Ratheesh

Ratheesh (11 September 1954 – 23 December 2002) was an Indian actor best known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He was a native of Kalavoor in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. He performed villainous roles during the 1990s. He had acted in 158 films with directors such as K. G. George, I. V. Sasi, Joshiy, P. G. Vishwambharan, Thampy Kannamthanam, Sreekumaran Thampi, Rajasenan, P. K. Joseph and Shaji Kailas. Unlike other villains of the time, Ratheesh captivated the Malayalam movie lovers with his charms and handsome looks. He attained superstardom for a brief while during the 80s.

Personal life

He was born to Puthenpurayil A. V. Rajagopalan and Padmavathiyamma at Kalavoor in the erstwhile State of Travancore–Cochin. He had two sisters, Sherly and Laila. He had his education from Sree Narayana College, Kollam and Sree Narayana College, Cherthala.

He was married to Diana, who is the daughter of Ex minister M. K. Hemachandran, on 11 September 1983. The couple have four children Parvathy, Padmaraj, Padma and Pranav. He died due to a heart attack at his home in Coimbatore on 23 December 2002, aged just 48.

Career

Ratheesh started his career in the Malayalam film Vezhambal in 1977. But it was K. G. George who provided his big break through Ullkadal in 1979. He became a bankable star through I. V. Sasi's Thusharam in 1981.

From 1981 to 1988 he was at the peak of his career, performing in films like Oru Mukham Pala Mukham, Ee Nadu, Rajavinte Makan, Muhoortham 11.30, Sangharsham, Vazhiyorakazhchakal, Aayiram Kannukal, Abkari, Unaroo, Ithraym Kaalam, Uyarangalil, Thanthram, Akkachiyude Kunjuvava, John Jaffer Janardhanan, Innalenkil Nale and Ponthooval.

After 1988 he reduced the number of films in which he acted, he quit altogether after 1990. After a period of four years he made a comeback as the antagonist through Shaji Kailas's Commissioner. Throughout the 1990s, he did various villainous and character roles in films such as Kashmeeram, Nirnayam, Yuvathurki, 19 April, and Gangothri. In the 2000s, he was notable for his roles in Ravanaprabhu and Dany.

Filmography As an actor Malayalam Year Title Role Notes1977 Vezhambal 1979 Ullkadal Davis Lilly Pookkal 1980 Idimuzhakkam Jose Theekadal Kanakan Palattu Kunjikannan Kunjikannan's father Chamaram Balan Ishtamanu Pakshe 1981 Thushaaram Ravi Pinneyum Pookunnnna Kadu Greeshma Jwala Karuthan Valarthumrigangal Chandran Thrishna Vijaya Shankar Enne Snehikku Enne Mathram Sangharasham Mohan Munnettam Chandran Visham Babu Hamshageetam Karimpoocha Joy Ammakkorumma Vijayan Ahimsa Bharathan 1982 Idiyum Minnalum Odukkam Thudakkam Ee Nadu MLA Venu Chambal Kadu Rahim Oru Thira Pinneyum Thira Mohan Enthino Pookunna Pookal Vishwanathan Thadaakam Rajendran John Jaffer Janardhanan John Vincent Vidhichathum Kothichathum Vinod Amritha Geetam Renjith Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam Vinod Innalenkil Nale Vijayan 1983 Theeram Thedunna Thira Jayadevan Himavahini Sekharan Gurudhakshina Inspector Majeet Aa Rathiri Venu Manasoru Maha Samudhram Sanjayan Coolie Madhu Belt Mathai Rajashekharan Ente Katha Rajesh America America Vijay Oru Mukham Pala Mukham Raveendran Thampi Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare Ravi Asuran Iniyenkilum Ashokan Paalam Arabikkadal Yudham Prabhakara Menon/Rajesh Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal Baby Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback Guest Appearance Ponnethooval 1984 Oru Sumagaliyude Katha Johny Kodathi Salim Nethavau Swarnna Gopuram Dr Johny Ethirppukal Raghu Raajavembaala Theera Prathishikathe Vijayan Makale Mappu Tharoo Ningalil Oru Stree Venu Kooduthedunna Parava Gopi Ivide Ingane Jayan Unaroo Peter Karimbu Minimol Vathicanil Mohan Bullet Uyarangalil Inspector Ravi Rakshassu Ratheesh Radhayude Kamukan Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol Murali Mainakam Shapadam Pradeep Kumar Oru Thettinte Katha 1985 Muhoortham 11.30 Jayan Choodatha Pookal Prem Maunanombaram Ottayan Ramesh Shathru Sudhindran Nerariyum Nerathu SI Mohan Vellarikka Pattanam Stephen Guruji Oru Vakku Gopu Vasantha Sena Kishore Orunal Innoru Nal Gopi Snehicha Kuttathinu Rajendran Ezhu Muthal Onpathu Vare Revenge Johny Akkacheyude Kunjuvava Prasanthan Anakkoru Umma Devan Saandham Bheekaram Chorakku Chora Khader Black Mail SI Vijayan Janakeeya Kodathi Kiratham C. I. Hassan Sannaham Ramesh 1986 Aayiram Kannukal James Rajavinte Makan CM Krishnadas Ilanjipookal Balachandran Viswasichalum Illenkilum Ee Kaikalil Jayadevan Veendum Robert d'Souza Udayam Padinjaru Balakrishnan Kulambadikal Annoru Ravil Venu Ente Shabdam Rajan Ithu Oru Thudakkom Mathram Karinagam Ente Sonia Jagan Ithramathram Rameshan Onnu Randu Moonnu Surabhi Yamangal Murali 1987 Kanikanum Neram Raghu Aattakatha Itrayum Kalam Mathukutty Adimakal Udamakal Sukumaran Vazhiyora Kazhchakal Babu Kottum Kuravayum Agni Muhurtham Itha Samayamayi Sunny Naradhan Keralathil Sub Inspector Kalathinte Sabdham Vijayan Theekattu Jayadevan 1988 Abkari Chacko 1921 Lavakkutti Ormayilennum Mammukoya Shankunadham Thanthram James Onninu Purake Mattonnu Onnum Onnum Pathinonnu Vinod Rahasyam Paramarahasyam Rajan 1989 Prabhatham Chuvanna Theruvil Niyamam Entu Cheyum Sub Inspector Kalalpada Scaria Punnakkadan Azhikkoru Muthu Raveendran 1990 Ayyar The Great Police Officer 1991 Karppooradeepam 1994 Commissioner Mohan Thomas Kashmeeram Balram The City Jayadevan Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu Tony Varghese Paalayam Shivankutty Cabinet KRS/Sreedharan Kambolam Kariya Puthran Angelose 1995 Nirnayam Dr. Marcos Agnidevan Anantharaman Thakshashila Prince Indian Military Intelligence Auto decoratives proprietor 1996 Yuvathurki Dharman Man of the Match N. R. Bhaskaran 19 April Hitlist Thomaskutty 1997 Gangothri S. Krishnadas Vamsham 1999 James Bond Sunny, Baby's Father The Godman Commissioner Chandrashekharan 2001 Ravanaprabhu Maniyampra Purushothaman 2002 Dany Dr. Renji Thomas Shivam Umman Koshi

Tamil films Year Title Role Notes1981 Madumalar 1990 Salem Vishnu Ashokan 1991 Gnana Paravai

Produced films Iyer The Great (1990) Chakkikotha Chankaran (1989) Ente Shabtham (1986) Black Mail (1985) Revenge (1985)

Television 2001: Venalmazha (Surya TV) 2001 : Anna (Kairali TV)