Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam: മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry.[3][4] His debut film was Mohiniyaattam in 1976. He has played a variety of roles as a character actor, appearing in over 400 films.[5] His stage name was derived from the character he played in the film Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla (1981), his break-through role.[6]
Early life
Raju was born as the youngest among four in 1955 to Shekharan Nair and Saraswati Amma at Thycaud, Thiruvanathapuram. He has two sisters, Ramani and Radha, and a brother Surendran.[7] He had his primary education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvanathapuram. He did his pre-degree in Victory Tutorial College.[2] He learned acting through a diploma course during 1973–1975 from Adyar Film Institute, Madras (now Chennai).[8]
Personal life
Maniyanpilla Raju married Indira in 1985, and the couple have two sons, Sachin and Niranj. The younger son, Niranj, made his debut in Renjith's Black Butterfly.[9] He wrote a book titled Chirichum Chirippichum containing his memoirs in 2012. In 2019, he opened a restaurant, Be@Kiwizo, in Kannur, which is Kerala's first restaurant to use robots to serve customers.[10]
Filmography
As an actor
1970s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Mohiniyaattam | Job hunter | |
| Light House | Thankamma's brother | ||
| Chirikkudukka | |||
| 1977 | Neethipeedam | ||
| Aval Oru Devaalayam | |||
| 1978 | Mudramothiram | Kuttappan | |
| Jayikkaanaay Janichavan | Tharakan's sidekick | ||
| Kanalkattakal | Man at mental hospital | ||
| Kanyaka | |||
| Mattoru Karnan | |||
| Thiranottam | |||
| Aaravam | |||
| 1979 | Maalika Paniyunnavar | Ouseph |
1980s
1990s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Kadathanadan Ambadi | Kandasseri | |
| Aye Auto | Thangu | ||
| Malayogom | Dr. Sudhakaran | ||
| Kouthuka Varthakal | Ramamoorthy | ||
| His Highness Abdullah | Raja Raja Varma | ||
| Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran | Gangadharan | ||
| Akkare Akkare Akkare | Gopi | ||
| No.20 Madras Mail | Hitchcock Kanjikuzhi | ||
| 1991 | Ganamela | Kannan | |
| Adhwaytham | Chithran Nampoothiri | ||
| Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Murali | ||
| Anaswaram | |||
| 1992 | Kizhakkan Pathrose | Mathai | |
| Kudumbasametham | Sreedharan Kurup | ||
| Kallan Kappalil Thanne | Adv. Jose Kurien | ||
| Aham | Marfee Markose | ||
| Vasudha | |||
| Johnnie Walker | Professor | ||
| Neelakurukkan | |||
| Thalastaanam | Narendran Pillai | ||
| Ellarum Chollanu | Mani | ||
| Ayalathe Adheham | Achuthan Singh | ||
| 1993 | Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | Thankachan | |
| Ekalavyan | Chandran Vallappuzha | ||
| Kudumbasneham | |||
| Chenkol | Najeeb | ||
| Butterflies | Krishnan Eradi | ||
| Paithrukam | |||
| Mafia | |||
| Devasuram | Bharathan | ||
| 1994 | Ponthan Mada | ||
| Rudraksham | Appu | ||
| Kudumba Vishesham | Prasad M. Nair | ||
| Commissioner | Gopinathan | ||
| CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. | Prem Shankar | ||
| Minnaram | 'Mazhuvan' Manikantan / Lassar | ||
| Cabinet | Razzak | ||
| 1995 | Simhavalan Menon | Patrick | |
| Spadikam | Kunju Mohammad | ||
| Rajakeeyam | Pushpangathan | ||
| Agnidevan | Poojari Potti Kunju | ||
| Aadyathe Kanmani | Dineshan Unnithan | ||
| Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary | Unni Thampuran | ||
| 1996 | Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam | Shambu | |
| Mahathma | Attorney Koshy | ||
| Kala Pani | Nair | ||
| Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan | Madhavan | ||
| 1997 | Sayaamees Irattakal | ||
| Asuravamsam | Inspector | ||
| Chandralekha | |||
| Oru Yathramozhi | |||
| Aaraam Thampuran | Soman Pillai | ||
| Kannur | |||
| Bharatheeyam | |||
| Ullasapoongattu | Kuriyachan | ||
| Lelam | Umman | ||
| Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam | Mahadevan | ||
| Janathipathyam | SI Abootty | ||
| 1998 | Aaraam Jaalakam | ||
| Poothiruvathira Ravil | |||
| Thirakalkkappuram | |||
| Anuragakottaram | Private Detective Hentry | ||
| Harikrishnans | Kunjikuttan's Advocate | ||
| Kallu Kondoru Pennu | Mohanachandran | ||
| 1999 | F. I. R. | CI Gurumoorthy | |
| Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu | Mulaku | ||
| Stalin Sivadas | Mayor Anto | ||
| Ustaad | Adv. Abraham | ||
| Pallavur Devanarayanan | Manavedathan Nampoothiri | ||
| The Godman | SI Karippetti Marthandan |
2000s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam | ||
| Narasimham | CI Habeeb | ||
| Swayamvara Panthal | S.I Vijayan | ||
| Sathyameva Jayathe | SI George | ||
| Pilots | Venkidi | ||
| 2001 | Sharja To Sharja | Sethu | |
| Naranathu Thampuran | Mohandas | ||
| Raavanaprabhu | Cameo | ||
| Suryachakram | |||
| Nariman | Moytheen | ||
| 2002 | Thandavam | Pushpakumar | |
| Chathurangam | Alex | ||
| 2003 | Sahodaran Sahadevan | Balagopalan | |
| Leader | Sadasivan | ||
| 2004 | Njan Salperu Ramankutty | Sankaran | |
| Kottaram Vaidyan | Thirumukham Pillai | ||
| Vamanapuram Bus Route | Rajappan | ||
| Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku | Pisharadi | ||
| Udayam | |||
| Mayilattam | Swaminathan | ||
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | C.I. Sugathan | |
| Rajamanikyam | Adv. Shivadaas Menon | ||
| Anandabhadram | Police Constable | ||
| 2006 | Prajapathi | Kumaran | |
| The Don | Abdullah | ||
| Pothan Vava | Paulachan | ||
| 2007 | Pranayakalam | ||
| Chotta Mumbai | Adv. Menon | ||
| Big B | Dr. Venu | ||
| Nasrani | Kunjachan | ||
| Akkare Ninnoru Sultan | |||
| Janmam | |||
| 2008 | Pakal Nakshatrangal | Tharakan | |
| One Way Ticket | |||
| Malabar Wedding | Unni | ||
| Sound of Boot | Antony | ||
| Annan Thampi | Appu's and Achu's uncle | ||
| Twenty:20 | SI Gopi | ||
| Thalappavu | Shivan Pillai | ||
| 2009 | Red Chillies | SI Palaniswamy | |
| Perumaal | |||
| Evidam Swargamanu | Adv. Jayaraj | ||
| Shudharil Shudhan | Kanaran | ||
| Dr. Patient | Shankaran | ||
| Calendar | Fr. Thazhekkadan | ||
| Duplicate | Devan | ||
| Kerala Cafe | |||
| Gulumaal: The Escape | Rangaswami / Ahammedkutty |
2010s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe | ||
| Plus Two | Avarachan | ||
| Happy Husbands | Pazhakutti Pavithran | ||
| Oru Naal Varum | Ramesh | ||
| Elsamma Enna Aankutty | S.I. Sunandappan | ||
| 2011 | Kudumbasree Travels | Nettar | |
| Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2 | |||
| Oru Marubhoomikkadha | Jose | ||
| Rathinirvedam | Pattalam Maman | ||
| Innanu Aa Kalyanam | Kuttichan | ||
| Vellaripravinte Changathi | Preman | ||
| Kunjettan | |||
| Sevenes | Habeebullah | ||
| 2012 | Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty | Ayyappan | |
| Da Thadiya | John Prakash | ||
| Simhasanam | |||
| Diamond Necklace | V. K. Narayana Menon | ||
| Ustad Hotel | Chef Babu | ||
| Kunjaliyan | Vikrama Kurup | ||
| Cobra: Kottayam Brothers | Balan | ||
| 2013 | Ardhanaari | Jameela | [11] |
| Black Butterfly | Mahadevan | ||
| Radio | Priya's father | ||
| Lokpal | Minister Anirudhan | ||
| Second Innings | |||
| Tourist Home | Sathyanathan | ||
| Idukki Gold | Madan | ||
| Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43 | Jayanthan Namboothiri | ||
| 2014 | Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram | Prabhakaran Thanchappuzha | |
| My Dear Mummy | |||
| Thamarassery to Thailand | |||
| Bad Boys | |||
| Close Friends | |||
| Munnariyippu | |||
| Rosappookkaalam | |||
| Bangalore Days | Prakash | ||
| Tamaar Padaar | |||
| 2015 | Thinkal Muthal Velli Vare | C. I. Dhanapalan | |
| Premam | College Principal | ||
| Acha Dhin | SI Soman | ||
| Oru Second Class Yathra | ASI Johnson | ||
| Kanyaka Talkies | Sadanandan | ||
| Kukkiliyar | Raveendran | ||
| 2016 | Paavada | Adv. Gunasekharan Nair | |
| Ore Mukham | Older Ayyappadas | ||
| Anuraga Karikkin Vellam | Prakash Kopara | ||
| Karinkunnam 6's | Pillai | ||
| Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho | Himself | ||
| 2017 | Sakhavu | Rajan | |
| Comrade in America | Babychan | ||
| Pullikkaran Staraa | Murali Nambiar | ||
| Adam Joan | Andrews | ||
| Lavakusha | |||
| 2018 | Shikkari Shambhu | Sahadevan | |
| Mohanlal | Himself | ||
| Panchavarnathatha | Abraham | ||
| My Story | Vishwan | ||
| 2019 | Pathinettam Padi | Sudheer Kumar | |
| Finals | Sports Minister Siva Shankara Pillai | ||
| Ganagandharvan | Kuttan | ||
| Thelivu |
2020s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Viddikalude Maash | ||
| Varayan | Isthaakki | ||
| 2023 | Poovan | [12] | |
| Maheshum Marutiyum | Padmanabhan 'Pappettan' | [13] | |
| Enkilum Chandrike | Shambu | ||
| Corona Papers | Pillai | [14] | |
| Neymar | [15] | ||
| 2024 | Iyer In Arabia | [16] | |
| Gu | [17] | ||
| Kudumbasthreeyum Kunjadum | [18] | ||
| Paalum Pazhavum | Tamarakshan | [19] | |
| 2025 | Template:Pending film |
|
[20] |
| Template:TableTBA | Template:Pending film | Ravindran Thillenkery | [21] |
As producer
- Hello My Dear Wrong Number (1985)
- Vellanakalude Nadu (1988)
- Aye Auto (1990)
- Anaswaram (1991)
- Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999)
- Anandabhadram (2005)
- Chotta Mumbai (2007)
- Oru Naal Varum (2010)
- Black Butterfly (2013)
- Pavada (2016)
- Panchavarnathatha (2018)
- Finals (2019)
- Maheshum Marutiyum (2023)[13]
- Gu (2024)
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jai Mahendran | Koshy Thomas Revenue Minister | [22] |
Television
As judge
- Comedy Super Show (Flowers Tv)
- Comedy Stars Plus (Asianet Plus)
- Comedy Stars Season 2 (Asianet)
- Comedy Stars (Asianet)
As host
- Beautiful minds (YouTube)
- Laughing Villa (Surya TV)
- Malayali Durbar[4] (Amrita TV)
- Jambanum Thumbanum (Asianet Plus)
As actor
- Ettu Sundarikalum Njanum (Surya TV) 2004-2005
- Mahatma Gandhi Colony (Surya TV) 2007-2008
- Kadamattathu Kathanar (Asianet)- 2004-2005
- Sthree (Asianet) 1998-2000
- Laksharchana (Doordarshan) 1995-1996
- Aarohanam (Kairali TV) 2013-2014
- Akshayapatram (Asianet)- 2001-2002
Controversy
Actress Minu Muneer accused Maniyanpilla Raju of harassment. He later denied it and said he would be fine with the investigations if true.[23]
References
- ↑ Maniyanpilla Raju. cinidiary.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeevitham Ithuvare Maniyanpilla Raju episode. jaihind.tv. Retrieved 16 September 2015.Template:CbignoreTemplate:Dead YouTube link
- ↑ മണിയന്പിള്ള എന്ന സുധീര്കുമാര് | Webdunia Malayalam. Malayalam.webdunia.com. Retrieved on 10 December 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 മലയാളി ദര്ബാറിലെ മണിയന് പിള്ള. mangalam.com. 3 June 2014
- ↑ maniyanpillaraju.com Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
- ↑ അച്ചന്കുഞ്ഞ് Template:Webarchive. Cinidiary. Retrieved on 10 December 2015.
- ↑ Jeevitham Ithuvare with Maniyanpilla Raju. jaihind.tv. Retrieved 16 September 2015.Template:CbignoreTemplate:Dead YouTube link
- ↑ Maniyanpilla Raju's son as hero in 'Black Butterfly'. Nowrunning.com (3 October 2012). Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ↑ Excuse Me, You Are On My Way: This Kerala Restaurant Has Robot Waitresses(17 July 2019).
- ↑ ManiyanPilla Raju in 'Ardhanari'. :News - Movie News, Film News, Cinema News - Malayalam Movie News. www.metromatinee.com. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ↑ Antony Varghese's Poovan set for OTT release. Cinema Express(22 March 2023). Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 'Maheshum Maruthiyum' to release on March 10. The New Indian Express(28 February 2023). Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ↑ 'Corona Papers' censored with a U/A certificate; Film to release on April 6. The Times of India. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ↑ Hit duo Mathew Thomas and Naslen K Gafoor set to return with Neymar. The Indian Express(2023-05-04). Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ↑ Makers Of Dhyan Sreenivasan-starrer Iyer In Arabia Lock Release Date. News18(2024-01-08). Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ↑ Gu Trailer: Saiju Kurup's film blends folk art, myths, and reality in a village setting, Features, C. E.. Cinema Express(2024-05-06). Retrieved 2024-05-07.
- ↑ Dhyan Sreenivasan's comedy-drama 'Kudumbasthreeyum Kunjadum' gets a release date. The Times of India(2024-05-26). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ↑ Meera Jasmine's Palum Pazhavum trailer out, Features, C. E.. Cinema Express(2024-08-10). Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ↑ Mohanlal-starrer Thudarum gets a new release date, Features, C. E.. Cinema Express(2025-04-07). Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ Dileep's Bha Bha Ba goes on floors. Cinema Express(15 July 2024).
- ↑ Saiju Kurup's Sony LIV series Jai Mahendran gets a release date. Cinema Express(7 January 2024). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ↑ Malayalam actress Minu Muneer claims she faced sexual abuse from 4 Mollywood heavyweights. The Economic Times. Retrieved 2024-08-26.