Murali (Malayalam actor)

Muraleedharan Pillai, popularly known as Murali (25 May 1954 – 6 August 2009) was an Indian film, stage and television actor and author. He mainly appeared in Malayalam films and a few Tamil films and also many other movies. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Appa Mestry, a communist freedom fighter and professional weaver in the 2002 film Neythukaran. He was known for his powerful portrayal of character roles, lead roles and negative roles, widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Malayalam cinema.[1][2]

Murali
Born
Muraleedharan Pillai

(1954-05-25)25 May 1954
Kudavattoor, State of Travancore-Cochin (present day Kollam, Kerala), India
Died6 August 2009(2009-08-06) (aged 55)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationActor
Years active1986 – 2009
SpouseMini
Children1
Parents
  • P. Krishna Pillai
  • K. Devaki Amma

Murali started his film career playing villain roles and soon turned to character acting. He played the leading role in the 1992 film Aadhaaram, which gave a "break" to his career.[3] The film was well received at the box office and Murali ascended to the status of a star in Malayalam cinema, which he enjoyed for a few years during the 1990s. Besides acting, he was the chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy from 2006 until his death. He also authored five books, and was also a Sangeetha Nataka Academy award winner. He contested at the 1999 Lok Sabha polls as a communist candidate without success. He was also the Director of the CPI(M) promoted television company Malayalam Communications Limited, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV, People TV and We TV. His last film was the 2011 film Ven Shankhu Pol. He is one of the founders of the Malayalam film actors association AMMA.

Early life

Murali was born on 25 May 1954 as the first of five children to P. Krishna Pillai and K. Devaki Amma at Kudavattoor, Kollam, Kerala, India. He has four siblings, Thulasi, Sheela, Harikumar and Sheeja.[4] He did his schooling from Kudavattoor L. P. School and Thrikannamangalam S. K. V. High School. He passed the pre-degree from M.G. College, Thiruvananthapuram and his Degree from Devaswom Board College, Sasthamkotta. He was an active member of the Students Federation of India. He took an LL.B degree from the Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. After studies, he worked for some years as Lower Division Clerk in the Department of Health, Government of Kerala and as Upper Division Clerk in the office of Kerala University. He was married to his first cousin Mini and has a daughter Karthika. His daughter married Sonoop R. Nair on 15 July 2016.[5]

Career

Film actor

Murali debuted in films with the lead role in Njattadi, directed by Bharath Gopi. But the film was never released. He then got chance to act in Chidambaram, directed by the National Award-winning filmmaker Aravindan. He then acted in Meenamasathile Sooryan and Panchagni, directed by Lenin Rajendran and Hariharan, respectively. Panchagni got released first and it gave him the break in his acting career. He soon established himself as a powerful actor in the Malayalam film industry. Aadhaaram, directed by George Kittu, was the first film to be released with Murali in a lead role. He acted in a variety of roles, ranging from lead roles to villain roles, and won accolades. Some of his other notable films include Nee Ethra Dhanya, Dhanam, The King, Pathram, Chakoram, Veeralippattu, Achan Kombathu Amma Varambathu, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Swarnam, Kaarunyam and The Truth"Amaram". Also worth-mentioning are his remarkable portrayals as a toddy tapper in Malayogam and as trade union leader in Varavelppu.

Murali acted in the longest TV commercial ever on Indian TV, spanning 150 seconds. This was for Air Deccan in 2005.[6]

Stage actor

Murali was actively involved with Natyagriham, a drama venture started by actor Narendra Prasad. Murali won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ravana in the Malayalam play Lanka Lakshmi, which was based on C. N. Sreekantan Nair's novel of the same name. He was also associated with G. Sankara Pillai in doing theatre plays.

Author

Murali authored five books. His book on Kumaranasan, Abhinethavum Asan Kavithayum (Actor and Asan's Poetry) won him the Sangeetha Nataka Academy award. One of his other critically acclaimed books was Abhinyathinte Rasathanthram (Chemistry of Acting).

Politician

Murali was a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and has contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from the Alappuzha constituency as a Left Democratic Front candidate, but lost to V. M. Sudheeran of Indian National Congress.

Death

Murali died in Thiruvananthapuram on 6 August 2009 at the age of 55, due to acute diabetes which led to a heart attack at 8.20 PM IST.[7] He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Aruvikkara, which he had bought some years prior to his death.

Awards

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Kerala state TV Awards

Filmfare Awards:

Other awards:

  • Madras Film Fans Award
  • Kerala Film Critics Award
  • Shivaram Award
  • Best columnist award: for his feature "Vyazhaporul" in the Malayala Manorama newspaper

Filmography

Malayalam
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1979NjattadiRaghu
1985ChidambaramCheriyan
1986Meenamasathile SooryanAbubakar
PanchagniRajan
1987Nombarathi PoovuSamuel
Neeyethra DhanyaHafiz Ali
EzhuthapurangalRaveendranath
Archanapookkal
JaalakamShivankutty
RithubhedamAppu
Swathi ThirunalShadkala Govinda Marar
Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
1988David David Mr. DavidMr. David
Oohakachavadam
Vida ParayaanmathramSebastian Joseph
KanakambarangalAnanthan Balussery
PuravruthamAchu
Samvalsaragal
MattoralMahesh
AyithamKachery Mani Iyyer
Arjun Dennis
Padippura
Moonnam MuraJayan
1989NaduvazhikalCherian
KireedamLokanathan, Sub-Inspector
AnaghaThommachan
Kaalal PadaFiroz
Pandu Pandoru Desathu
Maharajavu
DasharathamChandradas
Asthikal PookkunnuSreedharan / Bhaskaran
VaravelpuPrabhakaran
ArthamR. K. Nambyar
1990MathilukalBasheer's childhood friend
VidhyarambhamPrabhakaran
OrukkamChandru
Ee Thanutha Veluppan KalathuPhilip Thennalackal George
Unnikuttanu Joli Kitti
Kshanakkathu
KuttettanNair
MalayogomDamodaran
Lal SalamD.K. Antony
Ee Kanni KoodiVidyadharan
Aye AutoBhadran
AppuGopan
KalikkalamCI Shekharan
1991UlladakkamRoy
SanthwanamJohn
VishnulokamPrathapa Varma Thampuran
Pookkalam VaravayiJayaraj
Kizhakkunarum PakshiJohnny
Yaathrayude AnthyamWriter VKV
AdayalamDr. Mohan
KeliAppootty
KadavuRahman
DhanamAboobacker/Abu
Aakasha Kottayile SultanGeorgekutty
AmaramKochu Raman
Inspector BalramCity Police Commissioner Madhavan Nair IPS
KanalkkattuRamu
1992AardramUppan Raghavan
Valayam
SnehasagaramJosekutty
ArthanaRamachandran
SadayamMadhavan Jailer
KamaladalamMadhavanunni
SathyaprathinjaAchuthan
My Dear MuthachanKuriachan
Champakulam ThachanRaghavan
AadhaaramBapputty
KauravarCommissioner Rajagopal
MahanagaramCommissioner Chandradas
1993PoruthamNanda Kumar
VenkalamGopalan
NaaraayamShekharan
JanamBalachandran
ChamayamEsthappan Aasan
MagribRazaq
Bhoomi GeethamThekkinkadu Krishnaprasad
AkashadoothuJohnny
1994SammohanamChandu
ChakoramLance naik Mukundan Menon
Sankeerthanam
1995SakshyamCol. Rajasekharan Nambiar
Prayikkara PappanAchuthan / Prayikkara Pappan
Achan Kombathu Amma VarampathuChandrasekhara Menon
Indian Military IntelligenceCaptain Anthony Domenic
The KingMP Jayakrishnan
MangalyasootramKarnan
Chaithanyam
1996KaanaakkinaavuChandradas
Aayiram Naavulla AnanthanDr. Nandakumar
RajaputhranK.R.Bhadran
Thooval KottaramBalaraman Varma
1997Sankeerthanam PoleKunjachan
Irattakuttikalude AchanVenu
AdivaramConstable Izahaq
KarunyamGopinathan Nair
GuruSahib Abdullah
GangothriMukundan Menon
BhoopathiRavi Varma
1998Rakthasakshikal SindabadE. Sreedharan
Kattathoru Penpoovu
ThirakalkkappuramMoothoru
ThalolamChittoor Sankaran Unni
Kaikudunna NilavuRavuthar
The TruthDGP Hariprasad IPS
Kallu Kondoru PennuHaridasan
1999PathramShekharan
IndependenceKunikal Vasu
The GodmanHome Minister Abdul Rahim
GarshomNazaruddin
2000Kannaadikkadavathu
SusannaJosekutty
SparshamValappil Raghavan
DevadoothanAlberto
Dada SahibDr. Raveendran
2001Sukhamo Sukam
2002Jagapoga
Aabharanacharthu
Neelakasham Niraye
NeythukaranAppa Mestry
Sesham
ShivamSudhakaran MP
2003GramophoneRavindranathan
C.I.D. MoosaCM Ravi Menon
Anyar
The FireZakaria George
2004Maratha NaduKunjikoya
Pravaasam
NizhalkuthuVasu
RunwayBhai/Chandy
2005Kochi RajavuChandrashekhara Menon
Iruvattam ManavaattiConst. Anadan
Kanne MadangukaBhagyanathan
The TigerJnanashekhara Varma IPS
AnnorikkalFather of Benny & Beena
2006VadakkumnadhanBalarama Pisharadi
Achante Ponnumakkal
VaasthavamPattam Raveendran
Baba KalyaniArackal Ashokan
PhotographerViplavam Balan
PulijanmamPrakashan / Kari Gurukkal
EakanthamRavunni Menon
2007VinodayathraVijayan
Drishtantham
Naalu PennungalChinnu Amma's husbandSegment: The Housewife
VeeralipattuMadhavan Nair
PranayakalamStephen Varghese
2008AayudhamAbdullah
CycleSimon
SwarnamRaghavan
Sound of BootSankaranarayanan
2009Kshatriyavamsam
MalayaliViswanathan Menon
Patham AdhyayamKumaran Ashari
2011Ven Shankhu PolPosthumously
2013ManjadikuruSanyasi Maaman / MuraliReleased after 5 year gap

Tamil
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001Dumm Dumm DummVeluthambi
2002GeminiDGP Singaperumal
RaajjiyamGovernor
2003JootEashwaran's father
2005Ullam KetkumaePooja's father
RaamMalaichami
MajaaKalingarayar
2007PolladhavanShankar
2009AadhavanSubramaniamPosthumous film
2019KaaviyyanPhoto role

Telugu
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002GeminiCommissioner Narendranath Chowdary

Hindi
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1997AbhaasRay Sahab

Story

Television career
  • Aranazhika Neram (Amrita TV)
  • Sakunam ( DD Malayalam)

Posthumous recognition

The Bharat Murali Cultural Centre was established at his birthplace, Kudavattoor.[8] It presents the annual Bharat Murali Award to distinguished contributors to Malayalam cinema.

References
  1. "Murali's Legacy Lives On: Comrades, Colleagues, and Fans Pay Tribute – Mammootty Special". mammoottyspecial.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. Brittas, John (8 August 2009). "A restless rebel who swung between ideology and religion". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. "Manorama Online | Movies | Nostalgia |". www.manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012.
  4. "CiniDiary". CiniDiary. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  5. "Mangalam-varika-19-Aug-2013". mangalamvarkia.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "> Media, Advertising & Marketing Watch > Air Deccan shoots longest TVC of a common man's first flight". Indiantelevision.com. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  7. "Veteran Malayalam actor Murali dies". Press Trust of India. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  8. "Bharat Murali death anniversary". New Indian Express. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. "Murali award presented to KPAC Lalitha". The Hindu. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  10. "Malayalam actor Kuttyedathi gets Bharat Murali Puraskar". News18. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  11. "Bharat Murali award for Manoj K Jayan". New Indian Express. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  12. Nambiar, Smitha (3 July 2012). "Kaviyoor Ponnamma to be awarded Bharat Murali award By Smitha Nambiar". filmibeat.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  13. "Kaviyoor Ponnamma to be awarded Bharat Murali award". indiansinkuwait.com. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. "ഭരത് മുരളി അവാര്‍ഡ് സുരഭി ലക്ഷ്മിക്കും ഇന്ദ്രന്‍സിനും [Bharat Murali Award for Surabhi Lakshmi and Indrans]". Times of India (in Malayalam). 26 July 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  15. Menon, Jayashankar (6 August 2020). "Vijith Nambiar, director of the Malayalam movie, 'Munthiri Monchan', has been selected as the Best Debut Director for the 9th Bharat Murali Award of the Thrissur based Manas Kalavedi". Indian News. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
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