Raju Daniel

Raju Daniel (27 June 1950 – 17 September 2018), better known by his stage name Captain Raju, was an Indian actor and former army officer. He acted in more than 600 films in various languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and English. He was best known for his performances in character roles, and as a villain. He also appeared in television serials and advertisements and has also directed two Malayalam films. The comic professional assassin character called Pavanayi that he played in the movie Nadodikkattu developed a cult status in Malayalam cinema.

Personal life

Raju was the third of the seven children of K. G. Daniel and Annamma, and was born at Omallur, Pathanamthitta, Kerala. He has four sisters named Elizabeth, Saji, Sophy, Sudha and two brothers, George and Mohan. Both his parents were teachers at Govt. UP School Omalloor. He had his primary education from Govt. UP School Omalloor and NSS English Medium School, Omalloor. He was a volleyball player. He pursued a degree in zoology from Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta. After graduation, Raju joined the Indian Army as a short-service commissioned officer at the age of 21 and was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery and rose to the rank of a captain. Captain Raju is an alumnus of the prestigious Officers Training Academy, Chennai. He worked as marketing chief at glucose and starch manufacturing company, Lakshmi Starch, at Mumbai after serving 5 years with Indian army and later he left the job to act in films. While working at the company, he started acting in amateur drama troupes like Prathiba theatres in Mumbai. He later moved to films. He made his directorial debut with the Malayalam film Etha Oru Snehagatha in 1997. His second film as director was Mr. Pavanayi 99.99 (2012) in which he reprised the role of Mr. Pavanayi, his character from the 1987 Malayalam film Nadodikkattu.

He was married to Prameela, and had a son, Ravi. He was a Christian by birth, but also respected other religions, and even visited the others' shrines. He was a native of Puthenpeedika, Pathanamthitta. He was observed as very dynamic and vibrant during his childhood. He was also an active member of St. George Orthodox Church, Palarivattom. His parents' wish was to see him become a priest, about which he expressed at several places. He was a staunch Orthodox believer and his contributions to the Church and the society are noteworthy.

Film career Captain Raju first acted in an unreleased Hindi movie along with Tariq (Yaadon Ki Baraat fame) in 1980 as the supporting hero even before he made his break in Malayalam movies. Raju made his debut in Malayalam with the 1981 multi-starrer movie Raktham. The co-actor in the movie Madhu was greatly impressed with his performance. This made Madhu cast him as the hero in his first home production Rathilayam, which was a movie with A-listers of that era including Soman, Shanavas Rajkumar and Menaka. Captain Raju played the hero role in the movie with Silk Smitha as his heroine. Many B-grade films were made inspired by Rathilayam with Raju himself playing the lead in such low-budget masala films towards the late eighties.

But Captain Raju had established himself as a popular actor even before this phase. His first memorable role came out in the 1984 movie Athiratram, where he played a lead role along with Mamootty and Mohanlal. He also played some of the popular villain characters during this era. In the 1986 movie Aavanazhi, he played the villain role of Sathyaraj which was well appreciated. The grand success of this movie made him one of the busiest actors in Malayalam cinema. It was in the 1988 movie August 1 where Raju probably played the biggest villain role in his career. Raju's act as the unnamed killer determined to assassinate the Kerala Chief Minister was one of the high points of the film. It is considered one of the best villain characters in Malayalam cinema. In the movie Samryajyam, he played an antagonist gangster opposite to that of Mammootty. Khalid in Vyooham (1990) and Pathrose in Adwaitham (1992) were some of the other noted villain characters portrayed by him during the early 90s. His role as Aringodar of Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha was one of the characters which helped Captain Raju to change his track from villain characters (other being Pavanai). This movie helped him to reveal his true potential as a character actor. He also had a notable role in the 1988 movie Oru CBI Diary Kurippu. Captain Raju eventually stopped acting in villain roles during the early 90's. With the 1994 movie Kabooliwala, he became more selective and his role as Madassery Thampi in Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan was a clear step towards this. He is also known for portraying the powerful elder brother role in the 1993 movie Uppukandam Brothers.

Raju is also known for playing some of the memorable comic characters. He became a household name in Malayalam cinema after his brief role as the comical assassin Pavanayi in Nadodikkattu. The character eventually attained a cult status in Kerala. The classic dialogue "Pavanayi Shavamayi” (Pavanayi is dead) along with the terms such as Malappuram Kathi, Ambum Villum, Transistor Bomb is still popular. His character as Karunan Chandakavala (Detective Karamchand) in the 2003 slapstick CID Moosa was also appreciated. Captain Raju reprised his iconic character Pavanayi in the movie Mr. Pavanayi 99.99. The movie's production was completed in 2012, but was released only a year after his death in 2019 due to some issues with producer. This was also his second movie as a director with the first being Oru Snehagadha released in 1997. Captain Raju's last movie was the 2017 Mammootty starrer Masterpiece, where he appeared as himself after a four-year break, as he was recovering from a road accident injury.

Death A healthy, strong man during his youth, who gave increased importance to fitness, thanks to his military career, Raju's health was severely affected by a car accident, which occurred in October 2003 at Kuthiran near Thrissur. He was seriously injured, and was hospitalised for a long period. Though he survived, he lost the vision in his left eye, and also had problems with walking. But he remained active in films and public.

During his last days, Raju suffered from various ailments like diabetes and hypertension. He had a heart attack in 2015, for which he had treatment. He suffered a massive stroke during a plane journey to New York on 25 June 2018, and was admitted to a hospital in Muscat. He was returned to Kochi for further treatment, and later left for his home. He died aged 68 in the morning of 17 September 2018 at his residence in Palarivattom, Kochi. He was buried with full state honours at Puthenpeedika St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pathanamthitta on 21 September.

Filmography As actor Malayalam 1980s Year Title Role Notes 1981 Raktham Gunda 1982 Thadaakam Jabbar Khaan Chilanthivala Aravindan Pooviriyum Pulari Reghu's father John Jaffer Janardhanan Renji 1983 Coolie Vikraman Mortuary Raju Iniyengilum Prasad Passport Nagedran Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare Vishnu Aana Ranger Narendran Rathilayam Appukuttan Asuran Ponnethooval Changatham Prem 1984 Athirathram Rajesh Theere Pratheekshikkathe Mohan Kadamattathachan Neeli's lover Kurishuyudham Magician d'Souza/Lawrence Kooduthedunna Parava Sub-inspector Oru Sumangaliyude Katha SI Vijayan Minimol Vathicanil CID Inspector Thirakal Chandran Paavam Krooran Dasan Unni Vanna Divasam Ashok Shabadham Prasad 1985 Premalekhanam Babu Kiraatham Saandham Bheekaram Sammelanam Basheer Aazhi Soundarya Pinakkam Ezhu Muthal Onpathu Vare Nayakan Rahim Janakeeya Kodathi Ayyappan Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam SP Gopinathan IPS Karimpinpoovinakkare Pappachan 1986 Prathyekam Sradhikkukka Shukkoor Hello My Dear Wrong Number David Antony Fernandez Nimishangal Khalid Aavanazhi Sathyaraj 1987 Kalathinte Shabdham Devarajan Ivare Sookshikkuka Ithrayum Kaalam Ee Noottandile Maharogam Theekattu Basheer Yaagagni Naalkavala Robert Aattakatha Neeyallengil Njan Balachandran Vrutham Victor Nadodikkattu Mr. Pavanayi Amrutham Gamaya Suku Oru Sindoora Pottinte Ormaykku C.K. Gupta Adimakal Udamakal Sathyan 1988 Simon Peter Ninakku Vendi Ramji Innaleyude Baakki Doctor Charavalayam Basheer Evidence Damu Aranyakam Police Officer Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Dy SP Prabhakara Varma August 1 Nicholas 1989 Vaadaka Gunda Anagha Nalini's father Mudra Paul Mahaaraajaavu Miss Pamela SI Rajan Philippose My Dear Rosy Vijay Agnipravesham Aazhikkoru Muthu Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Aringodar

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Crime Branch CI Balachandran Innale C.I. Satheeshan Vyooham Khalid Saandram C.I. Hari No.20 Madras Mail Himself Cameo Nammude Naadu SP Devarajan Enquiry Naale Ennundengil Narendran Kadathanadan Ambadi Kowliya Maharajah Arhatha Shekhu Appu Suresh Samrajyam Krishnadas 1991 Kalamorukkam Prasad, Damodharan Nair Chakravarthy Chandrachoodan Neelagiri Kankettu Peter Lal Ragam Anuragam A. K. Menon 1992 Mahaan Ismail Kavacham Private Detective Adhwaytham Pathrose Rajashilpi Bhadran 1993 Uppukandam Brothers Uppukandam Kariachan 1994 Kabooliwala Circus Owner Gentleman Security Commander Rajkumar Sankeerthanam 1995 Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan Madassery Thampi Special Squad Customs Collector Rajan Varghese Thakshashila Major Madhavan Agnidevan Pareeth 1996 Kalyana Sougandhikam Neelakantan Vaidyar 1997 Sankeerthanam Pole Fr. Zakariya Itha Oru Snehagatha Fr. Daniel 1998 Sooryavanam Marshall Mattupetti Machan Mattupetti Mahadevan Elavamkodu Desam Udayavarmman Daya King 1999 Udayapuram Sulthan Abdul Rahman Thachiledathu Chundan Velupillai Pranaya Nilavu Hajiyar Olympian Anthony Adam Stalin Sivadas Contractor Narendran My Dear Karadi S.I. Keshavan Captain Ranger Jayadevan The Godman Crime Branch Officer Ezhupunna Tharakan Chacko Tharakan Aayiram Meni Unnithan Red Indians Commissioner

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Snehapoorvam Anna Jomon's father Valliettan DySP Mohammed Ilias 2001 Sraavu Commissioner Mohan Roy Bhadra Rakshasa Rajavu DGP Joseph Mathew IPS Sharja To Sharja Kanaran Kappithan 2002 Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha Kannappa Chekavar Swarna Medal Ravi Varman Punyam Thandavam Commissioner Rajeevan 2003 C.I.D. Moosa Karunan Chanthakkavala Soudamini Pattalam Colonel Kannappan War and Love Brig. Nair 2004 Kottaram Vaidyan Wanted Police Officer Sathyam City Police Commissioner 2005 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Deepangal Sakshi Boyy Friennd DGP Chandrakumar 2006 Vargam Arakkal Aboobakkar Haaji Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Col. Panikkar Red Salute Joseph Thomas Ashwaroodan Vishwanathan Thuruppugulan Aanachandam 2007 Speed Track College Principal Avan Chandiyude Makan Vicar Black Cat Goal Nasrani Kottarathil John 2008 Mayakazhcha Kovalam Twenty:20 2009 Pazhassi Raja Mancheriyil Unnimootha Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Happy Durbar Yakshiyum Njanum Aathira's father 2011 Arjunan Saakshi Chief Minister China Town Vincent Gomez 2012 Theruvu Nakshatrangal 2013 Ezhamathe Varavu Chief Archaeologist Abhiyum Njanum Devanandan Mumbai Police IG Gopinathan Nair IPS 2014 Masala Republic Chinese Chandran 2015 Nikkah Aashamsakalode Anna 2016 Poyi Maranju Parayaathe Appuram Bengal Ippuram Thiruvithamkoor 2017 Masterpiece Himself Extended Cameo 2018 Stethoscope 2019 Mr. Pavanayi 99.99 Mr. Pavanayi Valiyaperunnal Raju Daniel Lessons

Tamil Year Title Role Notes 1984 Nalla Naal Pannaiyar 1987 Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu Jallikattu Commissioner Sivaprasad Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan 1988 Dharmathin Thalaivan Bhaskar En Jeevan Paduthu Chakravarthy Soora Samhaaram Chakkaravarthy Sudhanthira Naattin Adimaigal Dhayam Onnu Jeeva DSP Dhairiyam 1989 Chinnappadass Ravi Prakash En Rathathin Rathame Thaai Naadu Colonel Ramasundhar Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal Yatchan 1992 Naangal Naveen Kumar Sevagan Sabapathy Sivantha Malar 1993 Ulle Veliye Pratap Madurai Meenakshi Ulaganathan 1994 Priyanka Gokulnath Rajakumaran Selvaraj 1995 Veluchami 2007 Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen Mohammed Aslam 2011 Ponnar Shankar Chellatha Gounder

Telugu Year Title Role Notes 1982 Balidanam 1987 Marana Sasanam 'Black Tiger' Satyaraj 1991 Sathruvu DIG Prakash Rao Rowdy Alludu Ranjith Kumar 1992 Rowdy Inspector S.P. Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam 1993 Kondapalli Raja Daniel Tholi Muddhu Mr. Gupta Rowdy Mogudu D.S.P. Chinna Rao Police Lockup Amma Koduku 1994 Jailor Gaari Abbayi Bapineedu Gandeevam Michael 1995 Maatho Pettukoku Chakravarthy 1999 Pichodi Chetilo Raayi Maharadhi

Kannada Jai Karnataka (1989) Nyayakkaagi Naanu (1989)

Hindi Kashmakash (2011)

English Cotton Mary (1999) as Inspector Ramiji Raj

As director Mr. Pavanayi 99.99 (2019) Itha Oru Snehagatha (1997)

Television Serials Nizhalukal (Asianet) Crime Branch (Kairali TV) Paliyathachan (Doordarshan) Pandavapada (Doordarshan) Vinodasala (Doordarshan) Vikramadithyan (Asianet) Alavudeenum albhuthavilakum (Asianet) Dracula (Asianet) Unniyarcha (Asianet) Mahathmagandhi colony (Asianet) Sreemahabhagavatham (Asianet) Vallarpadathamma (Shalom) Kudumbasametham Manikutty (Jaihind TV) Pakida Pakida Pambaram Makal Shows Airtel Challenge as Quiz master (Jeevan TV)