Shankar Panikkar

Shankar Panicker, better known as Shankar, is an Indian film and television actor, film director and producer, known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in nearly 200 films in lead and supporting roles in Malayalam and Tamil cinema in the 1980s and early 90s. Shankar’s Tamil debut Oru Thalai Ragam and Malayalam debut Manjil Virinja Pookkal enjoyed theatrical runs of 365 and 250 days respectively, catapulting him to overnight stardom. The immense success of these films established him as a bankable lead and earned him a huge fan base among audiences in the 1980s. Celebrated for his handsome, chocolate-boy looks, he became a youth sensation in the 1980s, which helped him quickly rise to the status of a superstar. From the late 1990s onward, he has also worked as a director and producer while continuing his acting career. His family later moved to Chennai when he was four years old. His father was a senior manager at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. He has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Indra. He completed the schooling from St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He pursued a Bachelors in History from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Rishikesh. Later, he completed 2 years of acting course at South Indian Film Chamber School of Acting, Chennai.

Career

As an actor Shankar's first film was with superstar Jayan starred Sharapanjaram in 1979. Shankar auditioned for and was the lead actor of Oru Thalai Ragam. Oru Thalai Ragam not only completed 365 days run in theatres but also became a cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Then Navodaya Studio signed Shankar for their romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal along with newcomers Mohanlal and Poornima Jayaram, directed by Fazil. The success of Manjil Virinja Pookal and films like Kadathu opposite Roja Ramani, Oothikachiya Ponnu with Poornima Jayaram and Ente Mohangal Poovaninju cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films. Simultaneously his Tamil films Sujatha, Koyil Puraa, Mouna Yuddham and Raagam Thedum Pallavi also done okay business.

Success continued in Malayalam with Shanker getting a chance in movies of hit directors like P.G. Viswambharan, Joshiy and I.V. Sasi with movies like Padayottam, Anuragakodathy, Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram, Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Engane Nee Marakkum. Following this success, he decided to concentrate on Malayalam films. His other successful films of 1983 are Mortuary, Hello Madras Girl and Himam. So he moved to television with a successful serial Ithu Manju Pole and continued to perform in serials Swara Raagam and Parasparam. He also won the 2006 Film Critics Television Best Actor Award for his performance in TV serial Chithrashalabham. His last serial Ammakkayi (aired on Surya TV) was a success. As he wanted to concentrate on films, he stopped doing serials and made his debut as a director with Virus,

Personal life Shankar's first marriage was with Radhika in December 1992, which ended in a divorce. After the failure of his first marriage, he married Rooparekha, but this marriage also ended in divorce. The couple has a son named Gokul. In 2013, he married Chitra Lekshmi, a dance teacher, and settled in the U.K.

Filmography As an actor Malayalam films Year Title Role Notes 1979 Sarapanjaram Baby's friend 1980 Manjil Virinja Pookkal Prem Kishan Bad Boyz Prem Menon

Tamil films Year Title Role Notes 1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Raja Sujatha 1981 Mouna Yuddham Koyil Puraa 1982 Nadamaadum Silaigal Udhayamakirathu Kanalukku Karaiyethu Raagam Thedum Pallavi Madhu Punitha Malar Prasad 1989 Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile Prem Kumar 1991 Thayamma Rangarajan MGR Nagaril Victor 2007 Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen 2015 Manal Nagaram Ibrahim Rabbani Also director

As director Year Title Langage Notes 2007 Virus Malayalam 2009 Keralotsavam 2009 2015 Manal Naharam Tamil Dubbed in Malayalam as Sand City 2026 Eric Malayalam

Television Serials Ithu Manju Pole Swara Raagam (Asianet) Parasparam (Surya TV) Chithrashalabham (Amrita TV) Ammakkayi (Surya TV) Thulabharam (Surya TV) Ammathottil (Asianet) Monuttante Onam - telefilm