Nedumudi Venu

Kesavan Venugopal (22 May 1948 – 11 October 2021), better known by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was an Indian actor and screenwriter from Kerala, who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema.^[1][2] He acted in more than 500 films, primarily in Malayalam and also in Tamil in a career spanning nearly five decades.^[3][4]

Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu in 2008
Born	Kesavan Venugopal (1948-05-22)22 May 1948 Nedumudi, Kingdom of Travancore, India (present day Alappuzha district, Kerala, India)
Died	11 October 2021(2021-10-11) (aged 73) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Alma mater	Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha
Occupations	Actor screenwriter director
Years active	1972 – 2021
Spouse	T. R. Susheela
Children	2

In this Indian name, the name Kesavan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Venugopal.

He wrote screenplays and directed one film. Nedumudi Venu won three National Film Awards and six Kerala State Film Awards for his various performances.^[5][6][7][8]

Early life

Venu was born as Venugopal to P. K. Kesava Pillai, a school master and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi as the youngest of their five children.^[9] He had four elder brothers.^[10] He had his primary education from NSS Higher Secondary School, Nedumudi, and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Champakulam.^[11]

Venu was married to T. R. Susheela. The couple had two sons: Unni and Kannan.^[12]

Death

Venu died at KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 11 October 2021, at the age of 73. He was receiving treatment for liver cancer prior to his death and died from post COVID-19 complications.^[13] He also had diabetes, which complicated his condition.^[14][15][16] He was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam Crematorium in Thiruvananthapuram on 12 October 2021.^[17]

Filmography

Main article: Nedumudi Venu filmography

Awards

National Film Awards

• 1990 – Best Supporting Actor – His Highness Abdullah
• 2003 – Special Mention – Margam
• 2006 – National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Narration / Voice Over – Minukku

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1980 – Second Best Actor – Chamaram
• 1981 – Best Actor – Vida Parayum Munpe
• 1987 – Best Actor – Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
• 1990 – Special Jury Award – Bharatham, Santhwanam
• 1994 – Second Best Actor – Thenmavin Kombath
• 2003 – Best Actor – Margam

Kerala State Television Awards

• 2001 - Best Actor : Avasthatarangal

Asianet Film Awards

• 2005 – Best Supporting Actor Award – Thanmatra
• 2007 – Best Script Writer Award – Thaniye
• 2011 – Best Supporting Actor – Best Actor, Elsamma Enna Aankutty
• 2013 – Best Character Actor – North 24 Kaatham
• 2015 – Best Villain – Oru Second Class Yathra, Rudra Simhasanam
• 2017 – Asianet Film Award for Lifetime Achievement

Vanitha Film Awards

2015 – Best Actor In A Negative Role – Oru Second Class Yatra

Filmfare Awards

• 1981 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Vida Parayum Munpe
• 1987 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam -Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam^[18][19]
• 1997 – Lifetime Achievement Award^[20]

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards^[21]

• 2007 – Second Best Actor – Thaniye
• 2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award/Prathibha Puraskaram

Other awards

• 2003 – Best Actor Award won in Television Gallup Poll conducted by University of Kerala union for Ragardram (Doordarshan)^[22]
• 2006 – Sathyan Award^[23]
• 2006 – Kalavedi International Prathibha Award was presented at Tagore Theatre, Trivandrum in 2006.
• 2007 – Bahadoor Award^[24]
• 2008 – Kala Ratnam Award of KALA Abu Dhabi
• 2011 – Serve India Media Award
• 2015 – Vanitha Film Award for Best Villain for Oru Second Class Yathra and Rudra Simhasanam
• 2007 – Saira – Best Actor award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival^[25]

References

1. Onmanorama Staff (11 October 2022). "Nedumudi Venu, who acted in 500 movies and won 3 national awards, passes away at 73". Manorama Online. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
2. ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (11 October 2022). "നെടുമുടി വേണു അന്തരിച്ചു | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 11 October 2022.
3. Chandran, Mangala (1987). Cinema in India. Vol. 3. National Film Development Corporation.
4. Parameswaran, Biju (30 July 2015). "Remembering Bharathan's magical trip on celluloid". Malayala Manorama. from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
5. "Bring theatre to the people: Nedumudi Venu". The Hindu. 21 September 2008. from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
6. "Votary of good cinema". The Hindu. 6 April 2007. from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
7. "In the role of an actor". The Hindu. 27 June 2008 – via www.thehindu.com.
8. "Another year of plenty for Malayalam cinema". The Hindu. 11 June 2008. from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
9. "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". cinidiary.com. from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
10. "Onam Interview with Nedumudi Venu". asianetnews.tv. from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
11. "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". cinidiary.com. from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
12. Aiyappan, Arya (24 August 2009). "Nedumudi Venu's son ties the knot". FilmiBeat. from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
13. "Nedumudi Venu dies at 73 owing to COVID complications; celebs bid farewell to Malayalam actor". 11 October 2021.
14. Jeevan Ravindran (11 October 2021). "Nedumudi Venu, acclaimed Indian film actor, dies aged 73". CNN. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
15. "National Award winning actor Nedumudi Venu passes away - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
16. "നെടുമുടി വേണു അന്തരിച്ചു; വിടവാങ്ങിയത് അഭിനയത്തിന്റെ അതുല്യ പ്രതിഭ". Manoramanews. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
17. "Kerala's thespian Nedumudi Venu laid to rest with state honours". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
18. "35th Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners : Santosh : Free Download &…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
19. "Nedumudi Venu 35th Annual Filmfare Best Actor Malayalam Special : san…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
20. Competition Science Vision. Pratiyogita Darpan. August 1998. p. 791. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
21. . ArtKerala.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
22. . The Hindu. 1 March 2004. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
23. . The Hindu. 10 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
24. . The Hindu. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
25. "Metro Film Society to screen Saira". The Hindu. 9 October 2007. from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nedumudi Venu.

• Nedumudi Venu at IMDb
• Nedumudi Venu at MSI