Murali

Muraleedharan Pillai (25 May 1954 – 6 August 2009), better known by his stage name Murali, was an Indian film, stage and television actor and author. He mainly appeared in Malayalam films and a few Tamil films. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Appa Mestry, a communist freedom fighter and professional weaver, in the 2002 film Neythukaran. He was known for his powerful portrayal of character roles, lead roles and negative roles, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Malayalam cinema.

Murali started his film career playing villain roles and soon turned to character acting. He played the leading role in the 1992 film Aadhaaram, which gave a "break" to his career. The film was well received at the box office and Murali ascended to the status of a star in Malayalam cinema, which he enjoyed for a few years during the 1990s. Besides acting, he was the chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy from 2006 until his death. He also authored five books, and was also a Sangeetha Nataka Academy award winner. He contested at the 1999 Lok Sabha polls as a communist candidate without success. He was also the Director of the CPI(M) promoted television company Malayalam Communications Limited, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV, People TV and We TV. His last film was the 2011 film Ven Shankhu Pol. He is one of the founders of the Malayalam film actors association AMMA.

Early life Muraleedharan Pillai was born on 25 May 1954 as the first of five children to P. Krishna Pillai and K. Devaki Amma at Kudavattoor, Kollam, Kerala, India. His four siblings are: Thulaseedharan, Sheela, Harikumar and Sheeja. He did his schooling from Kudavattoor L. P. School and Thrikannamangalam S. K. V. High School. He passed the pre-degree from M.G. College, Thiruvananthapuram and his Degree from Devaswom Board College, Sasthamkotta. He was an active member of the Students Federation of India. He took an LL.B degree from the Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. After studies, he worked for some years as Lower Division clerk in the Department of Health, Government of Kerala and as Upper Division clerk in the office of Kerala University. He was married to his first cousin Mini and has a daughter Karthika. His daughter married Sonoop R. Nair on 15 July 2016.

Career

Film actor Murali debuted in films with the lead role in Njattadi, directed by Bharath Gopi. But the film was never released. He then got chance to act in Chidambaram, directed by the National Award-winning filmmaker Aravindan. He then acted in Meenamasathile Sooryan and Panchagni, directed by Lenin Rajendran and Hariharan, respectively. Panchagni got released first and it gave him the break in his acting career. He soon established himself as a powerful actor in the Malayalam film industry. Aadhaaram, directed by George Kittu, was the first film to be released with Murali in a lead role. He acted in a variety of roles, ranging from lead roles to villain roles, and won accolades. Some of his other notable films include Nee Ethra Dhanya, Dhanam, The King, Pathram, Chakoram, Veeralippattu, Achan Kombathu Amma Varambathu, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Swarnam, Kaarunyam and The Truth"Amaram". Also worth-mentioning are his remarkable portrayals as a toddy tapper in Malayogam and as trade union leader in Varavelppu.

Murali acted in the longest TV commercial ever on Indian TV, spanning 150 seconds. This was for Air Deccan in 2005.

Stage actor Murali was actively involved with Natyagriham, a drama venture started by actor Narendra Prasad. Murali won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ravana in the Malayalam play Lanka Lakshmi, which was based on C. N. Sreekantan Nair's novel of the same name. He was also associated with G. Sankara Pillai in doing theatre plays.

Author Murali authored five books. His book on Kumaranasan, Abhinethavum Asan Kavithayum (Actor and Asan's Poetry) won him the Sangeetha Nataka Academy award. One of his other critically acclaimed books was Abhinyathinte Rasathanthram (Chemistry of Acting).

Politician Murali was a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from the Alappuzha constituency as a Left Democratic Front candidate, but lost to V. M. Sudheeran of Indian National Congress.

Death Murali died in Thiruvananthapuram on 6 August 2009 at the age of 55, due to acute diabetes which led to a heart attack at 8.20 PM IST. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Aruvikkara, which he had bought some years prior to his death.

Awards National Film Awards: 2001 – Best Actor – Neythukaaran

Kerala State Film Awards: 1992– Best Actor – Aadhaaram 1996 – Best Actor – Kaanakkinavu 1998 – Best Actor – Thalolam (film) 2001 – Best Actor – Neythukaaran 1991 – Second Best Actor – Amaram 2007 – Second Best Actor – Veeralipattu, Pranayakalam Kerala state TV Awards 2008– Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor – Aranazhikaneram

Filmfare Awards: 1992 – Best Actor – Aadharam

Other awards: Madras Film Fans Award Kerala Film Critics Award Shivaram Award Best columnist award: for his feature "Vyazhaporul" in the Malayala Manorama newspaper

Filmography

As actor

Malayalam YearTitleRoleNotes 1979 Njattadi Raghu 1985 Chidambaram Cheriyan 1986 Meenamasathile Sooryan Abubakar Panchagni Rajan 1987 Nombarathi Poovu Samuel Neeyethra Dhanya Hafiz Ali Ezhuthapurangal Raveendranath Archanapookkal Jaalakam Shivankutty Rithubhedam Appu Swathi Thirunal Shadkala Govinda Marar Oru Maymasa Pulariyil 1988 David David Mr. David Mr. David Oohakachavadam Vida Parayaanmathram Sebastian Joseph Kanakambarangal Ananthan Balussery Puravrutham Achu Samvalsaragal Mattoral Mahesh Ayitham Kachery Mani Iyyer Arjun Dennis Padippura Moonnam Mura Jayan 1989 Naduvazhikal Cherian Kireedam Lokanathan, Sub-Inspector Anagha Thommachan Kaalal Pada Firoz Pandu Pandoru Desathu Maharajavu Dasharatham Chandradas Asthikal Pookkunnu Sreedharan / Bhaskaran Varavelpu Prabhakaran Artham R. K. Nambyar 1990 Mathilukal Basheer's childhood friend Vidhyarambham Prabhakaran Orukkam Chandru Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu Philip Thennalackal George Unnikuttanu Joli Kitti Kshanakkathu Kuttettan Nair Malayogom Damodaran Lal Salam D.K. Antony Ee Kanni Koodi Vidyadharan Aye Auto Bhadran Appu Gopan Kalikkalam CI Shekharan 1991 Ulladakkam Roy Santhwanam John Vishnulokam Prathapa Varma Thampuran Pookkalam Varavayi Jayaraj Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Johnny Yaathrayude Anthyam Writer VKV Adayalam Dr. Mohan Keli Appootty Kadavu Rahman Dhanam Aboobacker/Abu Aakasha Kottayile Sultan Georgekutty Amaram Kochu Raman Inspector Balram City Police Commissioner Madhavan Nair IPS Kanalkkattu Ramu 1992 Aardram Uppan Raghavan Valayam Snehasagaram Josekutty Arthana Ramachandran Sadayam Madhavan Jailer Kamaladalam Madhavanunni Sathyaprathinja Achuthan My Dear Muthachan Kuriachan Champakulam Thachan Raghavan Aadhaaram Bapputty Kauravar Commissioner Rajagopal Mahanagaram Commissioner Chandradas 1993 Porutham Nanda Kumar Venkalam Gopalan Naaraayam Shekharan Janam Balachandran Chamayam Esthappan Aasan Magrib Razaq Bhoomi Geetham Thekkinkadu Krishnaprasad Akashadoothu Johnny 1994 Sammohanam Chandu Chakoram Lance naik Mukundan Menon Sankeerthanam 1995 Sakshyam Col. Rajasekharan Nambiar Prayikkara Pappan Achuthan / Prayikkara Pappan Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu Chandrasekhara Menon Indian Military Intelligence Captain Anthony Domenic The King MP Jayakrishnan Mangalyasootram Karnan Chaithanyam 1996 Kaanaakkinaavu Chandradas Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan Dr. Nandakumar Rajaputhran K.R.Bhadran Thooval Kottaram Balaraman Varma 1997 Sankeerthanam Pole Kunjachan Irattakuttikalude Achan Venu Adivaram Constable Izahaq Karunyam Gopinathan Nair Guru Sahib Abdullah Gangothri Mukundan Menon Bhoopathi Ravi Varma 1998 Rakthasakshikal Sindabad E. Sreedharan Kattathoru Penpoovu Thirakalkkappuram Moothoru Thalolam Chittoor Sankaran Unni Kaikudunna Nilavu Rowther The Truth DGP Hariprasad IPS Kallu Kondoru Pennu Haridasan 1999 Pathram Shekharan Independence Kunikal Vasu The Godman Home Minister Abdul Rahim Garshom Nazaruddin 2000 Kannaadikkadavathu Susanna Josekutty Sparsham Valappil Raghavan Devadoothan Alberto Dada Sahib Dr. Raveendran 2001 Sukhamo Sukam 2002 Jagapoga Aabharanacharthu Neelakasham Niraye Neythukaran Appa Mestry Sesham Shivam Sudhakaran MP 2003 Gramophone Ravindranathan C.I.D. Moosa CM Ravi Menon Anyar The Fire Zakaria George 2004 Maratha Nadu Kunjikoya Pravaasam Nizhalkuthu Vasu Runway Bhai/Chandy 2005 Kochi Rajavu Chandrashekhara Menon Iruvattam Manavaatti Const. Anadan Kanne Madanguka Bhagyanathan The Tiger Jnanashekhara Varma IPS Annorikkal Father of Benny & Beena 2006 Vadakkumnadhan Balarama Pisharadi Achante Ponnumakkal Vaasthavam Pattam Raveendran Baba Kalyani Arackal Ashokan Photographer Viplavam Balan Pulijanmam Prakashan / Kari Gurukkal Eakantham Ravunni Menon 2007 Vinodayathra Vijayan Drishtantham Naalu Pennungal Chinnu Amma's husband Segment: The Housewife Veeralipattu Madhavan Nair Pranayakalam Stephen Varghese 2008 Aayudham Abdullah Cycle Simon Swarnam Raghavan Sound of Boot Sankaranarayanan 2009 Kshatriyavamsam Malayali Viswanathan Menon Patham Adhyayam Kumaran Ashari 2011 Ven Shankhu Pol Posthumously 2013 Manjadikuru Sanyasi Maaman / Murali Released after 5-year gap

Tamil YearTitleRoleNotes 2001 Dumm Dumm Dumm Veluthambi 2002 Gemini DGP Singaperumal Raajjiyam Governor 2003 Joot Eashwaran's father Arasu CBI Officer Harikrishnan credited as Bharath Murali 2005 Ullam Ketkumae Pooja's father Raam Malaichami Majaa Kalingarayar 2007 Polladhavan Shankar 2009 Aadhavan Subramaniam Posthumous film; credited as Bharath Murali

Other language films YearTitleRole LanguageNotes 1997 Abhaas Ray Sahab Hindi 2002 Gemini Commissioner Narendranath Chowdary Telugu

Story Ennu Nadhante Nimmi (1986)

Television career Aranazhika Neram (Amrita TV) Sakunam ( DD Malayalam)

Posthumous recognition The Bharat Murali Cultural Centre was established at his birthplace, Kudavattoor. It presents the annual Bharat Murali Award to distinguished contributors to Malayalam cinema.

1st (2010) - K. P. A. C. Lalitha, actress; Kuttyedathi, actress 2nd (2011) - Manoj K. Jayan, actor 3rd (2012) - Kaviyoor Ponnamma, actress 7th (2016) - Surabhi Lakshmi, actress; Indrans, actor 9th (2020) - Vijith Nambiar, director