Ravi Vallathol – One of the early established actors of Malayalam small screen

Ravi Vallathol (1952 – 2020) was a popular actor associated with Malayalam entertainment industry. Best known for his association with television since late 1980s, he has also played character roles in numerous Malayalam movies. Started his television journey in 1986, he completed nearly 35 years in the industry. He is the great-nephew of Malayalam’s popular poet, Mahakavi Vallathol Narayana Menon, grandson of famous writer Kuttipurath Kesavan Nair and the son of famous dramatist T. N. Gopinathan Nair. Ravi Vallathol too was a writer, and many of his short stories have been adapted to small and big screen. He was a theatre artist too.

He started his television career in 1986

Ravi Vallathol was born into a family in Malappuram with strong artistic and theatre background. He was the eldest of three siblings. He grew up in Thiruvananthapuram. Born as the son of dramatist and AIR artist T. N. Gopinathan Nair, he too started his career with theatre before moving to television and movies. With links to literal world from mother’s side, he was interested in writing as well.

After completing his studies at Mar Ivanios College (graduation) and Karyavattom (PG in sociology) Vallathol moved to South Africa. He worked as a school teacher for a short period before he moved to his hometown following the implementation of military rule. Later he pursued a career in entertainment industry. Initially he was a dramatist and stage actor.

He remained one of the top actors of Malayalam television in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Doordarshan was the only channel available. It was the booming time of 13-episode Doordarshan serials too. Since then for nearly 4 decades, he played lead and supporting roles in more than 100 TV serials, apart from around 50 movies.

Initially he was a newsreader for Doordarshan before turning an actor

He was a newsreader for Doordarshan when he faced camera for the first time in the mid-1980s. His debut TV serial, ‘Vaitharani’ (1986) was scripted by his father and directed by P. Bhaskaran. He appeared as a tailor. Swathi Tirunal (1987) directed by Lenin Rajendran was his debut flick, where he played the brief role of a singer. Though he received acting roles from both movies and television, he earned immense popularity as an actor on small screen, when TV serials had just started gaining popularity among family audiences. His performances in TV serials like Vasunthara Medicals, Sree Guruvayurappan etc got noticed.

Some of his noted performances

As television actor, some of his best performances are Salabhanjika, Chamayam, London Dreams and Agneyam. He mostly played character roles on small screen, and his performances in Nee Varuvolam, Kottayam Kunjachan, Chathurangam, Saadaram, Ottayal Pattalam, Sargam, Oru Pennum Randaanum, Mathilukal, Vishnulokam, Commissioner, Indriyam, Saamantharangal, Kazhakam, Katha Purushan, Dost, Dada Saheb and Godfather (in the brief role of a groom at climax) are memorable. Idukki Gold, The Dolphins and Silence are among his noted appearances in the 2010s. He rarely played full-length roles on big screen. Dolphins in 2014 was his last screen appearance.

He was not active in movies for the last few years, and was 67 when he passed away during Corona epidemic season in April 2020. He was suffering from acute diabetes and died of heart attack. He was survived by his wife, with whom he has been living in the capital city for many years. He has stopped working in movies and serials a few years ago, because of his deteriorating health conditions.

Ravi Vallathol – 10+ Interesting and less-known facts

1. Popular Malayalam character actor T. P. Madhavan is his cousin.

2. His mother Soudamini was the niece of Vallathol Narayana Menon, and the daughter of noted writer, Kuttipurath Kesavan Nair. Thus he was related to a literal family from mother’s side, and a theater field from father’s side.

3. Justice P. K. Narayana Pillai and Kuttipurahu Kesavan Nair were his grandfathers.

4. He started his film journey as a lyricist in 1976. “Thaazhvarayil Manju Peythu” for the movie, Madhuram Thirumadhuram was his first song.

5. Popular Malayalam movie Revathikkoru Pavakkutty, starring Bharath Gopi and Mohanlal was an adapted script of his play with the same name. Many of his short stories have also been made into TV serials, which include Devaranjini and Nimanjanam.

6. He received Best actor state award for television serials like Chamayam and American Dreams (2003). His performance in Paarijatham also earned him honours.

7. He authored 25 short stories and a few plays. He made around 200 documentary films too.

8. He was a recipient of Sangeet Nadaka Academy award.

9. Veteran Malayalam actor Jagathy Sreekumar was his classmate at Thiruvananthapuram Model School, during his school days and they were good friends. They studied together till graduation at Mar Ivanios College. Their families too were in a good relationship.

Jagathy Sreekumar and Ravi Vallathol dressed as couple for a drama competition in Kerala University campus in the 1970s

10. Jagathy’s father NK Achari, Venu Nagavally’s father Nagavally R. S. Kurup and Ravi Vallathol’s father and playwright TN Gopinathan Nair were close friends, and associated with the world of art and theatre. The legacy was later continued by their sons, who remained good friends too.

11. He was married to Geetha Lekshmy. As the couple didn’t have any children, they started an NGO for mentally challenged people named “Thanal” in 1988.