Venu Nagavally

Venu Nagavally (16 April 1949 – 10 September 2010) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director best known for his work in Malayalam film industry. The son of writer, commentator, and broadcaster Nagavally R. S. Kurup, Venu Nagavally made his film debut with Ulkkadal, where he played the role of an idealistic lover. He was considered a handsome lead in his early career, often appearing as a romantic youth. His soft demeanor also made him well-suited for melancholic characters. Later in his career, he shifted to supporting roles. Having acted in over 50 films, he went on to direct 12 films, the majority of which were critically and commercially successful, including Sukhamo Devi, Sarvakalashala (1987), Lal Salam (1990), and Aye Auto (1990), Aayirappara (1993). Venu Nagavally died at Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010.

Early life Venu Nagavally was born on 16 April 1949 as the son of the noted play writer Nagavally R. S. Kurup and Rajamma. Ramachandran, Vasundara and Lalithambika are his siblings. He completed his education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram and University College Thiruvananthapuram. He had a bachelor's degree in Politics and a Diploma in journalism. Venu Nagavally died at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010 due to liver cirrhosis. He was 61 at the time of his death, and was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam crematorium on the same day. He is survived by his son Vivek. His noted movies as an actor are Shalini Ente Koottukari, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Pakshe, and Chillu.

Venu's first movie as a director was Sukhamo Devi (1986) which he himself describes as his own tragical love story. Later he directed the superhit movies Lal Salam, Aey Auto, Aayirappara, Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad etc. Lal Salaam and Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad revolved around the lives of the early Communist leaders of Kerala. It was his directorial projects like "Sughamo devi", "Sarvakalashala", "Aey Auto" and "Lal Salam" that cemented Mohanlal's status as a superstar, in the late 1980s. Venu has also written scripts for a few movies including the Priyadarshan directed blockbuster movie Kilukkam. His first movie as a script writer was Ee Ganam Marakkumo.

His oeuvre also had a strain of his left leanings; in addition to acting in films like Meenamasathile Sooryan (about the Kayyur revolt) and heading the production wing of a pro-left television channel, two of the films he directed – Lal Salam (1990) and Raksthasakhikal Zindabad (1998) – were an introspective look at the rise and fall of communist ideals. Venu examines these issues by dealing with the cracks in political movements, its hopes and later degeneration, create in human relationships.

The movies for which he has sung songs include Chillu, Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki, Oru Painkilikatha out of which the song "Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu" from the movie Ente Ammu, Ninte Thulasi, Avarude Chakki became quite popular.

Filmography

Actor Year Title Role Notes 1978 Ulkkadal Rahulan Shalini Ente Koottukari Prabha 1980 Aniyatha Valakkal Ravi Shankar Ishtamanu Pakshe Kalika Sadhan Akalangalil Abhayam 1981 Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla Rahim Kaloopasana Tharattu Unni Archana Teacher Kolangal Cheriyan 1982 Oru Vilipadakale Vishnu Kattile Pattu Devan Kilukilukkam Murali Yavanika Joseph Kollapally Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam Chillu Ananthu 1983 Eenam Premnazirne Kanmanilla Parasparam Vishwanathan Rugma Kathi Oru Swakaryam Chandran Omanathinkal Prasnam Gurutharam Venu Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback April 18 Advocate Thomachan Adaminte Variyellu Gopi 1984 Panchavadi Palam Jeemudhavahanan Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla Joy Velichamillatha Veedhi Swantham Sarika Murali Thirakal Balan Ente Nandinikutty Oru Painkili Kadha Gopi 1985 Puzhayozhukum Vazhi Hari Oru Kudakeezhil Unni Uyarukm Njan Nadaake Vivek Meenamasathile Sooryan Matathil Appu Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki Shakthi Adhyayam Onnu Muthal Rameshan Nair 1986 Sunil Vayassu 20 Jayakumar Sukhamo Devi Man at the bar Cameo Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha Meenamaasathile Sooryan Appu Vartha Devan 1987 Arinjo Ariyatheyo Theertham Radhakrishnan 1988 Moonnam Pakkam Jayan 1989 Crime Branch Devadas Devadas 1994 Pakshe Unniyettan Pavam IA Ivachan Minnaram Baby 1998 Harikrishnans Vishwambharan 2004 Wanted Krishnadas Sathyam Chief Minister Kaazhcha Magistrate 2005 Deepangal Sakshi Advocate Pauran Chief Minister 2006 Pathaka Shekharji Out of Syllabus Photographer Baba Kalyani DIG Bose K. Nianan IPS 2007 Anchil Oral Arjunan Padmanabhan Heartbeats Indraneelam 2008 Roudram Doctor 2009 Bhagyadevatha Anto 2010 College Days Rohit Menon's father 2013 Careebeyans Joseph Posthumously

As director Year Title Starring 1986 Sukhamo Devi Shankar, Mohanlal, Urvashi, Geetha 1987 Sarvakalashala Mohanlal, Sukumaran, Nedumudi Venu, Seema 1988 Ayitham Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, Sukumaran, Ambika, Radha 1989 Swagatham Jayaram, Nedumudi Venu, Ashokan, Parvathi, Urvashi 1990 Lal Salam Mohanlal, Geetha, Murali, Urvashi 1990 Aye Auto Mohanlal, Rekha, Murali, Sreenivasan 1991 Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Mohanlal, Shankar, Rekha, Murali 1993 Kalippattam Mohanlal, Urvashi, Jagathy Sreekumar, Thilakan 1993 Aayirappara Mammootty, Urvashi, Madhu, Narendra Prasad 1995 Agnidevan Mohanlal, Revathi, Rohini Hattangadi, Captain Raju, Devan 1998 Rakthasakshikal Sindabad Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Murali, Sukanya 2009 Bharya Swantham Suhruthu Jagathy Sreekumar, Urvashi, Mukesh, Padmapriya

Writer Bharya Swantham Suhruthu (2009) (screenplay) Vishnu (1994) (screenplay and dialogue) Aayirappara (1993) (writer) Kalippattam (1993) (writer) Kilukkam (1991) (writer) Kizhakkunarum Pakshi (1991) (screenplay and dialogue) Aye Auto (1990) (writer) Ardham (1989) (writer) Sarvakalasala (1987) (screenplay and dialogue) Sukhamodevi (1986) (writer) Gayathri Devi Entae Amma (1985) (Screenplay) Guruji Oru Vaakku (1985) Daivathae Orthu (1985) Ee Gaanam Marakkumo (1978) (screenplay)

Television Ente Manasaputhri (Asianet) Kadamattath Kathanar (Asianet) Mizhi thurakumbol (Surya TV) "Thinkalum Tharakangalum" (Amrita TV) Marubhumiyil pookkalam Ekaakini Arohanam Chitta (Surya TV) Thanichu (Asianet) Ohari Kurukhetram Gandhari Mangalyam (Asianet) Manaswini (DD Malayalam) Thalolam (Asianet) Ellam Mayajaalam (Asianet) Kannan Vannengil (Surya TV)