damu Samasya Surveykkallu Aruthu Mohiniyaattam Venu Chennaaya Valarthiya Kutty Pushpasharam Pallavi 1977 Guruvayoor Kesavan Unni Innale Innu Thulasi's husband Oonjaal Rajan Sankhupushpam Gopi Abhinivesham Venu Muttathe Mulla Babu Randu Lokam Balan Ormakal Marikkumo Dr. Aravindan Itha Ivide Vare Vishwanathan Ammaayi Amma Siva Thandavum Ivan Ente Priya Putran Chakravarthini Sreedevi Chandrasekharan Vishukkani Radhakrishnan Akale Aakaasham Saritha Anjali Lakshmi Rajan Sneha Yamuna Agninakshathram Aparaajitha Veedu Oru Swargam Anthardaaham Sujatha Harshabashpam Makam Piranna Manka Muhoorthangal Sooryakanthi Tholkan Enikku Manassilla Aasheervaadam Panchamrutham Swarnamedal Vezhambal 1978 Mannu Damu Aval Viswasthayayirunnu James Aniyara Rathinirvedam Krishnan Nair Mattoru Karnan Avalude Ravukal Chandran Padmatheertham Karunan Lisa Lakshmi's boss Kalpavriksham Surendran Nivedyam Dr.Gopakumar Nakshatrangale Kaval Iniyum Puzhayozhukum Prabhakaran Eeta Gopalan Kaathirunna Nimisham Gopi Avalku Maranamilla Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham Rajan Maattoly Raghu Velluvili Soman Thanal Aarum Anyaralla Prabhakaran Priyadarshini Vadakakku Oru Hridayam Snehikkan Oru Pennu Rajan Paranja Kadha Premashilpi Soman Hemantharaathri Avakaasham Rappadikalude Gatha Njaan Njaan Maathram Sathrathil Oru Raathri Mattoru Karnan Naalumanippookkal Astamudikayal Nakshathrangale Kaaval Anumodhanam Padmatheertham Karunan Anubhoothikalude Nimisham Orkkuka Vallappozhum Adimakkachavadam Vasu Ashokavanam Theerangal Randu Janmam Jayikkaanaay Janichavan Vasu Vishwaroopam 1979 Sayoojyam Balan Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Bhagyanath Itha Oru Theeram Gopi Vellayani Paramu Ithikkara Pakki Chuvanna Chirakukal Johnny Issac Rakthamillatha Manushyan Sivan Manasa Vacha Karmana Dr. Venugopal Prabhaathasandhya Gopi Ezhamkadalinakkare Soman Jeevitham Oru Gaanam Johny Ivide Kattinu Sugandam Gopi Neeyo Njaano Damu Choola Nitya Vasantham Balan Yakshi Paaru Rajan Pratheeksha Balan Anubhavangale Nanni Pathivritha Lovely Amrithachumbanam Thuramukham Hamza

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Chandra Bimbam Kadalkkaattu Sreedharan Muthuchippikal Sasi Aniyaatha Valakal Balan Prakadanam Jose Pralayam Shivan Kutti Aagamanam Venu Raagam Thaanam Pallavi Jayachandran Pavizha Mutthu Raveendran Dooram Arike Venu/Fr. Michael Puzha Oru Varsham Oru Maasam Thirayum Theeravum Mohan Pappu Akalangalil Abhayam Balachandran Ithile Vannavar Gopinath Ivar Leslie Hridhayam Paadunnu Daaliya Pookkal Saraswathi Yaamam Ramankutty Eden Thottam Thomaskutty Avan Oru Ahankaari 1981 Vayal Govindankutty Agni Yudham Sphodanam Surendran Paathira Sooryan Stephen Kodumudikal Bava Kadathu Ravi Thaaraavu Narayanankutty Swarangal Swapnagal Prabhakaran Kolilakkam Kumar Kathayariyathe Vishwanatha Menon Raktham Dr. Venu Itha Oru Dhikkari Raju Sahasam Manassinte Theerthayathra Aravindan Enne Snehikkoo Enne Maathram Vadaka Veetile Athithi Ithihasam Sambhavam Visham SI Madhu Veliyattam Vishwam Vazhikal Yatrakkar Sreeman Sreemathi 1982 Ethiraalikal Antony Beedi Kunjamma Madhavan Oru Vilippadakale Major Unnikrishnan Raktha Sakshi Thuranna Jail Rajan Karthavyam Sreekumar Sooryan Venu Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum Raja Rajasekhara Koritharicha Naal Vijayan Aarambham Basheer Preeyasakhi Radha Dhrohi Aayudham Inspector Williams Ivan Oru Simham Peter Aadharsam Mohan Dheera Mohan Shaari Alla Shaarada Venu 1983 Pinnilavu Dr. Gopi Rathilayam Somen Thiruvalla Mahabali Naradan Aa Raathri All Kerala Abdu Aattakalasam C.I Vijayan Cameo Ee Yugam Aadyathe Anuraagam Jayan Kaathirunna Divasam Ravi Sandhya Vandanam Sasi Aana Manthi Raju Thaavalam Balan Deepaaradhana Damu Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare Hamsa Ahangaaram Vinod Kolakomban Khalid Pourasham Gopi Kathi Aadyathe Anuraagam Jayan 1984 Poochakkoru Mookkuthi Hari Koottinilamkili Balachandran Chakkarayumma Sayed Muhammed Kodathy Venu Thacholi Thankappan Khader Nishedhi Rajasekharan Minimol Vathicanil Doctor Kadamattachan Pulimoottil Kariya Krishna Guruvayoorappa Villumangalam Swami Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla Panchayath President Poomadhathe Pennu Somashekharan Oru Thettinte Katha Aayiram Abilashangal Ente Gramam Idavelakku Sesham Vinodh Aagraham Sreekrishna Parunthu Shekharan Thampi 1985 Boeing Boeing Lambodharan Pillai Vasantha Sena Sidhartha Menon Aanakkorumma Police officer Uyarum Njan Nadake Master Premalekhanam Kesavan Nair Pathamudayam B. G. Menon Mulamoottil Adima Moideen Special Appearance Koodum Thedi Menon Njan Piranna Nattil Gopinath Adhyayam Onnu Muthal Narayanan Aa Neram Alppa Dooram Sudhakaran Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki Mangalath Viswanatha Menon Orikkal Oridathu Raghavan Snehicha Kuttathinu Sudhakaran Aazhi Gaayathridevi Ente Amma Mr. Menon Avidathe Pole Ivideyum Ravi Iniyum Kadha Thudarum Krishnan Onathumbikkoru Oonjal 1986 Thalavattam Dr. Raviandran Sayam Sandhya Sivaprasad's Brother Panchagni Mohandas Kunjattakilikal Vishwanatha Menon Sunil Vayassu 20 Somashekharan Sukhamo Devi Dr. Ambikadmajan Nair Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam Rajendran's Uncle Iniyum Kurukshetrum Jayamohan Adukkan Entheluppam Williams Nandi Veendum Varika Ananthan Nair Veendum Alex Ambadi Thannilorunni M G Menon Ithramathram Colonel Rajasekharan Amme Bhagavathi Malarum Kiliyum Cabaret Dancer Nilaavinte Naattil Venu 1987 Ivide Ellavarkkum Sukham Major Shekhara Varma Vazhiyorakazchakal Ravi Vrutham Charlie Vilambaram Balagopalan Thoovanathumbikal Mathew Joseph Cameo January Oru Orma Menon Jaalakam Appu's Father Cheppu Principal Sathyadas Kathakku Pinnil Palodan Rithubhedam Receiver Nadodikkattu Himself Cameo Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha Prem Sankar Yagagni Nambeesan Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal John Samuel Mangalya Charthu Thomas 1988 1921 Shekharan Varma Chithram Jail Superintendent Sathyanathan Aryan Arumukhan Manu Uncle DySP Janmandharam Panikkar Daisy Balakrishna Menon Aparan Mohandas, M.D Onninu Purake Mattonnu Reghu Abkari Kunjappan Mukthi Hameed Moonnam Pakkam Kurup Oru Muthassi Katha Mayinkutty Vellanakalude Nadu Prabhakaran Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu C.P. Menon Varnam Manu's Brother Puthiya Karukkal Udaya Varma 1989 Douthyam Col. Madhavan Nair Vandanam Commissioner Chandrasekharan Aavanikunnile Kinnaripookkal Jayamohan Photo Appearance Crime Branch Pushkaran Jaithra Yathra V P Menon

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 No.20 Madras Mail R.K. Nair Varthamana Kalam Ravunni Mashu Aye Auto Police Commissioner Akkare Akkare Akkare Police Commissioner Randam Varavu R. Sreedharan Nair Rajavazhcha Kuttan Nair Mukham Home Minister His Highness Abdullah Kesava Pillai Arhatha Chandrashekharan Nair Appu Police Officer Midhya Appunni Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu Kuwait Mani 1991 Adhwaytham Shekharan Inspector Balram Sahadevan Neelagiri Shekhara Menon Ulladakkam Mathachan Njan Gandharvan Gopalakrishnan Nair Ente Sooryaputhrikku Vinod Shankar Bhoomika Raghavan Nair Mahazar Adv. Venugopal 1992 Thalastaanam Raghavan Aardram Jail Warden Apaaratha Singapore Pillai Mahanagaram Kumaran Master Congratulations Miss Anitha Menon Shankara Menon Kallanum Polisum SP 1993 Mafia Deputy City Police Commissioner M.T. Govindan Arthana Madhavan Nair 1994 Kabooliwala Munna's Father Commissioner IG Balachandran Nair IPS Pakshe Shivadasa Menon IAS Gentleman Security Unnithan Chukkan Parol Padmanabhan 1995 Rajakeeyam Bharatha Varman Nirnayam Dr. David Kurishinkal Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana Chief Minister The King Alexander Thevalliparambil Cameo Sundarimare Sookshikkuka C.P. Raveendran 1996 Indraprastham K. N. Nair Rajaputhran Vishwanathan Hitler College Professor Sugavaasam Ganapathi Iyyer 1997 Oru Yathramozhi Santhosh Chandralekha Dr. Menon Varnapakittu Kuruvilla Lelam Aanakkaattil Eappachan Final film

Tamil films Year Title Role 1974 Aval Oru Thodar Kathai Chandrasekhar 1975 Naalai Namadhe Ravi 1976 Kumara Vijayam Vinoth 1993 Airport Senior minister Krishnamoorthy

Television Kuthirakal (Doordarshan) Sahanam (Doordarshan)