Janardhanan Pillai (born 5 May 1946), also known as Janardhanan Nair, is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Air Force personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films.[2] He acted in his first feature film Adyathe Kadha, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1971, he acted in more than 700 films. He started his career when Malayalam films were made in black and white. He is known for his style of handling humour and his iconic voice. He started his career playing brusque villains and sub hero roles in the 1970s and early 1980s, acting along with Prem Nazir and Jayan, but later established himself as a highly sought-after comedian.
Janardhanan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Janardhanan Pillai 5 May 1946[1] |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Bachelor of Commerce |
| Alma mater | Velu Thampi Memorial N.S.S. College, Dhanuvachapuram |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Spouse | Vijayalaxmi Janardhanan |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service |  Indian Air Force |
The turning point of his career was his role in the 1988 film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, which brought out his comic skills. However, he was typecast as a comedian only after the 1993 film Meleparambil Aanveedu. Mimicry artists perform with his noted role of Garvasis Aashan in Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995). But along with comic roles, he had done serious roles like D.I.G Marar in Dhruvam and Jayashankar in Mafia. Apart from stereotyped Hindu/Muslim/Christian characters, he has the distinction of portraying a Sikh and a Jewish character.
Personal life
editJanardhanan Pillai was born in the village of Ullala near Vaikom on May 5, 1946, to Kollarakkattu Veettil Paravoor K. Gopala Pillai and Gouri Amma, as their youngest son. He has four brothers and three sisters.[3] He had his primary education from NSS High School, Vechoor and pre-university from NSS Hindu College, Changanassery. Later, he joined the Indian Air force for a short period. After two years in 1967, he joined Velu Thampi Memorial N.S.S. College, Dhanuvachapuram for B.Com.
He debuted in a Family Planning documentary Prathisanthi, directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, recommended by lecturer Sreevaraham Balakrishnan. He turned down the offer of bank employment and became Production Manager for Chemparathi, produced by S. K. Nair and directed by P. N. Menon. After that, he worked with Kakkanadan and V. B. C. Nair for Malayalanadu weekly. Then S. K. Nair sent him to Madras (now called Chennai) to take charge in his Madras office. While working there, he got an opportunity to act in Aadhyathe Katha in 1972.[4]
He is married to Vijayalaksmi and they have two daughters: Rema Ranjini and Laxmi.[5]
Filmography
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (June 2022) |
As actor
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ashwaradham | Rajagopal | |
| Sathyam | Balraj | ||
| Theenalangal | Madhavan/Rajasekharan | ||
| Aagamanam | Murali | ||
| Saraswathi Yaamam | Madhu | ||
| Dwik Vijayam | Pankajakshan | ||
| Idi Muzhakkam | |||
| Paalattu Kunjikannan | Thampikutti | ||
| Chandrahasam | Balan | ||
| Raagam Thaanam Pallavi | |||
| Avan Oru Ahankaari | |||
| Kadalkkaattu | Gopalan | ||
| Manushya Mrugam | Chandran | ||
| 1981 | Ellaam Ninakku Vendi | Somarajan | |
| Aambal Poovu | |||
| Tharattu | |||
| Ithihasam | |||
| Itha Oru Dhikkari | Koyikkal Kuruppu | ||
| Nizhal Yudham | |||
| Ariyappedatha Rahasyam | Pappan | ||
| 1982 | Snehapoorvam Meera | Baby | |
| Marupacha | Janardhanan | ||
| Njan Ekananu | Raghu | ||
| Keni | Madhusoodanan | ||
| Post Mortem | Unni | ||
| Ethiraalikal | Hamsa | ||
| Sharam | |||
| Aayudham | |||
| Mylanji | Moideen | ||
| Aarambham | Lazar | ||
| Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam | Shekharan | ||
| 1983 | Samrambham | ||
| Pourasham | Lawrence | ||
| Angam | |||
| Nanayam | Vasu | ||
| Ee Yugam | |||
| Bandham | |||
| Arabikkadal | |||
| Iniyengilum | Kariyachan | ||
| 1984 | Unaroo | ||
| Oru Kochu Swapnam | Co-operative bank manager | ||
| Uyarangalil | A. K. Menon | ||
| Lakshmana Rekha | Balachandra Menon | ||
| Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha | Paul | ||
| Kadamattathachan | Aliyar | ||
| Aksharangal | Theatre Artist Babujose | ||
| Ivide Thudangunnu | S. P. | ||
| Adiyozhukkukal | Hamsa | ||
| Aalkkoottathil Thaniye | Balachandran | ||
| 1985 | Uyirthezhunnelppu | Anand | |
| Pournami Raavil 3D | |||
| Idanilangal | |||
| Mukhyamanthri | Pappachan | ||
| Mulamoottil Adima | Ibrahim | ||
| Janakeeya Kodathi | Janardanan | ||
| Anubandham | Police Officer | ||
| Kathodu Kathoram | Lazar | ||
| Kattukulle Thiruvizha | Tamil film | ||
| 1986 | Sukhamo Devi | Ouseppachan | |
| Koodanayum Kattu | |||
| Abhayam Thedi | C. S. Nair | ||
| Gandhinagar 2nd Street | Professor | ||
| Niramulla Ravulkal | Kumaran | ||
| Yuvajanotsavam | Unnithan | ||
| Cabaret Dancer | |||
| Pournami Rathriyil | |||
| Nimishangal | S.P. Damodharan Pillai | ||
| Aavanazhi | Vincent | ||
| Ee Kaikalil | Madhava Menon | ||
| 1987 | Amme Bhagavathi | Swami Siddhan | |
| Vrutham | Avarachan | ||
| Nadodikkattu | Kovai Venkatesan | ||
| Irupatham Noottandu | IG Thomas IPS | ||
| Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam | Police Inspector | ||
| Kaala Rathri | |||
| Mangalya Charthu | Kuruppu | ||
| Thoranam | |||
| Itha Samayamayi | MLA Vattappara | ||
| Sreedharante Onnam Thirumurivu | Ramachandran | ||
| Adimakal Udamakal | Ramachandran | ||
| Aankiliyude Tharattu | Stanley | ||
| 1988 | Moonnam Mura | IG Mathews | |
| Oru CBI Diary Kurippu | K. A. Ouseppachan | ||
| Abkari | Karthikeyan | ||
| August 1 | K. Divakara Kaimal | ||
| Karate Girls | |||
| Evidence | D I G | ||
| 1921 | Appunni Nair | ||
| Thanthram | Adv. Rajasekharan | ||
| Mukthi | Shekharan Nair | ||
| 1989 | Aksharathettu | Regional Manager | |
| Varavelpu | Kumaran | ||
| Vandanam | MP Ramachandran | ||
| Pradeshika Varthakal | |||
| The News | Radhakrishnan | ||
| Naduvazhikal | Aasan | ||
| Prabhatham Chuvanna Theruvil | |||
| Adhipan | Kaimal | ||
| Charithram | Cherian | ||
| Adikkurippu | William | ||
| Jagratha | Ouseppachan |
1990s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Crime Branch | Charukeshan | |
| Randam Varavu | Police Officer | ||
| Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam | Rambo Chackochan | ||
| Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom | Beena's Uncle | ||
| Kadathanadan Ambadi | |||
| May Dinam | Chachappan | ||
| Lal Salam | Kannan Muthalali | ||
| Nammude Naadu | CI Joseph | ||
| Arhatha | Krishnakumar | ||
| Appu | Janardhana Kaimal | ||
| No.20 Madras Mail | Adv. Thomas Mathew | ||
| 1991 | Nattuvishesham | Kattumooppan | |
| Kilukkampetti | Managing Director | ||
| Godfather | Gopi | ||
| Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty | |||
| Advaitham | Krishnan Kutty Menon | ||
| Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu | Chackochan | ||
| Adayalam | Adv. Haridas | ||
| 1992 | Mayaunna Manasukal | ||
| Soorya Gayathri | Babu Karunakaran | ||
| Poochakkaru Mani Kettum | Menon | ||
| Adhwaytham | Krishnankutty Menon | ||
| Sathyaprathinja | |||
| Kizhakkan Pathrose | Ponjikkara Appa | ||
| Apaaratha | Phalgunan | ||
| Sadayam | Police Officer | ||
| Oottyppattanam | Menon | ||
| My Dear Muthachan | Adv. Ananthan | ||
| Ennodishtam Koodamo | Arathi's Uncle | ||
| Adharam | Krishna Menon | ||
| Thalastaanam | C.M Krishnankutty | ||
| 1993 | Sarovaram | ||
| Porutham | |||
| Aacharyan | Raveendranath | ||
| Varam | |||
| Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | CM Govinda Menon | ||
| Mithunam | Sivasankaran | ||
| Meleparambil Anveedu | Kannappan | ||
| Maya Mayooram | Mohan Tharakan | ||
| Janam | K. Divakaran | ||
| Ekalavyan | Krishnan | ||
| Devaasuram | Kunjikrishnan Nambiar | ||
| Dhruvam | D.I.G. Marar | ||
| Vatsalyam | Ramankutty Menon | ||
| Mafia | DYSP Jayashankar | ||
| Paalayam | Lawrence | ||
| 1994 | Kabooliwala | 'Minnal' Thomachan | |
| Vardhakya Puranam | Cherian Thomas | ||
| Vadhu Doctoranu | Sankaran | ||
| Poochakkaru Mani Kettum | Menon | ||
| Pingami | Koshy Varghese | ||
| Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu | Dr. Vishnu Narayanan Potty | ||
| Varanamaalyam | Thomas | ||
| Rajadhani | |||
| Kinnaripuzhayoram | Sivashankaran Nair | ||
| CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. | Rishikeshan Nair | ||
| Bheesmacharya | Madhavan Nair | ||
| Vishnu | Divakaran | ||
| 1995 | Highway | DYSP George Alexander | |
| No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North | Kunjukkuttychayan | ||
| Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum | |||
| Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu | Madhavan Thampi | ||
| Parvathy Parinayam | Narayanankutty | ||
| Minnaminuginum Minnukettu | Unnithan | ||
| Tom & Jerry | Chachan | ||
| Three Men Army | K. R. G. Menon | ||
| Thacholi Varghese Chekavar | Mathukutty | ||
| Sindoora Rekha | Narayanan Nair | ||
| Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan | Palathara Palunni | ||
| Pai Brothers | Kesavan | ||
| Mannar Mathai Speaking | Garvasees Ashan | ||
| Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta | Achuthankutty | ||
| Kidilol Kidilam | Karunakara Kuruppu | ||
| Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam | Kalamassery Krishnan Nair | ||
| Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana | Alexander | ||
| Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman | Phalgunan | ||
| Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava | Kottaram Veedan | ||
| Aadyathe Kanmani | Unnithan | ||
| 1996 | Mimics Super 1000 | Easwara Kurup | |
| Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran | Sadashivan | ||
| Parasala Pachan Payannur Paramu | |||
| Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu | |||
| Manthrika Kuthira | Kunjukutty | ||
| Devaraagam | Harihara Subramanya Iyyer | ||
| Kanjirapally Kariachan | |||
| 1997 | The Good Boys | Mohanachandran | |
| Superman | Nithya's Valyachan | ||
| Kilikurussiyile Kudumbamela | |||
| Poonilamazha | Abhimana Varma | ||
| Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam | Bharathan Pillai | ||
| Oru Mutham Manimutham | Sreedharan | ||
| Poomarathanalil | Fernandez | ||
| Vamsam | |||
| Anjarakalyanam | |||
| Junior Mandrake | |||
| The Car | Kumarettan | ||
| Kilukil Pambaram | |||
| Karunyam | K. K. Nair | ||
| Kadhanayakan | Sathrughnan Pillai | ||
| Hitler Brothers | Thrivikraman | ||
| Aniyathi Pravu | Dr. Kuttappayi | ||
| Varnapakittu | Ramaswamy Iyer | ||
| 1998 | Summer in Bethlehem | Colonel C.R. Menon | |
| Punjabi House | Manninder Singh | ||
| Meenathil Thalikettu | Kunjiraman | ||
| Mayilpeelikkavu | Narayanan Kutty | ||
| Gloria Fernandez From USA | |||
| Ormacheppu | |||
| 1999 | Vazhunnor | Thevakattu Avarachan | |
| Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | Krishnan Nair | ||
| Ustaad | Swamy | ||
| Pathram | Kuruvithadam Baby | ||
| Njangal Santhushtaranu | Idikkula Ittoopp | ||
| Parashala Pachan Payannur Paramu | |||
| American Ammayi | Menon | ||
| James Bond | Kunnamkulam Rappai | ||
| Friends | Madhava Varma | ||
| F.I.R | Chief Minister | ||
| Crime File | Kaliyar Pathrose Vaidyan | ||
| Chandamama | Thampy |
2000s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Sathyam Shivam Sundaram | Sambhavana Warrier | |
| Pilots | Shekharan | ||
| Mr. Butler | Ramakrishnan | ||
| Swayamvara Panthal | Radhakrishnan | ||
| Dreams | Thottathil Mathen | ||
| Mark Antony | Parel Pappu | ||
| Devadoothan | Principal | ||
| Darling Darling | Unnithan | ||
| Daivathinte Makan | Fr. Gabriel | ||
| 2001 | Saivar Thirumeni | Fr. Kuruvithadam | |
| Randam Bhavam | D. I. G. of Police | ||
| Naranathu Thampuran | Police officer Baburaj | ||
| Ee Ravil | |||
| Rakshasa Rajavu | Chief Minister | ||
| Nagaravadhu | Kesari Govinda Pillai | ||
| Dubai | K. J. Nair | ||
| Karumadikkuttan | Govindan Nair | ||
| Andolanam | |||
| Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka | Balakrishnan Nambiar | ||
| Nariman | Chief Minister Shekharan | ||
| One Man Show | Raveendran | ||
| 2002 | Kattuchembakam | A.D.G.P Narendra Thampi | |
| Kadha | |||
| Thandavam | Menon | ||
| Snehithan | Vivek's father | ||
| Kuberan | Vasan | ||
| Kayamkulam Kanaran | |||
| Kaiyethum Doorath | Passenger in the boat | ||
| Chirikkudukka | Prahaladhan Pillai | ||
| Bamboo Boys | Mula Swamy | ||
| 2003 | Gramophone | Gregory | |
| Chronic Bachelor | Parameswaran Pillai | ||
| Sadanandante Samayam | Menon | ||
| Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam | Madhavan Thampi | ||
| Melvilasam Sariyanu | Menon | ||
| Mizhi Randilum | Thampi | ||
| Ivar | S. K. Nair | ||
| Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu | Ajith's uncle | ||
| 2004 | Thalamelam | Kochousepp | |
| Kottaram Vaidyan | Marthandan | ||
| Vamanapuram Bus Route | Bahuleyan | ||
| Sethurama Iyer CBI | Ouseppachan | ||
| Udayam | Krishna Menon | ||
| Njan Salperu Ramankutty | Narayanan | ||
| Kanninum Kannadikkum | Narayanan | ||
| Chathikkatha Chanthu | Thampuran | ||
| Vettam | Fernandes | ||
| Natturajavu | Father Pappy | ||
| Black | Aasan | ||
| Kadhavaseshan | Veerabhadran Nair/Kuttammavan | ||
| 2005 | Five Fingers | Fr. Nedumbaran | |
| Udayananu Tharam | Madhumathi's father | ||
| Immini Nalloraal | Bhaskara Pillai | ||
| Thommanum Makkalum | Panikkar | ||
| Alice in Wonderland | Mani Kuruvilla | ||
| Rappakal | Sankaran Kuttiyar | ||
| The Tiger | Ahamed Sahib | ||
| 2006 | Jayam | ||
| Madhuchandralekha | |||
| Rashtram | Keshava Menon | ||
| Kilukkam Kilukilukkam | Sankaran Potty | ||
| Thuruppu Gulan | Peethambaran | ||
| Chess | Easwara Varma | ||
| Nottam | Menon | ||
| Red Salute | Medayil Ittichan | ||
| Pathaaka | Muhammed Mash | ||
| Kanaka Simhasanam | Upendra Varma | ||
| 2007 | Inspector Garud | Krishnan Namboothiri | |
| Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal | Raghavan Nair | ||
| Panthaya Kozhi | Sankaran Nair | ||
| Khaki | Bahuleyan | ||
| July 4 | Lokanathan | ||
| Hallo | M. N. Nambiar | ||
| Nazrani | Thampi | ||
| 2008 | Magic Lamp | Anandan | |
| De Ingottu Nokkiye | |||
| Raudram | Chief Minister | ||
| College Kumaran | V Narendranath | ||
| Malabar Wedding | Paappan | ||
| Annan Thambi | Ravunni | ||
| Mayabazar | Kuriayachan | ||
| Twenty:20 | Ramakrishnapilla | ||
| Crazy Gopalan | Narayana Kurup | ||
| 2009 | Kadha, Samvidhanam Kunchakko | Chief Minister | |
| Aayirathil Oruvan | Eenasu | ||
| Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan | Lambodharan Pilla | ||
| Samastha Keralam PO | Valiya Ammavan | ||
| Oru Black and White Kudumbam | Madhava Varma | ||
| Utharaswayamvaram | Vasu | ||
| Moz & Cat | Avutha | ||
| Seetha Kalyanam | Thiruvattar Thankavelu | ||
| Makante Achan | Kurup | ||
| Love In Singapore | |||
| 2 Harihar Nagar | Fr. Stephen Varghese | ||
| Ee Pattanathil Bhootham | Philipose | ||
| Loudspeaker | Grandpa | ||
| Chattambinadu | Vadival Vasu |
2010s
edit2020s
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Big Brother | Valliyammavan | |
| 2022 | Kaduva | Chief Minister Ananthanathan | |
| Paappan | Dr. Pattabhiraman | ||
| Autorickshawkarante Bharya | French Vasu | ||
| 2023 | Christopher | Chief Minister | |
| 2018 | Chief Minister | ||
| Voice of Sathyanathan | Vaidyar | [6] | |
| 2024 | Oru Kattil Oru Muri | [7] | |
| Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam | [8] |
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nagendran's Honeymoons | Avarachan | Malayalam | Disney+ Hotstar[9] |
As dubbing artist
edit| Year | Film | For Whom | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Magic Magic 3D | Al Dioro | Thief in wheelchair |
Television
edit- Mahathma Gandhi Colony (Asianet)
- Ashtapadi (Surya TV)
- Kanthari
- Badai Bungalow (Asianet)
- Adutha Bellodu Koodi (Zee Keralam)
- Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum(Flowers TV)
References
edit- ^ "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "നായകന്, വില്ലന് പിന്നെ രസികന്".
- ^ "Life of Captain". mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "CiniDiary". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
- ^ "Teaser of Dileep starrer 'Voice of Sathyanathan' out!". The Times of India. 30 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Features, C. E. (4 September 2024). "Oru Kattil Oru Muri gets a new release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (27 October 2024). "Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam trailer promises a gripping investigative thriller". Cinema Express. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Nagendran's Honeymoons trailer: Suraj Venjaramoodu on a wedding spree". Cinema express.
