Madhu

Madhavan Nair (born on 23 September 1933) better known by his stage name Madhu, is an Indian actor, director, producer, former college lecturer and former film studio owner, who works in Malayalam cinema and a certain number of Hindi and Tamil films. He was a prominent lead actor during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and has acted in more than 400 films. Madhu has also directed 12 films, produced 15 films and at one time owned the Uma Film Studio. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013 for his contributions towards the arts. He was honored with the J. C. Daniel Award by the Government of Kerala in 2004, for his outstanding contributions to Malayalam films. He is the president of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) Kerala Unit.

Mini, a children's movie produced by him, bagged the Indira Gandhi National Award for Best Film on Family Welfare, at the 43rd National Film Awards in 1995. He is the inaugural winner of the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam for his performance in Swayamvaram (1972), and has received three more Filmfare awards and is also the recipient of five Kerala State Film Awards. Madhu starred Chemmeen won the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film in 1965, becoming the first Malayalam film to win the title.

Personal life

He was born on 23 September 1933 at Gowreesapattom in the erstwhile Travancore. His father, R. Parameswaran Pillai (hailed from Padmanabhapuram, near Thuckalay in Kanyakumari), was the erstwhile Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram and his mother Thankamma Pillai was a housewife. He has four sisters. He had his primary schooling up to the fourth standard at Kunnukuzhi L.P. School, fifth class (preparatory) at S. M. V. School, 1st form to 3rd form at Pettah Middle School and fourth form to sixth form (SSLC) at St. Joseph's High School. He did a pre-university degree at Mahatma Gandhi College and graduated in Hindi from University College. He did his postgraduation in Hindi from Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

He was married to Jayalakshmi till her death in 2014. They have a daughter, Dr. Uma J. Nair.

Career He started his career as a Hindi lecturer in S. T. Hindu College and then Scott Christian College at Nagercoil. In the movie, he portrayed Stephen, an Indian army soldier who sacrifices his life on the battlefield for his motherland. The role and the movie were well received by the public. Moodupadam, for which he had come to Chennai for the make up test, became his second film. From thereon, there was no looking back.

He has expressed all facets of life through his various acting roles. Perhaps his most notable role during his early career was in Kariat's Chemmeen, which won the President's Gold Medal. Madhu entered Malayalam cinema at a time when lead roles were dominated by actors like Prem Nazir and Sathyan and created a niche for himself. One of his early films where he made a mark was Bhargavi Nilayam, a suspense movie, where he is the only actor on screen during the first half of the movie. This was followed by Udhyogastha, Virunnukari, and Veettu Mrugam, by P. Venu. Madhu has brought to life on screen, memorable characters from the works of eminent writers in Malayalam; Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Thakazhi, P. Kesavadev, Uroob, Ponkunnam Varkey, S. K. Pottekkatt, Changampuzha, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, G. Vivekanandan, N. N. Pisharody and C. Radhakrishnan, to name a few.

In an acting career spanning over five decades, Madhu acted in over 370 films. Although he was a big star in commercial films, he also acted in parallel movies. Such parallel movies include Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Swayamvaram, P. N. Menon's Olavum Theeravum, etc.

Madhu also proved his talents as a filmmaker and director. His first directorial venture Priya, released in 1970, was a trendsetter in Malayalam.

Accolades

Civilian Awards 2013 Padma Shri

National Film Award 1995 National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Mini (Produced by Madhu) in 1995 (Directed by P. Chandrakumar)

Kerala State Film Award 2004 J. C. Daniel Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Government of Kerala. 1979 Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor for Idavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha

Filmfare Awards South 1994 Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1994) 1977 Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Yuddha Kaandam (1977) 1976 Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Theekkanal (1976) 1972 Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Swayamvaram (1972) (inaugural winner)

Other awards 2013 Honored by the President of India during 100 years of Indian Cinema celebration held at Chennai 2013 Honour from the Government of Kerala for completing 5 decades in Malayalam film industry 2013 Honoured by AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) for his contributions to the Malayalam film industry, spanning over 50 years 2013 Honour from MACTA on completion of 50 years in Malayalam Cinema Award from Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam cinema MACTA Legends Honour Award Sathyan Award 2012 Prem Nazir Foundation Award Ramu Kariat Award Dr. Sukumar Azhikode Award Thoppil Bhasi Smaraka Prathibha Puraskaram P. Bhaskaran Foundation Award Thilakan Foundation Award Narendra Prasad Puraskaram Bahadoor Foundation Award in 2005 Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai Memorial Award Asianet Film Awards 2002 – Best Lifetime Achievement Award Malayalam Puraskaram 1199 – Lifetime Achievement Award by Malayala Puraskara Samithi in 2024