Madhupal – Popular actor and award winning director of Malayalam cinema

Madhupal is a popular actor, screenwriter and director associated with Malayalam cinema. He forayed into acting, and mostly did supporting roles before he turned an award winning filmmaker and screenwriter. He started his career in a supporting role through Kashmeeram (1994), and turned a director with acclaimed film, Thalappavu in 2008, which won him 4 Kerala state awards for Best Debutant Director, and Critics award for Director, Film and Screenwriter which is a unique feat. He also directed award winning Ozhimuri, and hit commercial film, Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. He is also a writer, who published 10 books till now, in different categories.

He started his film journey as an assistant director under Bharat Gopi

Extremely talented artist Madhupal was born in Kozhikode in 1963. His childhood days were spent in Palakkad, where his father ran a cinema theatre. It was his first stint with films. He started his film journey as an assistant director, and has worked under Bharath Gopi and Rajiv Anchal in the 1990s. Along with this, he also continued his acting career. His debut film, Kashmeeram (1994) gave him a major break to his acting career. He played a negative shaded character in the film. He also played a similar negative shaded character in Azhakiya Ravanan (1996) as Bhanupriya’s lover. He played the positive character of a blind lover in Oscar nominated film, Guru (1997).

He played supporting roles in Kilukil Pambaram, Arabia, Manthrikan, Thacholi Varghese Chekavar, Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary, Mr. Clean, Agnisakshi, Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran, Saphalam, Ammakilikkoodu, Aayirathil Oruvan, Ravanaprabhu, Parayan Marannathu, Pallavur Devanarayanan, Dada Saheb, Made in USA, Manasinakkare, Twenty Twenty, Vaasthavam, Captain, Pilots, Lion, Chess, Manassinakkare, Wanted, Detective, Anarkali, Haram, Memories, Radio Jockey and many more movies. Hit songs – Poru Nee Vaarilam from Kashmeeram and O Dilruba from Azhakiya Ravanan were filmed on him. Apart from Malayalam, he has appeared in a few very English, Tamil and Hindi films.

He published his short stories in different forms of publications

Initially he published his short stories in Malayalam magazines like Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, and Bhashaposhini. His short stories have been translated into English, Hindi, and Tamil. He later published books such as Ee Jeevitham Jeevichu Theerkkunnathu, Avan (Maar) Jaaraputhran, Katha, Madhupaalinte Kathhakal, Facebook, Pranayinikalude Uthyaanavum Kumbasaarakoodum, Hebrewil Oru Premalekhanam etc.

Madhupal – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He appeared in an uncredited role in Balachandra Menon’s Chiriyo Chiri in the 1980s. It was his first screen appearance, where he appeared in a shot of spectators. He also appeared in a theatre scene of ‘Vadakkunokki Yanthram’, where the lead characters – Sreenivasan and Parvathy watch a movie.

2. He used to work as an assistant when his father owned talkies, during his childhood days. He used to play songs, when he reached home after school. He used to play “Eeswaranorikkal Virunninu Poyi” song first, and used to watch movies sitting in projector room.

3. He started his film journey as an assistant director under Bharath Gopi. Before that he had the experience of Doordarshan series, Shararaanthal only, where he worked as an assistant.

4. His first daughter was born exactly on the same day he joined as an assistant director in films under Bharat Gopi. The movie was ‘Yamanam’.

5. He worked as an assistant director of the movies such as Kashmeeram and Guru, where he played important roles.

6. He worked as an assistant director under Rajiv Anchal in Butterflies, Kashmeeram and Guru. His dream was always to become a director, than an actor.

7. His entry to films was accidental. A Kashmiri boy who was to appear in an important role of Kashmeeram didn’t show up, and the film’s director Rajiv Anchal gave his assistant Madhupal that particular role.

8. He won Critic’s Award for Best Debutante Actor for his role in Kashmeeram.

9. He acted in around 100 Malayalam films. But he loves the role of a director most. He believes that he never put extra effort in acting, and did movies only because he was called for. He never tried to grow as an actor – Madhupal certifies.

10. He feels that he can’t handle comic roles, and that’s the one reason why he never updated with changing trends of comic movies.

11. He dubbed for Riyaz in his debut flick, Aakasha Ganga. It is Madhupal’s single work as a dubbing artist. He also played the role of Devan Varma in the movie.

12. His debut flick as a director Thalappavu was shown at different film festivals and bagged 5 Kerala state awards including best actor and best director.

13. His directorial venture Oru Kuprasidha Payyan gave Nimisha Sajayan Kerala state film award for best actress.

14. He directed the segment Oru Rathriyude Kooli in the anthology film, Crossroad.

15. His second directorial venture Ozhimuri bagged Kerala state award for Second Best Film in 2012 and was selected for Indian Panorama. The movie also received DadaSahab Phalke Janambhumi Purasakar Noteworthy Film award at Nashik International Film Festival 2014.

16. He acted in a few television serials, and also directed a few. Aakasaththile Paravakal, Deivathinte Swantham Devootty, Jeevithanizhalpaadukal Vaikomk and Kali Gandaki are his directorial ventures. Akaasaththile Paravakal was his debut work. Earlier he assisted Jude Attipetty for the TV series, Shararandal. It was his first ever job in the role of an assistant.

17. He appeared as a celebrity judge for the reality show Yuvatharam aired on Jaihind TV.