Oduvil Unnikrishnan

Oduvil Unnikrishnan Biography

Oduvil Unnikrishnan was a veteran actor of Malayalam who was proficient in doing serious roles and comic roles in his distinct style. He is always regarded as one of the most versatile character artists of Malayalam and during 90’s he has given a few memorable roles too. His association with Mohanlal’s successful action movies of 90’s needs special mention. A few of such memorable roles include Devasuram, Aaram thampuran, Yodha, Kamaladalam and Bharatham. Through these blockbuster hits he established himself as an actor proficient in doing classical ancient aristocratic personalities that reflects Malayalam culture with perfection. A few of his associations with Mohanlal during his last phase of his career were – Rasathanthram (2006), Chandrolsavam (2005) and Vamanapuram Bus Route (2004).

Oduvil Unnikrishnan was born on 13 February 1938 in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur as the son of Vadakkancheri Enkakkatt Oduvil Veettil Krishna Menon and Parukkutty Amma. He is the nephew of famous dancer - Sarasakavi Oduvil Unnikrishna Menon. Odivil too was interested in music and has learnt vocal music, mridangam and tabla.  In many of his movies, he has exhibited the light shades of these talents too. He learnt Carnatic music from Kalamandalam Vasudeva Panikker. Later he joined orchestra group of many theatres like K.P.A.C. and Kerala Kalavedi of which his main role was tabalist. He often appeared fill-in roles in plays, his first step to acting. So, it’s bit surprising that though he was a trained singer and tabalist, people know him as an actor.

Oduvil entered movies during 70’s through Darshanam, directed by P. N. Menon. It was followed by Chenda, Sarapanjaram and Guruvayur Kesavan. Later he became a part of more than 400 Malayalam movies of which his roles in Nizhalkuthu, Kathapurushan, Thooval Kottaram, Sargam, Yodha, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Oru Cheru Punchiri, Aaram Thamburan and Manassinakkare are remembered most. In 2002, he won best actor State award for Nizhal koothu directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. He has also won second best actor award in consecutive years 1995 and 1996 for the movies – Kathapurushan and Thooval Kottaram. When he left the world on May 27, 2006 unexpected, there left a void that has not been filled yet. Though now it’s the time of sequels of hits of 90’s, film makers find it difficult to cast a substitute of Oduvil, to light life to those roles once again.

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Updated: October 24, 2013