Nedumudi Venu, rated as one of the most talented actors in Indian cinema, died at a private hospital here on Monday. He was 73.
Having recovered from Covid-19, Venu had been unwell for quite some time and was admitted to the hospital after he complained of uneasiness. Shifted to the ICU, his condition worsened on Sunday. He breathed his last on Monday afternoon.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
Born in 1948 in Nedumudi in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Venu began his career as a theatre artiste with famous dramatist Kavalam Narayana Panicker’s experimental theatre group. He entered films in 1978 with G. Aravindan’s Thambu. His most memorable performance that established Venu as a talent in Malayalam cinema was in Thakara in which he played the role of a village carpenter.
He never had to look back after that. In his film career spanning over four decades, Venu acted in over 500 movies as hero, villain and character actor. According to film scholar N. Balagopal, Venu was one of the few actors in Indian cinema who excelled both as stylised actor and realistic actor, which in Indian theatre tradition is called Natya Dharmi and Lokadharmi, respectively.
A recipient of national and state film awards, Venu did notable roles in movies such as His Highness Abdullah and Bharatham. Ente Mazha directed by Subrahmanyam was his last film.