Nedumudi Venu
Acting
🎂 1948-05-22
Kesavan Venu Gopal, known popularly by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was an Indian actor, writer and director. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema. Venu was born as Venugopal to P. K. Kesavan Nair-a school master- and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi, Alappuzha as the youngest of their five children. He has four elder brothers. He had his primary education from N S S Higher Secondary School, Nedumudi, and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School,Champakulam. He was involved in art and music since his academic period. After graduating from Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha, he worked as a journalist in Kalakaumudi and as a teacher in a tutorial institute. Venu was living in Thiruvananthapuram when he made friends with the likes of Aravindan, Padmarajan, and Bharath Gopi. This ultimately paved way for his film career. He is a talented Mridangam player. Venu started his career in theater and went on to act in films. He was a member of Kavalam Narayana Panicker's dramas. He debuted in the film Thambu (1978) by director G. Aravindan. His acting skills were showcased in the Bharathan film Aaravam. Padmarajan's Oridathoru Phayalwan and Kallan Pavithran set a milestone for him. It marked his start in karanavar (head of the family) roles, which included most of his memorable performances. Venu also wrote scripts for movies. He wrote the stories for the films Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Theertham, Sruthi, Ambada Njane, Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha, Savidham, and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu. He also tried his hand in direction with Pooram. He has also acted in a few Tamil films with director Shankar, such as Kamal Hasan's Indian and Vikram's Anniyan. Venu has also acted in some television serials. He acted in NFDC film Parinamam (The Change), directed by P. Venu that won the best screenplay award at the Ashdod International Film Festival held in Israel. He won the Best Actor award for his role in Saira at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival which concluded in September 2007; Saira was the only film from India to be included in the festival. The committee mentioned that he acted compellingly and convincingly in his portrayal of a man caught between secularism and fundamentalism.
Cast credits(443)
Gauri's father
2011
Samson
2011
Samoothiri
2021
Bahadur
2014
Vichu's Grandfather
2008
Principal
2021
Driver Nair
2009
Krishnasamy
1996
Kaali’s father
2019
Madhavan Nair
2019
Vembu Iyer
2019
Prabhakara Varma
2009
Sivaraman Nair
2008
2012
Madhava Menon
2012
Vasudevan
2021
Selvan Moopan
2018
Muppil Kunjambu Nair
2006
Mathew Varghese
2002
Purushothaman
2012
Adv. Santhosh Narayan
2018
SI Kochappu
1986
2005
Padmanabhan Master
2003
Kunjoonju
2012
P.K Nambiithiri
2011
Pillai
2016
Scobo Jhons
2017
K.R.Sathyanathan
2008
2008
Kurukkan Ponnappan
2019
2009
Nobilettan
2014
God
2018
Kunnel Pappan
2010
Ranganna
1995
2019
Aalakkal Govindanashan
2004
Sreekandan Nair
1996
John Matthew
2007
Mohan
2022
Govindan Master
2011
Justice Krishnamoorthy
2016
Moopan
2009
Gopalan Menon
2003
CKAK Menon
2015
Captain Nair
2007
Kichan's father
2009
Thankachan, Antony's father
2012
Panchayat president
2012
Kunjappan
2015
Murugan
2012
Kumaran
2010
Dr. Sibi Joseph
2004
Retd. Colonel Nair
2022
Panikker
1994
Madhavan Mash
2024
2017
1985
M.K. Nair
2009
Freddy Uncle
2009
Valiya Thampuran
1990
Parthasarathy Iyengar
2005
1993
Sankaran Potti
2012
Vasu Kumar
1983
Iyer
2009
Krishnan Nair
2017
Kuriachen
2014
Father Palaykkal
2002
Jailer
2002
Unnikrishnan
1985
Jabbar
2013
Dhanapalan
1997
1986
Dr. Korah
2010
Chandikunju
1990
Retd D.I.G (Uncle Tom)
2004
Vasudeva Kaimal
2018
Himself
2017
Adv. Bharathan
1995
Avhuthan's Father
2018
1986
Dr. E. K. Sudharshan
2012
Blind 'Thampuran'
2001
Thampy
1993
Chief Editor
2015
2018
Swaminathan
2002
Nair
1997
Sreedharan Nair
2007
Shivasankara Menon
2000
Doctor
2011
Krishnan Nair
2005
Appooppan
2016
Shivathanu
2015
1985
Vakkachan
1984
Manikunju
2013
Raghavan Mash
2004
Kuttan Pillai
1985
2004
Kashi
2014
Himself
1988
CM Chandrashekharan
2009
Dasan
1986
Father John
2013
Doctor Krishnakumar
2003
Adv. Srinivasan
2018
1986
Sreedharan Master
2022
Kuriakose
2003
Unnithan Muthalali
2010
Unnikannan Nair
1990
Head master
2011
Menon
2002
Madhavan
1992
1987
Dr. Unni Krishnan
1986
1984
Padmanabhan
2005
C.P. Vasudevan
2007
Havildar Vasudevan
2010
Rama Warrier
1991
Pappu Pilla
2016
Kunjammadu Sahib
2015
Iravippilla
2022
Sree Thankappan Nair
1985
Ramappan Namboothiri
2007
Krishnasamy
2024
Appu master
1993
Fernandez
2001
2022
Ambotty
1992
Ravunni Nair
2004
Father Felix
1990
Tharavadu Karanavar
1986
"Society" Gopalan
2007
Ravunni Menon
1984
Godman
1990
Madhavan Nair
2010
2002
Dominic Fernandes
1995
2011
Overseer Sundaresan
1987
2014
Prabhakaran Thampi
1989
Meppattor Vishnu Narayanan Nampoothiri
2006
Ramettan
1988
Rajagopalan Thampy
2012
Raghavan
1992
Balu
1982
1987
Jameskutty Chacko
1991
1982
Ananthan Mashu
1993
Shikhandi Pillai
1984
Venu
1986
Gopalettan
2013
V. G. Sadasivan
2011
Madhavan
1990
Prasad's father
2002
Father Dixon
2014
Narayanan
2015
Teacher
2006
Shekharan
1988
Keerikkad Chellappan Nair
1986
Padmanabhan Embranthiri
2009
Devan
1982
Mr. Nair
2007
Damodharji
2014
Aravindan
1999
Gopi
1986
Chirukandan's Father
1986
1988
Kumaran
1991
Maharaja Udayavarma
1990
Maathu
2008
Varmaji, Radha's Grand father
2013
Udhaya Varma
1997
Paul Raj
1983
1984
1981
1992
2010
Nedumudi Venu
1983
Father Dominic
1992
1988
Andrews Perreira
2009
George Paul
2017
Sadanadan Pillai
2009
Rama Moorthy
2014
Basheer
2018
Lecturer
1987
Himself
1985
Dr Kuriakose
1989
Kabooliwala
1993
2007
'Romance' Kumaran
1991
Pradees's Uncle
1988
Sekharan Thampi
2003
Appunni
1984
1984
Swaminathan
2001
1978
1988
Dr. K. K. Menon
1986
Appu
1997
Ramdas
1985
Krishnanunni
1991
Shekharan
1986
Vasudevan Kartha
2011
1998
2018
Fr. Felix
1991
Sakhavu
1985
2008
1984
2019
Chekkodu Swamy
1993
Sasidharan
1986
Major Nair
1984
Chathukutti
1993
1988
Priest
1985
Kesavankutty
1993
Thampuran
1998
Minister
1988
Kumaren Nair
1988
Shekaran IAS
2010
Ummini
1994
Antony
1983
Vasu Kuttan
2015
Chief Minister Janardhanan Kurup
2006
K.P./ Advocate Immanuel / Kurian Paulose / Kumara Panickker
2012
Secretary of Kerala Kala Mandiram Institute
1992
Sankunni Nair
1999
Aasan
1987
2009
Sreeni
1982
Ramanathan
1991
Unni
1983
1998
Achuthanunni
1983
Sivadasa Menon
1990
1993
Kurian Fernandez
1989
Aditya Varma
1990
1998
1996
Devan Nair
1989
1995
Kaimal
1988
Kunjikannan Nair
1993
Dasan
1982
Viswanathan
2002
Meenakshi's father
1999
Kochantony
2001
1981
Thambi
1991
2013
Balan Poduval
1993
Chathukutti Bhagavathar
1995
1985
Raghavan
1983
Aashaan
1995
Thoma
2011
Panikker
2008
Baaghavatar
2000
Thomas
2013
Teacher
1997
Invisible Kuttichatan (voice)
1984
Thiruvithamkodu Thirumanassu
2013
Ravunni Master
1995
1983
Chellappan
1989
Dr. Subhash
1998
1992
The Headmaster
1998
Doctor
1989
Unni Thampuran
1991
Nambiar
1995
Delhi Pappachan
1999
Nicholas
1988
Ramakrishnan
2014
Father
1980
Vasu
1982
1991
Denver Aashan
2010
M. K. Nair
1996
Gowdar
2012
Subramaniam
2013
Father Dominic
2010
Johnie
1984
Grandfather
1988
2007
Rama Varma Thampuran
2005
Aasan
1999
Narayana Iyer
1982
Krishnankutty Menon
2001
1982
1994
2019
Philipose
2013
Madhavan Nair
2007
Madhavan Nair
1999
1999
Kuttiraman
1992
Andrews
1985
Mohan
1982
Krishnanunni
1983
Kunjan Nair
1986
1997
Xavier
1981
The Priest
1984
Old Man
2012
Raman Nair
1997
Keshavan Namboothiri
2005
1997
2014
Warrier
1994
Sultan
1998
1985
Ustad Ali
2005
Damu
1982
Onachan
2013
Rajappan
1991
2001
Scariah
1989
Ravi
1983
1985
1986
Lebba Sahib
2008
Balan Mashu
1993
Judge Ramakrishnan
2021
Professor Varma
1987
Venu
1984
1996
Tourist Guide
1988
Ravi
1981
1982
Hameed
1989
Appu Nair
1986
Palazhi Sivasankarappilla
2009
Kumaran Nair / Radhakrishnan (dual role)
1986
Head of Swapna Bhoomi
1998
2019
1986
Annadurai
2010
Seythalavi
1980
2011
1994
Maruthu
1978
Sivaramakrishnan Nair
1987
Fr. Thayyil
1995
Periya Shasthri
1995
Balagopalan
1982
Principal
2000
1989
Unni
1982
2019
Moosa Settu
1992
Haridas' father
1992
Ramankutty
1981
1983
Ramavikraman Namboodiri
2016
2000
Pavithran
1981
Balagopalan
1997
1999
Karunakara Menon
1998
2011
Lathika's Uncle
1984
1997
1993
Manisankar Iyer
1992
Charlie
1982
Fr.Vattappara
1993
Naradhan
1987
Krishnaswamy
2025
Sivaraman
1985
Ravunni Nair
1987
Vijayan
1983
1983
2011
1983
Chellappanasar
1979
Sreekrishnan Thampuran
1994
Venkita Ramayyar
1991
Manikutty's Father
2001
Johnny
1984
Fr. Puthenthara
1993
2000
Vellayudhachan
1998
1997
Valliyottu Thirumeni
2015
Viswanathan
1989
Hassan Bhai
1993
1989
1982
Venu Menon
2003
1987
Gamer
2014
Achuthankutty Nair
1987
1991
1987
2022
1981
1989
Venu
1984
Menon
1997
Potty
1984
Paramu
1981
1982
Usha's Father
1986
1995
Work Shop Master
2014
Jeevan Masai
2001
1987
Rajaguru
1988
2019
M. K. S. Warrier
1997
Govindankutty Maashu
2012
Kosara Bhairavan
1981
Vasukutty
1999
1984
Madhavan Ezhuthachan
1990
2016
2003
1986
Govindankutty
1984
Charlie
1985
Kaarackal Easwaran Namboodiri
2010
Rajaram
2016
Balan Nambyar
1992
Krishnan Unni
2003
1982
Aravindan
1984
Dr. George
1983
Krishnan Nair
2012
1999
2018
1998
