Madhupal

Madhupal Kannambathu (born 1963), known mononymously as Madhupal, is an Indian actor, film director, and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his acting debut with Kashmeeram and his directorial debut with Thalappavu (2008), a film based on the life of Arikkad Varghese, which received several awards.

Biography

Madhupal was born to C. Madhava Menon from the Chengalath family, a native of Kannur, and K. Rugmani Amma from the Kannambathu family, who is from Kozhikode. He is the eldest of five children, with three younger brothers and a sister. Madhupal got his family name, Kannambathu, through matrilineal succession.

A native of Kozhikode, Madhupal completed a postgraduate degree in Commerce. His association with cinema began during his childhood in Palakkad, where his father operated a cinema theatre. He began his film career as an assistant director under filmmakers Bharat Gopy and Rajiv Anchal. As an assistant director, he worked on films including Butterflies, Kashmeeram, Guru (India's official submission to the 70th Academy Awards), Nothing but Life, and Yamanam, the latter of which received the National Film Award.

Madhupal made his acting debut in 1994 with Kashmeeram, portraying a negative role that led to similar character roles in subsequent films. He received the Critics' Award for Best Debut Actor for his performance in Kashmeeram and later won the Second Best Actor award for portraying Hari in Kazhcha, a television adaptation from the Manorathangal series broadcast on Amrita TV.

He also worked as an assistant director on the television serial Shararandal, written by National Film Award-winning writer P. F. Mathews and directed by Jude Attipetty. In addition, he wrote the screenplay and dialogues for the Malayalam film Bharatheeyam (1997).

Madhupal made his directorial debut in television with Akashathile Paravakal, which aired on Kairali TV. His feature film directorial debut in 2008 with Thalappavu, received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director, along with several other honours. His second feature film, Ozhimuri, was selected for the Indian Panorama section and screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film.

In addition to his work in cinema, Madhupal is a Malayalam short story writer. He has published seven short story collections, and his works have been translated into English, Hindi, and Tamil. His writings have appeared in Malayalam periodicals including Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, and Bhashaposhini.

Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, Madhupal participated in relief and rehabilitation initiatives. He has been associated with Santhigiri Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram, serving as Assistant General Convener of its Advisory Committee.

Madhupal has served as a member of Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, Kerala Folklore Academy, and Kerala Children's Film Society. He has also served on the board of directors of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC). He was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Kerala State Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board.

Awards and recognitions Kerala State Television Awards 2018 for Best Director (Kaligandaki) Kerala State Government Film Award for Second Best Film of the Year 2012 (Ozhimuri) Best Film 2012 Pearl Award Qatar Kerala Film Producers (Ozhimuri) Best Director Award Jaihind Television 2012 (Ozhimuri) Best Director Award Doordharsan Nirav (Ozhimuri) Second Best Film Kerala Film Critics Award 2012 (Ozhimuri) Best Actor Special Jury National Award Government of India to Lal (Ozhimuri) Director of Excellence Award from Indonesia Film Festival 2013 film (Ozhimuri) Kerala State Government Television Awards for Best Director 2012 (Daivaththinu Swantham Devootty) Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director Kerala State Government (Thalappavu) Best Director 2008 Kerala Film Critics Award 2008 (Thalappavu) Best Director 2008 Sohan Antony Memorial Award 2008 (Thalappavu) Best Debut Director 2008 Jesy Foundation Award (Thalappavu) Best Debut Director 2008 ALA Award (Thalappavu) Best Director 2001 TV Serial Aakaasaththile Paravakal Kerala Film Critics Award Best Director 2001 TV Serial Malayalam Television Viewers Association Award

Awards for published books Kairaly Atlas Saahithya Award 2006 for the story "Velicham Nizhanlinu Velippedum" (published in Bhaashaaposhini) Vaikom Muhamed Basheer Puraskaram 2019 to the book Katha 2019 published by Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakaranasamgham NBS Kottayam Indian Truth Sahithya Puraskaram 2019 to the book Katha Published by NBS Kottayam

Filmography

As an actor 1990s Year Title Role Notes 1994 Kashmeeram Aashiq Quais Vardhakya Puranam Vysaakhan 1995 Ezharakoottam Balu First lead role Maanthrikam Willy Thacholi Varghese Chekavar Venu Sreeragam Gopu Saadaram Nazar Arabia Salim Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary Reji 1996 Mr. Clean Harikrishnan Ishtamanu Nooruvattom Manu Kanchanam Siddhu Azhakiya Ravanan Himself Cameo Mayooranritham Jayadevan Kaathil Oru Kinnaram Ajith Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam Indrajith Pallivathuckal Thommichan Sunny Ammuvinte Aangalamar Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran Johnnie Excuse Me Ethu Collegila 1997 Snehadoothu Mahendran Kilukil Pambaram Chithrapuram Mohana Varma Asuravamsam Moosa Settu's son Guru Ramanagan 1998 Bharatheeyam Jose the father of Sheenaz Aaghosham Titto Mayilpeelikkavu Sreeharan Sooryavanam Syam Samaantharangal Jamal 1999 Pallavur Devanarayanan Poojari Stalin Sivadas Sukumaran Rishivamsham Captain David Deepasthambham Mahascharyam Dinesh Agni Sakshi Aakasha Ganga Devan Thampuran

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Mister Butler Madhu Ival Draupadi Ameer Khan Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan Ashique Pilots Susanna Rameshan Mark Antony Parel Pappachan Dada Sahib Ravi 2001 Goa Simon Chandanamarangal Nalacharitham Nalam Divasam Raavanaprabhu Hari Narayanan Cameo Ee Naadu Inale Vare T. K. Vijayan 2002 Kayamkulam Kanaran Kanal Kireedam Desam Vijayakrishnan Kanmashi Chirikkudukka Nandakumar Stop Violence Antony 2003 Achante Kochumolu Chandu Saphalam Antony Ammakilikkoodu Company Manager Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu Suresh Margam Manassinakkare Benny Kompanakkaattil 2004 Maratha Naadu Majeed Thalamelam Wanted Nothing but Life Johnny 2005 Isra Balu Deepangal Sakshi Made in USA Johny Oru Naal Oru Kanavu Sekhar Tamil film Five Fingers Sunnychan Lessons Father 2006 Eakantham Vishwanathan Pathaaka Pratheesh Nambiar Prajapathi Vijayan - Film Director Lion Mathew Kurien Chess Adv. Mathews Vaasthavam Joseph 2007 Valmeekam Detective Jose Paradesi Adv. Pradeep Sooryan Divakaran Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri Dr. Ajayaghosh 2008 Kovalam Ali Khan Twenty:20 Shekharan Kutty 2009 Parayan Marannathu Aayirathil Oruvan Dineshan

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Kadaksham Padmanabhan Thampi Nakharam 2011 Athe Mazha Athe Veyil 2012 Red Alert Little Master Aakasmikam 2013 Tourist Home Mammotty Teens Radio Jockey Memories Dr. Sukumaran Nair 2014 To Noora with Love 2015 Saradhi JP Haram Dr. John Perithondhan Saigal Padukayanu Anarkali Madhu 2016 White Paper Inspector Dawood Ibrahim Ambanattil Rahim Haji 2018 Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Cameo Pretham 2 Mathew Emmanuel

2020s Year Title Role Notes 2020 Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte George 2021 Kaalchilambu The Priest Dr. Muralidharan 2022 In D.Y.S.P. Ayyappan K 2023 Nila 2024 Anweshippin Kandethum Fr. Thomas Nadikar Director S. Sasi Sree Muthappan Ajayante Randam Moshanam Edakkal Rajavu 2025 Haal 2026 I, Nobody

As a dubbing artist Aakasha Ganga (1999) for Riyaz as Unnikrishna Varma Thampuran

As a director

Published works Ee Jeevitham Jeevichu Theerkkunnathu Hebrewil Oru Premalekhanam Jainimettile Pashukkal (co-authored with Joseph Marien) Pranayinikalude Uthyaanavum Kumbasaarakoodum Kadal Oru Nathiyude Kathhayaanu Madhupaalinte Kathhakal (2010, published by Mathrubhumi Books) Facebook (novel) (2012, published by Mathrubhumi Books) Vaakkukal Kelkkaan Oru Kaalam Varum - Memories (2015, published by Green Pepper Books) Avan (Maar) Jaaraputhran (short story collection, 2016, published by DC Books Kottayam, Second edition published by Mathrubhumi books 2020) "Katha" 2019 published by - Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakaranasamgham NBS Kottayam "Pallaand Vaazhka My Micro Kathakal" 2021 (published by Paper Publica Thiruvananthapuram) "Athbuthangal kaanum jeevithaththil" short stories 2022 (published by Macbeth publication, Calicut) "Irukarakalkkidayil oru Buddhan" short stories 2023 (published by Mathrubhumi books)

Television serials As actor Pavitra Jaililanu (Asianet) Dream City (Surya TV) Sree Mahabhagavatham (Asianet) Rachiyamma (Dooradarshan) Niramala (Dooradarshan) Deivathinte Swantham Devootty (Mazhavil Manorama) Kali Gandaki (Amrita TV) CBI Diary (Mazhavil Manorama) As director Aakasaththile Paravakal (Kairali) Deivathinte Swantham Devootty (Mazhavil Manorama) Kali Gandaki (Amrita TV) Jeevithanizhalpaadukal Vaikomk Muhammed Basheer's novel for PRD Kerala State M K Sanoo A documentary for PRD Kerala State

Other works He acts as a judge on the popular reality show Yuvatharam, telecast on Jaihind TV.