T. P. Madhavan

T. P. Madhavan (7 November 1935 – 9 October 2024) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam films. He began acting at age 40 and appeared in over 600 films. Initially known for playing antagonistic roles, he transitioned to comedic roles and to character roles in his later career.

Early life Madhavan was born on 7 November 1935 in Trivandrum, Kerala, Kingdom of Travancore, British India, as the eldest son of Dr. N. P. Pillai and Saraswathi. He had a brother, Narayanan, and a sister, Radhamani. His father served as the dean of the University of Kerala. Madhavan was the grandson of literary scholar P. K. Narayana Pillai and nephew of dramatist T. N. Gopinathan Nair. He completed his post-graduation in sociology at Agra University.

Madhavan briefly joined the Indian Army but left after six months due to a hand injury. He then began working as a journalist for The Indian Express in Bombay, earning a salary of Rs.175 per month. He later moved to Bangalore, where he joined an advertising agency with a higher salary of Rs.400. Eventually, he relocated to Kolkata, which paved the way for his entry into the film industry.

Career Madhavan made his acting debut at age 40. Initially recognized for playing villainous roles, he later transitioned to comedic parts and eventually to character roles. His other notable films include Kalikkalam, Nadodikkattu, Vietnam Colony, Sandesham, Lelam, Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu, Narasimham, Pappayude Swantham Appoos, Pulival Kalyanam, Ananthabhadram. He has also acted in Malayalam television serials. Over the course of his career, he has acted in more than 600 films. He last appeared in the film Pretham Undu Sookshikkuka (2017).

Personal life He was married to Girija Menon, but their marriage ended in divorce. They have a son, Raja Krishna Menon and a daughter, Devika. His son is a film director in the Hindi film industry. Madhavan served as the first general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AmmA) and was part of the organization for 10 years. Since 2015, Madhavan was residing in Gandhibhavan, an old age home in Pathanapuram, following a stroke. In his later years, he suffered from memory loss. He died at a hospital in Kollam on 9 October 2024, at the age of 88.

Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes 1975 Akkaldaama 1975 Raagam Priest Kaamam Krodham Moham Pennpada DSP Love Letter Love Marriage Police officer Chandanachola Chief Guest 1976 Light House Bhaskaran Nair Yakshagaanam Chirikkudukka Gopalan Nair Mohiniyaattam Nalini's husband 1977 Dheerasameere Yamuna Theere Dr. Kuttikrishnan Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana Pankajakshan Jagadguru Aadisankaran Govinda Guru Niraparayum Nilavilakkum Anugraham Collector T. P. Madhavan Samudram Police Inspector Aparadhi Police Officer Kumaran Satyavan Savithri Aval Oru Devaalayam 1978 Nivedyam Advocate Anubhoothikalude Nimisham Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Kalpavriksham Rani's father Iniyum Puzhayozhukum Doctor Aanakkalari Sthree Oru Dukham 1979 Kalliyankattu Neeli Hippie Agni Vyooham Enikku Njaan Swantham Madhavankutty Oru Raagam Pala Thaalam Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Abdulla Avalude Prathikaram Aavesham 1980 Vaiki Vanna Vasantham Sakthi Michael Arangum Aniyarayum Robert Ashwaradham James Deepam Geetha's father Aniyaatha Valakal Panikkar 1981 Thaaraavu Kunjappi Archana Teacher Kolilakkam Panchapaandavar Manassinte Theerthayathra Thomas Mathew 1983 Aana Mathachan Prasnam Gurutharam Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback Shesham Kaazhchayil 1984 Uyarangalil Dr. Varghese Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla Sankunny Menon 1985 Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki Eeran Sandhya Avarachan Akalathe Ambili Menon Guruji Oru Vaaku Orikkal Oridathu Gayathridevi Ente Amma Manicheppu Thurannappol 1986 Koodanayum Kattu Vivahithare Ithile Icecream Geetham Sunil Vayassu 20 Sunil's father Rareeram Man at the Bank 1987 Kaalam Maari Kadha Maari Mammali Vrutham Prasad Sruthi Pillai Nadodikkattu MD Mohanakrishnan Irupathaam Noottaandu Nirabhedangal Theertham Sudhakaran Sarvakalashala Psychiatrist Jaalakam Kurup Mash Achuvettante Veedu Rugmini's brother Adimakal Udamakal Minister 1988 Moonnam Mura Panikkar Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Sreedharan Mrithyunjayam 1989 Innale Swamy 1990 Marupuram Krishnanunni Menon Vyooham Settu Vachanam Perumthachan Thalayana Manthram Company Manager Randam Varavu Public Prosecutor Mukham Usha's father Kalikkalam Thomas 1991 Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Pilla Sandesam C.I. Kannan Ulladakkam Doctor Nettippattom Kilukkam Aavanikunnile Kinnaripookkal Lonappan Cheppu Kilukkunna Changathi Bank Manager Chanchattam G. Raveendranath Apoorvam Chilar Chandran Adayalam M.K. Keshavan Kanalkattu 1992 Thiruthalvaadi Vietnam Colony Krishnamurthy's Ammavan Mahanagaram Hassan Rowther Aham Sooryamanasam Kudumbasammetham Pappayude Swantham Appoos 1993 Bhoomi Geetham Driver Shivaraman Maya Mayooram Raghupathi Bhaagyavaan Security Guard Journalist Minister Avan Ananthapadmanabhan Aalavattam Thalamura Jackpot Vakkeel Vasudev Mathai Sakshal Sreeman Chattunni Kaimal 1994 Rudraksham Appunni Nair Chukkan Tehsildar Varanamaalyam Govindan Nair Sukham Sukhakaram Manathe Kottaram Security Guard Pingami News Paper Editor Pavam I. A. Ivachan Koyikkal Balan Thampy Manathe Vellitheru Underworld Don Minnaram Doctor Peter Avan Ananthapadmanabhan 1995 Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka Thirumala Thommichan Thacholi Varghese Chekavar Sakshyam Amavan Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana Madhavan Aksharam Madhava Menon Punnaram Eradi Agnidevan Kochammini's brother Mazhayethum Munpe Narayanan Nair Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary Pothuval 1996 Madamma Electricity Board Engineer 1997 Superman Home Minister Lelam Minister C. K. Balakrishnan Katha Nayakan Krishna Menon Janathipathyam IG Kaimal IPS Aaraam Thampuran Pisharody Mannadiar Penninnu Chenkotta Checkan Vakeel Chandralekha 1998 Kaikudunna Nilavu Janardhanan Oro Viliyum Kathorthu Judge Sooryaputhran Vilwamangalam Thirumeni Sundarakilladi Kottaram Veetile Apputtan Ayushman Bhava Mayilpeelikkavu Thantrippadu Kusruthi Kuruppu Narendran's Secretary Daya Hussain Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu Police Sub Inspector 1999 The Godman English Medium Headmaster Pathram Harivamsilal Pannalal Panchapandavar Kumaran Asan Pallavur Devanarayanan Friends Poonkulathu Damodara Menon Ezhupunna Tharakan Justice Mahadevan Stalin Sivadas Leader Harindran 2000 The Warrant Annie's father Pilots Fr. Stephen Abraham Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum Madhavan Narasimham Raman Nair Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Hotelier Madhuranombarakattu Cover Story Retd. Head Constable Chandran Nair Arayannangalude Veedu Neena's father Thenkasipattanam Sangeetha's Uncle 2001 Kakkakuyil D.Y.S.P Madhava Varma Raavanaprabhu Nambyar Layam Rakshasa Rajavu Ponnachan's brother Nariman DGP Akhilesh Avasthi Achaneyanenikkishtam Nambeeshan One Man Show Dr. Chandradas 2002 Nammal Principal Thandavam Warrier Shivam Yasodharan Jagathy Jagadeesh in Town Amar Baba Settu Desam Yathrakarude Sradhakku K.K. Karthikeyan Kalyanaraman Ambattu Thampi's relative 2003 Choonda Gopalan Gramaphone Mathachayan Nala Damayanthi Tamil film Melvilasam Sariyanu Dr. Ananda Shankar Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu Rosario Pulival Kalyanam Ramesh's father Manassinakkare Adv. Charles Parinamam 2004 Ennittum Udayam Vismayathumbathu Hospital Patient Chathikkatha Chanthu Sathyan Wanted Politician Natturajavu Secretary Black Vesham Judge 2005 Anandabhadram Ramunni Nair Udayananu Tharam Bhaskarettan Kochi Rajavu College Principal Ben Johnson Minister Thaskara Veeran Ramkumar Pauran Narayanan Pandippada Bhuvanachandran's father Bharathchandran I.P.S. Minister Vakkalam Moosa Boyy Friennd Leader K.R Rajamanikyam College Principal 2006 Rashtram Damodharan Pilla Lion Minister Kizhuppally The Don Lanka Balram vs. Tharadas Prajapathi Appa Swami Vaasthavam Govindan Namboodiri Arunam Smart City Enittum Moonnamathoral Baba Kalyani Prabhakaran 2007 Romeo Venkidi Panthaya Kozhi Settu Inspector Garud Minister Sathyanathan Detective Raghavan Mayavi Home Minister Ayur Rekha Dr. Thomas George Athisayan Time DGP Raman Naik IPS Aakasham Subramaniyam Potti Kangaroo Paul K. Mani 2008 Roudram ASI Ayyappan Nair College Kumaran Vasudevan Muthalali Malabar Wedding Thampi Thirakkatha Dr Sreenivasan Twenty:20 Minister's PA Francis 2009 Red Chillies Iyengar Swantham Lekhakan Chief Minister George Isaac Evidam Swargamanu Minister Stephen Edakochi Robin Hood Minister Manjooran Kappal Muthalaali Colours Man at the party Passenger Thankappan Thirunakkara Perumal Thankappan 2010 Alexander The Great Marykkundoru Kunjaadu Dr. Pisharody Oru Naal Varum Drona 2010 Pisharody Happy Husbands Retd. DGP Alexander Mathews IPS Chekavar Madhavan 2011 Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram Kunjettan Collector Sankaran Nampoothiri Sarkar Colony Indian Rupee Swami 2012 The King & the Commissioner Dr. K.R. Mahadevan Simhasanam Issac Ayalum Njanum Thammil Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O. Pisharody Ordinary Bhargavan Cinema Company Military Uncle Spirit 2013 Pigman Union Head 2015 Tharangale Saakshi 2016 Maalgudi Days Principal 2017 Pretham Undu Sookshikkuka

Television Daya (Asianet) Kabani (Zee Keralam) Chechiyamma (Surya TV) Aluvayum Mathikariyum (Asianet Plus) Moonnumani (Flowers TV) Pattu Saree (Mazhavil Manorama) Aa Amma (Kairali TV) Vigraham (Asianet) Sthree Oru Santhwanam (Asianet) Ente Manasaputhri (Asianet) Mahathma Gandhi Colony (Surya TV) Manthrakodi (Asianet) Priyamanasi (Surya TV) Vishudha Thomasleeha (Asianet) Swami Ayyapan (Asianet) Kadamattathu Kathanar (Asianet) Valayam (DD Malayalam)

Awards Madhavan has received Prem Nazir Award and Ramu Karyat Award for lifetime achievement.