Nirmal Palazhi – Malayalam film actor and mimicry artist identified through ‘Kozhikode dialect’

Nirmal Palazhi is a Malayalam film actor best known for his supporting roles in Puthan Panam, Kakshi Amminippilla, Diwanji Moola Grand Prix and Ira. He started his career as a mimicry stage artist, based in Kozhikode and slowly gained recognition through comedy show, Comedy Festival on Malayalam television. It gave him opportunities on big screen, and till 2020 has done more than 25 films, since 2013. After Mammukoya, he along with Hareesh Kanaran forms a unique pair on silver screen and small screen, who excelled in handling Kozhikode dialect perfectly before the audience through different media.

Nirmal Palazhi hails from Kozhikode. He started his film journey in his hometown as a mimicry artist. He initially worked with the stage group, Calicut V4U. He came to limelight for the first time after he appeared in the comedy reality show aired on Mazhavil Manorama, Comedy Festival. In fact he and Hareesh Perumanna (also known as Hareesh Kanaran) were the founding team members of the troupe Calicut V4U, which represented their group. The show helped both these mimicry artists to get first break in films. In 2013 he got his first break to films through Kutteem Kolum directed by Guinness Pakru, who made his directorial debut with this film. Since then he has played a few memorable roles on big screen. Kuttimama, Kakshi Amminippilla and Edakkad Battalion 06 are some of his recent flicks.

Nirmal Palazhi – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. Palazhi is his native village, which later became a part of his name.

2. His father Balan worked as an accountant in local shops while his mother is a housewife. He has three siblings – an elder brother and younger twin sisters. He is married to Anju and has two children.

3. His childhood days have witnessed poverty. He belonged to poor family in a small house with thatched roof and unfurnished walls.

4. During his childhood days, his home used to be affected by floods, and they used to move to relatives’ homes. Later they sold their old home and moved to a place not affected by floods.

5. Since school days he was active in mimicry and other stage competitions, and later started a career in mimicry to earn a living.

6. He has also worked as a labourer in construction field, brick business etc, and also in jewellery field while he was active in mimicry.

7. He and stage artist and actor Hareesh Kanaran have shared stage space for mimicry performances before he turned a film actor. Both were founding members of Kozhikode-based mimicry troupe, Calicut V4U which participated in Comedy Festival, and gave both early breaks to films. In his opinion both of them come from similar family backgrounds and also have similarities in their professional life; the reason why both mutually understand better. 

8. During his active years in mimicry field, though he performed in different places, he always preferred to return to his home even if it is late night.

9. In 2019 following Anil Radhakrishna Menon – Bineesh Bastin incident related to sharing a public stage, he was one of the rare cine artists who came forward with support to the National award winning filmmaker Anil.

10. He along with Nirmal Palazhi, Vinod Kovoor, Devarajan and a few others were the founding members of the troupe, Calicut V4U which participated in Comedy Festival.