Vineeth

Vineeth Radhakrishnan (born 23 August 1969) is an Indian actor, Bharatanatyam dancer, voice artist and choreographer who primarily works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu language films. He has also appeared in a few Hindi and Kannada films. He has won several awards including 3 Kerala State Film Awards, Kalaimamani honour from Government of Tamil Nadu and Filmfare Award South nominations.

Early life Vineeth was born to K. T. Radhakrishnan and P. K. Shanthakumari on 23 August 1969 at Thalassery in Kannur district, Kerala. His family hails from the Travancore region (present-day southern Kerala districts) related to the Travancore Sisters, and his family later settled in Kannur district. He has a sister, Kavitha Dinesh. Vineeth is the nephew of Ramachandran Nair, the husband of actress Padmini of the Travancore sisters. His aunt, Padmini, and her sister, Ragini, convinced his parents to send him to dancing school. Actress Shobana is his cousin. He then pursued a Bachelor of Commerce from The New College, Chennai, in 1991.

Vineeth started training in Bharathanatyam at the age of six and won several dance prizes while a student, including the first prize at the Kerala School Kalolsavam for four years in a row,

Film career Vineeth entered films with the I. V. Sasi film Idanilangal in 1985, and caught the public eye with his second film, Nakhakshathangal, in 1986. His dancing skills were prominently displayed in several films as well. He played the lead characters in Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha (1987), a story by poet Balachandran Chullikkadu and Oru Muthassi Katha (1988) directed by Priyadarshan. Aavarampoo (1992), the Tamil remake of Thakara changed everything for Vineeth directed by Bharathan. As soon as Aavarampoo ended, Hariharan called him for Sargam (1992), in which he played a musical genius. Suddenly Vineeth was doing multiple films in Malayalam and Tamil. Kabooliwala (1994) and Manathe Vellitheru (1994) became two turning points in his Malayalam career, one establishing him as a young romantic hero, the other proving he could handle negative shades really well. Though his films impressed both critics and front benchers, he did not become a super hero, a sought after actor. He had appeared in maximum Malayalam films. But his career did not pick up as expected.

His roles in successful Tamil films also include Gentleman (1993), Pudhiya Mugam (1993), Jaathi Malli (1993) and May Maadham (1994). Among other projects came Kadhal Desam (1996), where Vineeth and Abbas played college students in love with the same woman, played by Tabu. The movie, with its themes of friendship and romance and the music of A. R. Rahman, became very popular. He has acted in several well received films since then in all the main South Indian languages. In spite of his success in films, he still considers dance as his first love and is undergoing advanced training in Bharatanatyam and participates in several dance programmes all over the world as well as the Surya Dance Festival. He has worked in several Telugu films such as Aaro Pranam (1997), Maa Annayya (2000), Ammayi Kosam (2001), Nee Premakai (2002) and Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002). Vineeth, who disappeared from both Tamil and Malayalam cinema, made a comeback with Rajinikanth starrer Chandramukhi (2005). He played the same role in the Hindi version of Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) as well. He also played in many roles in Malayalam films such as Rathri Mazha (2007), Banaras (2009), Thathwamasi (2010), Ideal Couple (2012), Omega Brothers (2012), Aattakatha (2013), Sukhamayirikkatte (2015) and Pallikoodam (2016).

He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreography for Kambhoji in 2017. Vineeth has collaborated with G. V. Prakash Kumar in Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019). It was a Tamil musical drama that was written and directed by Rajiv Menon. Actor singer Krishnachandran dubbed for Vineeth in most of his early movies. Ironically, Vineeth won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist in 2020 for giving voice to Vivek Oberoi's character in Lucifer, actor Prithviraj’s first as a director. In Malayalam, he was seen in Kavya Prakash's debut film Vaanku (2021), based on a story by Unni R. In 2023, he co-starred with Fahadh Faasil in Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum and Dhoomam. He is making his comeback in Tamil cinema and plays a father in the drama film, Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai (2025).

Personal life Vineeth married Priscilla Menon, who hails from Thalassery, in August 2004. They live in Chennai, and a daughter was born to them in 2006.

Awards and nominations 1986 - Kalaprathibha - Kerala School Kalolsavam 1992 - Best New Face award by Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu for Aavarampoo 1992 - Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Second Best Actor award for Daivathinte Vikrithikal and Sargam 1993 - Supporting Actor award by Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu for Jathi Malli and Pudhiya Mugam 2006 - Yuvakala Bharathi award - Bharath Kalachar 2009 - Kalaimamani Award from Government of Tamil Nadu 2013 - Asiavision Awards for Best Supporting Actor 2013 - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam - Nominated for Bavuttiyude Namathil 2017 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreography - Kambhoji for the song "Chenthar Nermukhi" 2020 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist - Lucifer (dubbed for Vivek Oberoi) 2021 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist - Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham (dubbed for Arjun Sarja)

Filmography Malayalam films Year Title Role Notes 1985 Idanilangal Kunjumon 1986 Nakhakshathangal Ramu Pranamam Appukuttan Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal Antony Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha Ananth 1987 Oridathu Josekutty Amrutham Gamaya Unnikrishnan Rithubhedam Keshavan Ponnu Kanikanum Neram Vinu 1988 Aranyakam Mohan Kanakambarangal Rajan Janmandharam Unnikrishnan Oru Muthassi Katha Chanthu 1989 Mahayanam Rameshan Rugmini 1990 Lal Salam Medayil Josekutty Kattukuthira Mohan Aaram Vardil Aabhyanthara Kalaham 1992 Champakulam Thachan Chanthutti Aacharyan Abraham Daivathinte Vikrithikal Son of Landlord Kerala State Film Critics Association Second Best Actor Award Kamaladalam Somashekharanunni (Malavika's lover) Sargam Haridas Kerala State Film Critics Association Second Best Actor Award 1993 Gazal Muneer Samooham Udayan Kalippattam Harikrishnan Kabuliwala Munna Kanyakumariyil Oru Kavitha Vishnu Arthana Jayakrishnan 1994 Manathe Vellitheru Ramesh Parinayam Madhavan Daivathinte Vikrithikal Landlord's son 1995 Thakshashila Salman Highway Vinod Menon Thacholi Varghese Chekavar Shyam 1996 Kala Pani G S Sethu Dubbed in Tamil as Sirai Chaalai HitlerWhistling PassengerCameo appearance KavadamUnreleased 1999 Mazhavillu Vijay Krishnan Prempujari Murali Ustaad Nandan 2000 Darling Darling Subash Chandra Bose/ Kochu Kurup / Aniyankutty (fake identity) 2004 Perumazhakkalam Raghu Rama Iyer Guest Appearance Chathikkatha Chanthu Krishna 2005 Alice in Wonderland Victor Joseph Mayookham 2006 Moonnamathoral Dr. Arun Vadakkum Nathan Parameshwaran 2007 Rathri Mazha Harikrishnan 2008 Mizhikal Sakshi Aravind 2009 2 Harihar Nagar Shyam Sundhar Chemistry Aloshy Banaras Hari 2010 Neelambari Devanand Thathwamasi Rameshan Killy Killy Aloshy 2011 Munthiri Paadam Munna 2012 Bavuttiyude Namathil Satheeshan Ideal Couple Ganeshan Father's Day Gopan Arike Balu 2013 Breaking News Live Deepak Omega Brothers Sidharth Aattakatha Unnikrishnan Ezhamathe Varavu Prasad Cleopatra 2014 Swapaanam Thuppan Namboodiri 2015 100 Days of Love S. P. Pillai Sukhamayirikkatte Kumbasaram Rafi Njan Samvidhanam Cheyum Akkaldhamayile Pennu Anto 2016 Pallikoodam Gokul Sir 2017 Kambhoji Kunjunni 2019 Panthu Anwar Madhaveeyam Madhav Dev 2021 Vaanku Razak Kaalchilambu Kannan, Jayadevan 2023 Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum Riyas Dhoomam Praveen Nila Mahi 2024 Manorathangal Venugopal's father Released on ZEE5 Anthology series Segment: Kadugannawa, Oru Yathra Kurippu 2025 Dheeran Abubackar Haji Dominic and the Ladies' Purse Adv. Prakash Menon Eko Mohan Pothan Sarvam Maya Vinod Mathew Manjooran 2026 Secret Stories: Roslin JohnJioHotstar series

Tamil films Year Film Role Ref. 1992 Aavarampoo Sakkarai Best New Face Awarded from the Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu 1993 Jathi Malli Moscow Pudhiya Mugam Raja Rajeswaran / Hari (dual role) Gentleman Ramesh 1994 May Madham Eeshwar 1996 Kadhal Desam Karthik 1997 Sakthi Sakthi Devathai Umapathi Nandhini Suresh 1998 Simmarasi Kathir 1999 Maravathe Kanmaniye Surya Suyamvaram Gautham 2000 Karisakattu Poove Pounrasu 2001 Vedham Sanjay 2003 Kadhal Kirukkan Gautham Priyamana Thozhi Michael D'Souza 2005 Chandramukhi Viswanathan & Gunashekaran 2006 Pasakiligal Nallarasu 2008 Sila Nerangalil Madhavan Uliyin Osai Iniyan 2019 Sarvam Thaala Mayam Mani 2025 Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai Devaraj

Telugu films Year Film Role Ref. 1993 Sarigamalu Kalidasu 1997 Evandi Pelli Chesukondi Vijay Aaro Pranam Chanti Rukmini Ravi 1998 Prema Pallaki Priyuralu Dubbed in Malayalam as Manjeeradhwani Padutha Theeyaga Rushi W/o V. Vara Prasad Varaprasad 1999 Preminchalani Vundi Prema Kosam Rahul 2000 Balaram Srinivasa Prasad Maa Annayya Shekhar 2001 Ammayi Kosam Venkat 2002 Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo Srinivasa Naidu Nee Premakai Srinivas 2003 Maa Baapu Bommaki Pellanta Krishnamoorthy Cameo appearance 2005 Thanks Sri Ram 2021 Rang De Arjun's brother-in-law

Other language films Year Film Role Language References 1997 Daud: Fun on the Run Inspector Sri Hindi 1998 Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene Raghunandan Kannada 2002 Bokshu – The Myth Rati's lover English 2007 Bhool Bhulaiyaa Sharad Pradhan / Shashidhar Hindi 2010 Aptharakshaka Ramanatha Kannada 2011 Queens! Destiny Of Dance Mukta Hindi

Dubbing Year Film Dubbed for Character Language Notes 2019 Lucifer Vivek Oberoi Bimal Nair / Bobby Malayalam Won, Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist 2020 Big Brother Arbaaz Khan Vedantham IPS The Kung Fu Master Jiji Scaria Rishi Ram 2021 Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham Arjun Sarja Ananthan Won, Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist 2022 Kaduva Vivek Oberoi I.G Joseph Chandy / Ouseppukutty Ottu Arvind Swamy David