In his late 30s and early 40s, he acted as a 70 plus year-old man in many movies, earning him recognition in the film world.įilm analysts also recalled Venu’s contribution to the Malayalam cultural world, highlighting his skills in popularising poems and literature.īorn in 1948 in Nedumudi in Alappuzha district, Venu performed in dramas in his college along with Fazil, who later emerged as an outstanding film director. Padmarajan such as Kallan Pavithran and Oridathoru Phayalvan through exceptional performances which explored the inner persona of each character, Balagopal said.
Venu put up stellar performances in films scripted and directed by P. Balagopal, Venu was one of the few actors in Indian cinema who excelled both as a stylised actor and realistic actor which in Indian theatre tradition is called Natya Dharmi and Lokadharmi respectively. His unique style of acting made him one of the finest actors in Indian cinema.Īccording to film scholar N. In his film career spanning over four decades, Venu acted in over 500 movies as a protagonist, antagonist and character actor.
The versatile actor handled a series of character roles bordering on humour. He played the role of a village carpenter, a character that established Venu as a talent. His most memorable performance in Malayalam cinema was in Thakara, a 1979 drama film directed by Bharathan and written by Padmarajan. He breathed his last on Monday afternoon.īeginning his career as a theatre artiste with famous dramatist Kavalam Narayana Panicker’s experimental theatre group, Venu entered the Malayalam movie world in 1978 through G. Shifted to the ICU, his condition worsened on Sunday despite efforts by doctors. Having recovered from COVID-19, Venu had been unwell for quite some time and was admitted to the hospital after he complained of uneasiness. He was 73 and is survived by his wife and two children. Thiruvananthapuram: Nedumudi Venu, considered one of the most talented actors in Indian cinema, died at a private hospital here on Monday.