Murali (Malayalam actor)

Early life

Muraleedharan Pillai 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 four siblings are: Thulasi, Sheela, Harikumar and Sheeja. 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.

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.

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 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.{{cite news |access-date = 12 August 2009 |archive-date = 9 August 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090809152012/http://www.ptinews.com/news/216405_Veteran-Malayalam-actor-Murali-dies |url-status = dead

Awards

National Film Awards:

• 2001 – Best Actor – Neythukaaran

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 1992– Best Actor – Aadhaaram
• 1996 – Best Actor – Kaanakkinavu
• 1998 – Best Actor – Thalolam (film)
• 2001 – Best Actor – Neythukaaran
• 1991 – Second Best Actor – Amaram
• 2007 – Second Best Actor – Veeralipattu, Pranayakalam Kerala state TV Awards
• 2008– Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor – Aranazhikaneram

Filmfare Awards:

• 1992 – Best Actor – Aadharam

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

As actor

Malayalam

Tamil

Other language films

Story

• Ennu Nadhante Nimmi (1986)

Television career

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

Posthumous recognition

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

• 1st (2010) - K. P. A. C. Lalitha, actress; Kuttyedathi, actress
• 2nd (2011) - Manoj K. Jayan, actor
• 3rd (2012) - Kaviyoor Ponnamma, actress
• 7th (2016) - Surabhi Lakshmi, actress; Indrans, actor
• 9th (2020) - Vijith Nambiar, director

References

References

1. "Murali's Legacy Lives On: Comrades, Colleagues, and Fans Pay Tribute – Mammootty Special".
2. Brittas, John. (2009-08-08). "A restless rebel who swung between ideology and religion". The Economic Times.
3. "Manorama Online {{!}} Movies {{!}} Nostalgia {{!}}".
4. "CiniDiary". CiniDiary.
5. "Mangalam-varika-19-Aug-2013". mangalamvarkia.com.
6. (5 July 2005). "> Media, Advertising & Marketing Watch > Air Deccan shoots longest TVC of a common man's first flight". Indiantelevision.com.
7. (2024-07-26). "Devadoothan movie review: Mohanlal's timeless musical horror should have come with the tagline 'masters at work'".
8. (23 July 2020). "Bharat Murali death anniversary". [[New Indian Express]].
9. (5 August 2020). "Murali award presented to KPAC Lalitha". [[The Hindu]].
10. (3 February 2013). "Malayalam actor Kuttyedathi gets Bharat Murali Puraskar".
11. (1 January 2011). "Bharat Murali award for Manoj K Jayan". [[New Indian Express]].
12. Nambiar, Smitha. (3 July 2012). "Kaviyoor Ponnamma to be awarded Bharat Murali award By Smitha Nambiar".
13. (12 July 2020). "Kaviyoor Ponnamma to be awarded Bharat Murali award".
14. (26 July 2017). "ഭരത് മുരളി അവാര്‍ഡ് സുരഭി ലക്ഷ്മിക്കും ഇന്ദ്രന്‍സിനും [Bharat Murali Award for Surabhi Lakshmi and Indrans]".
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]].