Lal

Lal Biography

Paul Michael, better known as Lal (his stage name) is a very versatile personality in Malayalam film industry. He has proved himself to be one among the most talented actors and directors of Malayalam. He has delivered numerous hits as a director, hero as well as villain roles. As a hero, his most recent super hit movie is ‘Salt n pepper’, where he was paired opposite Shweta Menon. As a director, his team up with Siddique has delivered numerous blockbusters to Malayalam of which comedy is the main subject. Sharing the name -Siddique-Lal, they have scripted and directed Ramji rao speaking, God father, In harihar nagar, Vietnam Colony and Kabuliwala. Priyadarshan has remade many of their hit formulae in Hindi of which Hera pheri (Ramji rao speaking), Dhol (In Harihar Nagar) and Hulchul (Godfather) are most popular.

Ramji rao speaking released in the year 1989 was the debut movie of Siddique-Lal, along with its actors Saikumar and Rekha. They became one among the leading directors of the industry with their debut movie itself and have delivered numerous hits till middle 90’s. However they parted for some unknown reason. Yet Lal continued to produce a few movies directed by Siddique – Hitler (1996) and Friends (1999). Both were blockbusters breaking many records and remade to other languages including Hindi. Lal has also produced a few more movies - Thenkasipattanam (2000), Kalyanaraman (2002), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), and Chanthupottu (2005). All these movies were box office hits and he acted in all these movies as well.

Though he was busy in direction till middle 90’s, it was Siddhique who encouraged him to start acting as well. He debut in 1997 movie Kaliyattam, Malayalam version of Shakespeare’s Othella. The movie is known for the talents shown by all its actors.  Suresh Gopi who played leading hero of this movie won State awards as well as State awards while director Jayaraj won best director award in both as well. The movie accumulated a lot of state awards as well. His role as villain was well appreciated by the public and it prompted him to work in movies as actor thereafter.

He received Kerala state awards for best actor for the movie Talappaavu and National Film Awards - Special Mention – Ozhimuri (2012). As a director he returned back with the sequels of In harihar nagar – In Harihar Nagar 2 and Ghost House Inn and both these movies were well received too. In most movies he is seen as a rough character and soft hearted person.

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Updated: April 26, 2014