Lal (actor)

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Lal
Lal (actor) BNC.jpg
Lal at in event
Born
M. P. Michael

(1958-12-02) 2 December 1958 (age 65)
NationalityIndian
Occupation
Years active1984 – present
Spouse(s)Nancy Lal
Children2, including Lal Jr.
AwardsNational Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards

M. P. Michael (born 2 December 1958), better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director, producer and distributor, who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He has appeared in Tamil films and alongside in a very few Telugu films. Lal has a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam (2008), one National Film Award – Special Mention for acting (2012) and two Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (2008 and 2013)

Early life[edit]

Lal was born as Michael to late M. A. Paul and late Philomina, as their eldest son.His father M. A. Paul was a famous tabla player. His brother Alex Paul is a famous music composer in the Malayalam film industry and his son Jean is a movie director in the same industry.

Career[edit]

He started his career as a mimicry artist in Kalabhavan, along with his childhood friend Siddique, who would later team up as Siddique-Lal to make many films.[1] Lal and Siddique began their film career working as assistant directors to Fazil in Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu.[2][3]

Siddique-Lal production had never been dependent on star value or superstar formula that was witnessed in those days in Malayalam cinema. They had always opted out from casting Mohanlal or Mammootty. Ultimately, both of them had changed their thoughts later and when their fourth production film was to get launched, Siddique-Lal had opted for Mohanlal and made Vietnam Colony (1992) which did wonders in the box office too. The duo again had combined in their fifth production and made Kabooliwala (1994), which was also a success.

After that, both decided to part ways as a director pair and Lal turned producer with the Siddique-directed Mammootty-starrer Hitler.[3] Lal debuted in acting with a villain role as Paniyan in Suresh Gopi-starrer Kaliyattam, directed by Jayaraj. Kaliyattam was a new take on Othello, where Lal played Paniyan, the character standing for Iago. He runs a film post-production company named as Lal Media Arts, Kochi. The year 2009 saw his comeback again as a director. He directed the sequel to In Harihar Nagar named 2 Harihar Nagar, which got released and was declared a hit. For his performance in the 2012 film Ozhimuri, he won the National Film Award – Special Mention.[4] He was the winner of two state film Awards for Best Actor in Thalappavu (2008), Ayaal (2013) and Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013).

Lal, who also plays an important role in Karthi's Sulthan (2021) and also heaped praise on Mari Selvaraj for Karnan (2021).[5]

Personal life[edit]

Lal is married to Nancy and they have two children—Jean Paul Lal and Monica Lal. Jean Paul is a film director.

Awards[edit]

Award Year Category Film Result
National Film Awards 2012 Special Mention for Acting Ozhimuri Won
Kerala State Film Awards 1991 Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value Godfather
2008 Best Actor Thalappavu
2013 Best Actor Ayaal Zachariayude Garbhinikal
Filmfare Awards South 2008 Best Actor (Malayalam) Thalappavu
Asianet Film Awards 2010 Best Director In Ghost House Inn
Vanitha Film Awards 2012 Best Star Pair (shared with Shwetha Menon Salt N' Pepper

Filmography[edit]

Actor[edit]

Malayalam Films
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Manathe Kottaram Guest at the wedding Cameo Appearance
1997 Kaliyattam Paniyan / Iago
1998 Kanmadam Johny
Punjabi House Sikkandar Singh
Daya Kombanali
Ormacheppu Jeevan
1999 Friends Man at the park Cameo Appearance
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Parthan
Jananaayakan Misra
2000 Mazha Chandran
Arayannangalude Veedu Sukumaran
Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu Gowrishankar
Thenkasipattanam Dasappan
2001 Ee Nadu Ennalevare Plappalli Sreedharan
Randam Bhavam Mohammad Ibrahim
Unnathangalil Shiva
One Man Show Hari Narayanan
2002 Ente Hridayathinte Udama Pavitran
Kannaki Manikyan
Krishna Gopalakrishna Swamiji
Kalyanaraman Thekkedathu Achuthankutty
2003 Uthara Ambi
Sinkari Bolona Deva Sharma
Anyar Raghavan
Pulival Kalyanam Karunan
2004 Chathikkatha Chanthu Film Director Ravikumar
Ee Snehatheerathu Chinnappa Gounder
Black Devin Carlos Padaveedan
2005 Thommanum Makkalum Sathyan
Banglavil Outha Outha
Chanthupottu Divakaran
2006 The Don Kasim Baba
Pothan Vava As Himself Cameo Appearance
Oruvan Bharathan
2007 Panthaya Kozhi Raghavan
Time Dr. Srinivasa Iyengar
Rock N Roll Issac
2008 Pachamarathanalil Mohammed Ali
Thalappavu S. Raveendran Pillai
Aayudham Swami Antony Williams
Twenty:20 Radhakrishnan
2009 Thirunakkara Perumal
2010 Aagathan Major George Joseph
April Fool Dr. Mohana Chandran
Penpattanam Inspector Antony
Anwar Babu Sait
Shikkar Cameo in a song
Best Actor Vandippetta Shaji
Kandahar
2011 Payyans John Varghese
Salt N' Pepper Kalathipparampil Kalidasan
Bombay March 12
Doctor Love Cameo appearance
Vellaripravinte Changathi As Himself
2012 Father's Day
Unnam Sunny
Cobra Kari (Karimoorkhan)
Ozhimuri Thanupillai & Sivanpillai
Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu Ottappalam Unni
Little Master
Husbands in Goa Sunny
Chettayees John
2013 Isaac Newton S/O Philipose Isaac Newton
Maad Dad Palachottil Geevargees Kuriyakose Easo
Shutter Rasheed
10:30 am Local Call Nimmy's father
Kaattum Mazhayum Hajiyar
Abhiyum Njaanum Nandan Menon
Ayaal Gurudasan
Honey Bee HC Michael
Buddy Michael Dominic Savio
Sringaravelan Yesudas
Zachariayude Garbhinikal Zacharia
Idukki Gold Behnnan
Vishudhan Mathew Pokkiriyachan
Kadhaveedu Major Frederick Mukundan
2014 Happy Journey Gopikrishnan
God's Own Country Mohammad
Hi I'm Tony Tony Kurishingal
Iyobinte Pustakam Iyob
Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan
2016 Swargathekkal Sundaram
32aam adhyayam 23aam vaakyam Ravi Uncle/R.K. Varma
King Liar Anand Varma
Dum Xavier
Puli Murugan Balaraman
Kappiri Thuruthu Kadalakka Ustad
2017 Fukri Ramzan Ali Fukri
Honey Bee 2 : Celebrations Michael
Oru Cinemakkaaran
Zacharia Pothen Jeevichirippundu
Chunkzz Varkichan
Honey Bee 2.5 As Himself
Oru Visheshapetta Biriyanikissa Abu Musaliyar Mowlavi
Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela K C Chacko
2018 Iblis Shreedharan
Vallikudilile Vellakaaran Joseph
2019 Pengalila Azhagan
Thelivu Khalid
Helen Paul
Thakkol
2020 Al Mallu
Silencer Eenasu
Anveshanam Dr.Faris
Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam
2021 Nizhal Vishwanathan
Kala Raveendran
Bheeshma Parvam Karim Bava
Pathonpatham Noottandu Mathews Mar Athanasius / Marthoma XIII Upcoming movie
Janeman
TBA
Upcoming Movie
Other language films
Year Title Language Role Notes
2004 Engal Anna Tamil Sundaralingam / Veerapandi
2005 Sandakozhi Tamil Kasi
2006 Khatarnak Telugu Smuggler
2006 Annavaram Telugu Puranapool Ganga
2007 Before the Rains English Rajat
2007 Marudhamalai Tamil Maasi
2007 Oram Po Tamil Bigil
2007 Aalwar Tamil Punniyamoorthy
2007 Madurai Veeran Tamil Mayandi
2007 Deepavali Tamil Chidambaram
2007 Rameswaram Tamil Vasanthi's father
2008 Kaalai Tamil Jeevanandham IPS
2009 Thoranai Tamil Chennai Police Commissioner
2009 Pistha Telugu Vizag Police Commissioner
2009 Anthony Yaar? Tamil Michael
2009 Azhagar Malai Tamil Rathnavelu
2010 Porkkalam Tamil Aslam Bhai
2013 Kutti Puli Tamil Arjunan
2015 Chandi Veeran Tamil Thamarai's father
2018 Antony Tamil George
2018 Seema Raja Tamil Karikkada / Kaathadi Kannan
2018 Sandakozhi 2 Tamil Kasi Special appearance
2019 Saaho Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Ibrahim Multilingual film
2020 God Father Tamil Marudhu Singam
2021 Sulthan Tamil Mansoor
2021 Karnan Tamil Yeama Raja
2022 Ponniyin Selvan Tamil Thirukoviloor Mannan Malayamaan

Director, writer[edit]

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer
1986 Pappan Priyappetta Pappan Yes
1987 Nadodikkattu Yes Story
1989 Ramji Rao Speaking Yes Yes Directorial debut as Siddique–Lal
1990 In Harihar Nagar Yes Yes
1991 Godfather Yes Yes
1992 Makkal Mahatmyam Yes Story
1992 Vietnam Colony Yes Yes
1993 Kabooliwala Yes Yes
1993 Manichithrathazhu 2nd unit Second unit director
1995 Mannar Mathai Speaking Yes Sequel to Ramji Rao Speaking
2000 Hera Pheri Yes Hindi remake of Ramji Rao Speaking
2009 2 Harihar Nagar Yes Yes Debut as independent director
2010 In Ghost House Inn Yes Yes Sequel to 2 Harihar Nagar
2010 Tournament – Play & Replay Yes Yes
2012 Cobra Yes Yes
2016 King Liar Yes Yes Co-written with Siddique
2017 Honey Bee 2.5 Yes

Producer, distributor[edit]

Year Title Credited as
1996 Hitler Producer
1997 Superman Producer
1999 Friends Producer
2000 Thenkasipattanam Producer
Distributor
2001 One Man Show Distributor
2002 Kalyanaraman Producer
Distributor
2003 Swapnakkoodu Distributor
2004 Chathikkatha Chanthu Producer
Distributor
2004 Black Producer
Distributor
2005 Thommanum Makkalum Producer
Distributor
2005 Bunglavil Outha Distributor
2005 Bharathchandran I.P.S. Distributor
2005 Chanthupottu Producer
Distributor
2006 Chinthamani Kolacase Distributor
2006 Classmates Distributor
2006 Pothan Vava Producer
Distributor
2007 Panthaya Kozhi Producer
Distributor
2007 Nivedyam Distributor
2007 Kangaroo Distributor
2008 Cycle Distributor
2008 Thalappavu Distributor
2009 2 Harihar Nagar Producer
Distributor
2010 In Ghost House Inn Producer
Distributor
2010 Elsamma Enna Aankutty Distributor
2010 Tournament – Play & Replay Producer
2011 Salt N' Pepper Distributor
2011 Violin Distributor
2017 Honey Bee 2: Celebrations Producer

Other crew credits[edit]

References[edit]

  1. "Cochin Kalabhavan". www.cochinkalabhavan.com.
  2. "Kunchacko's Udaya Studio being razed". Malayala Manorama. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Mathrubhumi English - Acting is easy, direction most satisfying: Filmmaker Lal". Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  4. "A Great year for Malayalam cinema, say National award winners". mathrubhumi.com. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. https://www.sify.com/movies/lal-i-was-depressed-on-the-first-day-shoot-of-ponniyin-selvan-news-tamil-vdeewtgbbchbb.html

External links[edit]

Template:Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor Template:FilmfareMalayalamBestActor

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