Malayalam Movie Review Avatharam - Cast & Crew

Films came to Lakshmi Menon at an age when she hadn’t started thinking about her career. Impressed by her dance show on TV, Malayalam director Vinayan offered her a role in his film. She got her break in Raghuvinte Swantham Raziya when she was in her eighth class. Soon, she played a lead role with Vineeth in Ideal Couple, directed by Ali Akbar. It was a year later when she got her first break in Tamil movie Kumki (2012) that made her lucky mascot in Kollywod. When she was running high on a success wave with Kumki, her next film, Naan Sigappu Manithan (2012) with Vishal made her as the rising star in Kollywood.  

Today, she is known as the girl with the Midas touch, whose very presence in any film guarantees a hit. At age of 19, she has attained the dizzy heights of stardom as her successful films Sundarapandian, Pandiya Naadu, Naan Sigappu Manithan, Manjapai and Jigarthanda proves it so. She is also acting with Ajith as his sister in Thala 56 which is due for release in Diwali. It is reported that she has sung a song in an upcoming film 'Filter Coffee' directed by Raghav with debutant Rama Subramanian as the music director. This star was born to a Dubai-based artist Ramakrishnan and dance teacher Usha Menon. She started dance at her age of 3 and learnt Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathakali. As a teenage girl, she also took her modeling career seriously and appeared in TV advertisements (Fair and Lovely& Josco jeweler). She has passed her plus two exam and she has joined a popular institute in Bengaluru to learn Fashion design technology where she will have to attend 100 days of regular classes. 

She had taken this decision so that she can concentrate even in acting seriously.

Known in the Malayalam movie industry for her comic timing and impeccable work ethic, Thesni Khan is one of the more prominent comedian and character actors’ within the movie scene. Born on the 5th April, 1970 to parents Alikhan and Rukhiya, Thesni studied at the famous Cochin Kalabhavan. She also studied and performed magic under her father’s tutelage on several stages. 

Thesni made her debut in the movie Daisy in 1988, as a supporting actress, following which she acted in famous movies including Vaishali, Moonnam Pakkam, then in Dasharatham, and In Harihar Nagar, Pappi Appacha, Tournament, Avatharam, Punyalan Agarbattis, Bhaiyya Bhaiyya. 

Her first movie Daisy, was a Malayalam musical-romance showing separation, and the longing between two lovers, set within a boarding school. The story was written and directed by the popular director Prathap K Pothan, and had the cast of Harish and Sonia, with Kamal Haasan as an extended guest appearance. She is also famous for her roles in Beautiful, an Anoop Menon written and V.K Prakash directed Malayalam drama musical where she played the role of Kanyaka. She is also famous for her role in the 2012 hit movie Trivandrum Lodge where she played the role of Kanyaka Menon. She was also nominated for the SIIMA Award for Best Actress in Supporting Role for the same role.

She has also acted in the following TV serials: from the popular Cinemala and Manasaputhri, Sundari Sundari to Akkare Ikkare, Abhinetri, Ente Alphonsamma, Velankanni Mathavu and Snehaseema. Her popularity has also seen her in the role of judge in popular reality shows including Comedy Stars, Five Minutes Fun Star & Jagapoga. She has also been invited to popular talk shows including Nammal Thammil, Sreekandan Nair Show etc.

Her talent won her the FRAME Award for Best Actor in Comic Role (Female) for her role in Cinemala.

Thesni Khan is also known for her love of food, where she has featured in several cookery videos and shows. Her most famous recipe is that of Ghee Rice and Chicken Roast which has several views and hits.

Joshiy is an Indian film director known for his work in the Malayalam Industry.  He has directed more than 80 movies. Joshiy was married to Sindhu. They had a daughter Aishwarya who died in a car accident in 2011 in July in Chennai. The couple has a son named Abhilash, who was married to Varsha. Joshiy was born in Thiruvananthapuram district of Varkala. He started to get related with cinema through the cinema theatre that was owned by their family. In 1969, he completed his first degree and then he went to Chennai for trying his career in cinema. He began his career while working as an assistant for ‘M. Krishnan’. He made his directorial debut with the film “Tiger Salim” that got released in 1978. After that he directed the movie “Moorkhan” and later “Raktham”.

Siby K Thomas is famously recognized as a producer, screenplay, and dialogue and story writer by profession in the Malayalam film industry. He is best known for his works with Udaykrishna in the Malayalam cinema. Most of their works come under the category of the slapstick comedy genre. They collectively wrote the scripts of the films like Mattupetti Machan in 1998, Udayapuram Sultan in 1999, Dhosth in 2001, CID Moosa in 2003, Runway in 2004, Kochi Rajavu in 2005, Thuruppu Gulan in 2006, Twenty:20 in 2008, Pokkiri Raja in 2010, Christian Brothers in 2011 and Mayamohini in 2012.

Vyasan Edavanakkad is a story writer in movies who predominantly works for Malayalam movies. He started his journey in the film industry with the film ‘Indriyam’ which was a 2000 Malayalam horror film directed by George Kithu. The film was about a group of college friends enacted by Vikram, Vani Viswanath, Nishanth Sagar, and Boban Alummoodan who entered a haunted forest.

Deepak Devraj Komath is the original name of Deepak Dev, an Indian music director. He has composed songs predominantly in Malayalam cinema. His music is flawless in terms of sound quality. His music has a distinct quality in it and this has created a new trend in Mollywood. Deepak has several superhit songs to his credit.

Hari Narayanan is a Tamil and a Malayali song lyricist. It is hard to find a native Malayali who has never heard any music composition or song made by this famous lyricist. They are very fond of his music and almost hear him regularly. The most popular and famous Malayalam music and song of 2014 was composed and written by Hari. The name of the song was Olenjali Curuvi. The lyrics of the song were so touching and soothing that it captured the attention of not only the young generation, but also the old people couldn’t resist themselves from loving this composition. Even the song Kaatumooliyo Pranayam was a great hit.

Shankar Mahadevan, a well-renowned, talented and famous music composer, and singer. An accomplished musician in Tamil cinema, he is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that provides music to Bollywood and other International films. He has won various Indian and multiple National Film Award. His most famous albums include, “Breathless“- Album that first gave him fame, including the song, "Breathless," in which he sings throughout the whole song without pausing to breathe and “Nine” - Nine is Shankar's most recent album. Each song is a representation of a "mood," including joy, sadness, love, etc. He was also invited by UNESCO and the US State Department to perform at the UN General Assembly Hall for the finale of the International Jazz Festival on 30 April 2012 which is a thing of pride. Shankar has always considered himself as a restless student wanting to learn more every time. He says he’s thirsty and want to learn every time and experiment with something new. He wants to be a perfectionist. Shanker also feels that Karnatak music is the most powerful form of music and he himself started with Karnataka classic which he says is the best to create a prominent base for music. Music is the thing which excites Shanker the most, and he would always be attached to it. Personal Life: Shanker Mahadevan was born in Chennai to a Tamil family but was later brought to Mumbai and was raised there. Being born into a Tamil family and later raised in Mumbai, he knows both Hindi and Tamil language but is not well versed with Tamil and Malayalam. He finished his schooling from OLPS High School in Chembur and his engineering in computer science from R.A.I.T (D Y Patil, Navi Mumbai). His wife, Sangeeta is Maharashtrian and oldest son Siddharth Mahadevan. Also, a singer, made his debut on the 2013 Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s song, Zinda. Shankar’s youngest son, Shivam Mahadevan, also a singer made his debut in 2013 in the movie Dhoom 3’s song, Bande Hain Hum Uske. Mahadevan is fluent in Marathi, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Sunil Rahman is a prominent figure in the Malayalam film industry (popularly known as Mollywood.) He has been a part of the film fraternity since 1999. For over twenty years, he has been working as a costume designer. He designs for serials as well as for movies.

Dileep was born in Kerala as Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan Pillai in the year 1968. His career started as an assistant director to Kamal. He was named as Dileep through the character he performed in his debut movie. His debut movie as a hero was in the year 1994 through Manathe Kottaaram as Dileep. Sallapam and Punjabi House made him get popularity among the Malayalam audience. Before his film entry, Dileep was a mimicry artist. He worked in Kalabhavan too.

Chali Pala is an Indian actor who works for the Malayalam Film Industry. He holds many character roles and supporting actor roles in the Malayalam film industry. He was born in Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerela. His first debut was Iyer the Great in 1990.

Joy Mathew has various feathers to his cap; he is an actor, director, writer and a political persona. But he is very humble in this real life. Hailing from an upper-class Christian family he had his initial days in Kozhikode. He initially joined Pune Film Institute but later opted for post graduation in Mass Media and Journalism. But films always remained his passion. 

Born on 20th September 1961, Joy Mathew hails from Challissery, Thrissur. Joy Mathew’s films reflect his childhood days and fervent association with left-wing politics. He believes in giving equal treatment to everyone. Joy Mathew is an optimist and is service-minded. He has great passion towards theatre and films. Joy Mathew’s input to Malayalam theatre is indeed commendable. He has appeared in some movies too. Joy rocked the Malayalam film industry during the 80s. 

Joy Mathew has donned the role of a main villain in the biggest 2013 grosser-Amen. The flick Shutter is his debut directorial venture and it received great critical acclaim. This film gained international recognition and was bestowed with several honours. This movie was also well received by the audience. 

The 1986 flick Ammaye Kanan, in which John Abraham wielded the megaphone, had Joy donning the lead role. This film was lauded critically and it was adjudged as one of the best Indian films by British Film Institute. Then Joy was in a sabbatical for 27 years and re-entered the industry in 2013 and he donned the role of supporting actor as well as director. He has a distinction of working in 14 movies in 2013 and this indeed a commendable achievement. 

Sangeeta Nataka Academy and Kerala Sahitya Academy felicitated him for a couple of his plays. Athirthikkal, Pretoria-October 18, Sankadal and Chille 73 are some of his commendable endeavors as a playwright. Joy Mathew took vigorous involvement in some cultural groups. The Campus Theatre Movement is his foundation which was started in 1980. His contribution to Malayalam plays is over 20.

Kalabhavan Shajohn is one of the most well-known comedian, actor, and mimicry artist in the Malayalam cinema industry. He is renowned for his role as a villain in the award winning Malayalam suspense thriller movie, ‘Drishyam’ which came out in the year 2013.

A well-known name in Malayalam movie and television industry, Prem Prakash is an actor and a successful producer. He is also known to Malayalam industry through his sons Sanjay and Bobby, the successful scriptwriters of Malayalam movies. He is also known as the younger brother of the beautiful, cruel villain of Malayalam in the 70’s to 90’s, Jose Prakash.

Prem Prakash had a great attachment towards the entertainment industry since a very young age. His debut to the industry was as a play back singer for the movie Karthika in 1968. But more than a singer he established himself as an actor. His first screen presence in a small role was in Ara Nazhika Neram in 1970, a film by director K. S. Sethumadhavan based on a novel of the same name written by the notable writer Parappurath. The Film was a multi starrer with Prem Nazir, Sathyan and actress Sheela.

He debuted as a producer in 1979 through the film Peruvazhiyambalam, marking the launch of director Padmarajan, one of the legends of Malayalam Cinema. He has produced more than 10 films till date, and these films have been the all-time hits of Malayalam. Koodevide, Akashadoothu, Johnnie Walker, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Ente Veedu Appuntayum are some of his notable films. He has also acted in many movies in character roles.

He established himself as an actor through his roles in his serials. He has acted in about 15 serials till date and his serial Avicharitham in Asianet, which he also produced, marked him as a great actor. Avicharitham is a 40 episode serial penned by Sanjay and Bobby with Prem Prakash as Aravindan an enterprising Journalist. The story revolves on the life of Aravindan, married but with an ailing wife and a college going daughter ends up in an extra marital affair with Devika, a competent Journalist.

His character role in his previous serial Swapnam in Asianet paved way for strong and deep roles. Many of the serials directed by K.K Rajeev had prominent roles played by Prem Prakash. Some of his other serials are Roses in December in 1995, Mandaram directed by Saji Surendran , Amma Manasu, Akashadoothu the sequel of his movie of the same name in 1993, depicting the sorrowful separation of a mother and her children. His last serial was Avalude Katha by K. K. Rajeev where he portrayed the father of the central character. He has also produced television serials like Avasthantharangal penned by his sons, and his brother Jose Prakash appeared in an important role; Agneyam directed by K.K Rajeev had received many awards.

He is a recipient of many awards, best film, best actor, best popular film, best tele serial from the state government. His first award was the Rajat Kamal Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film for Peruvazhiyambalam in 1979.

He lives in Kottayam with his wife and children. He is married to Daisy Luke who is a retired English professor from BCM College Kottayam. Apart from his two sons he also has a daughter named Thankam. He is currently serving as the treasurer of Kerala Film Producers Association.

Son of the late actor Thilakan, Shammi Thilakan is one of the more versatile actors in the Malayalam movie industry having nearly 30 years of experience as an actor, and as a dubbing artist. He is the recipient of the State Award for Best Dubbing Artist for lending his voice to Nassar in the movie Gazal  in 1993. He also lent his voice for Napoleon in the movie Devasuram.

Shammi Thilakan began his career in 1986, having to work under the shadow of his immensely talented father Thilakan. However, through his quality work and his extremely professional attitude, he has made a name as prominent as his father in the movie industry. His debut was in the 1986 movie directed by K.G. George, Irakal where he performed a supporting role. His acting and skill soon got him noticed and he then began to see a wide variety of roles being offered.

From Jathakam in 1989 to Ottayal Pattalam in 1992, to Thalastaanam and Dhruvam, and Rajakeeyam to Boxer, Sargavasantham, Kaathil Oru Kinnaram to Sulthan Hyderali, Lelam and Bhoopathi Ezhupunna Tharakan & Pathram, Shammi has had over 20 hits in the 1990’s. 

His career took a massive boost from the year 2000 onwards, from where he has completed over 42 movies in the nearly 15 years since, with the total number of movies being made being over 70. Some of his other hits include Praja, Phantom, Kasthuriman and Housefull.

 In 2013, he was also awarded the TTK Prestige – Vanitha Film Awards for Best Comedian for his roles in Neram  and Sringaravelan.

His roles have been varied and interesting, from dark, negative characters that evoke strong emotion, to comedy that usually leaves the audience in stitches. Shammi has truly evolved into a strong and proficient actor stepping out from under his father’s shadow and carving a niche for himself.