Lal (actor) explained

Lal
Birth Name:M. P. Michael
Birth Date:1958 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Kochi, Kerala, India
Yearsactive:1984present
Children:2 (including Lal Jr.)

M. P. Michael (born 2 December 1958), better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, producer and distributor who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films and in a few Telugu films. Lal has won several awards, including a National Film Award – Special Mention for acting (2012), two Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (2008, 2013), and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam (2008). He is the owner of Lal Media Arts, a post-production studio.

Early life

Lal was born as Michael to the late M. A. Paul and late Philomina, as their eldest son. He received his schooling at St. Augustine's High School, Ernakulam. His brother Alex Paul is a music composer in the Malayalam film industry and his son Jean is a movie director in the same industry. Lal's younger sister Neena's son Balu Varghese is an actor in the Malayalam film industry.

Career

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]

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. 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.[3] He was won of Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in Thalappavu (2008), Ayaal (2013) and Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013). He later directed films like King Liar (2016), Honey Bee 2.5 (2017) and Tsunami (2021).[4] [5] [6]

Lal, who also plays an important role in Sulthan (2021) and also heaped praise on Mari Selvaraj for Karnan (2021).[7] Despite being given the most uni-dimensional character in the story Taanakkaran (2022), the actor effortlessly carries the role and leaves arguably more impact than in his previous outing.[8] He roped in to play the role of a warrior in Mani Ratnam’s (2022) and (2023).[9]

He starred in the Malayalam web series Kerala Crime Files (2023) as Inspector which was released on Disney + Hotstar.[10]

Personal life

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

Awards

AwardYearCategoryFilmResult
National Film Awards2012Special Mention for ActingOzhimurirowspan="7"
Kerala State Film Awards1991Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic ValueGodfather
2008Best ActorThalappavu
2013Best ActorAyaal
Zachariayude Garbhinikal
Filmfare Awards South2008Best Actor (Malayalam)Thalappavu
Asianet Film Awards2010Best DirectorIn Ghost House Inn
Vanitha Film Awards2012Best Star Pair (shared with Shwetha MenonSalt N' Pepper

Filmography

As an actor

Malayalam

List of Lal Malayalam film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Manathe Kottaram Guest at the wedding Cameo
1997 Kaliyattam Paniyan / Iago
1998KanmadamJohnny
Punjabi HouseSikkandar Singh
Daya Kombanali
Ormacheppu Jeevan
1999 FriendsMan at the parkCameo
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Parthan
JananaayakanMisra
2000 Mazha Chandran
Arayannangalude Veedu Sukumaran
Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu Gowrishankar
Thenkasipattanam Dasappan
2001 Ee Nadu Ennalevare Plappalli Sreedharan
Randam BhavamMohammad Ibrahim
UnnathangalilShiva
One Man Show Hari Narayanan
2002 Ente Hridayathinte Udama Pavitran
Kannaki Manikyan
Krishna GopalakrishnaSwamiji
Kalyanaraman Thekkedathu Achuthankutty
2003UtharaAmbi
Sinkari Bolona Deva Sharma
AnyarRaghavan
Pulival KalyanamKarunan
2004Chathikkatha Chanthu Film Director Harikrishnan
Ee SnehatheerathuChinnappa Gounder
Black Devin Carlos Padaveedan
2005Thommanum MakkalumSathyan
Banglavil Outha Outha
ChanthupottuDivakaran
2006 The Don Kasim Baba
Pothan Vava As HimselfCameo
Oruvan Bharathan
2007Panthaya KozhiRaghavan
Time Dr. Srinivasa Iyengar
Rock N RollIssac
2008PachamarathanalilMohammed Ali
ThalappavuS. Raveendran Pillai
AayudhamSwami Antony Williams
Twenty:20 Radhakrishnan
2009 Thirunakkara Perumal
2010AagathanMajor George Joseph
April Fool Dr. Mohana Chandran
Penpattanam Inspector Antony
AnwarBabu Sait
ShikkarCameo in a song
Best Actor Vandippetta Shaji
Kandahar
2011 Payyans James Varghese
Salt N' Pepper Kalathipparampil Kalidasan
Bombay March 12
Doctor Love Cameo
Vellaripravinte Changathi As Himself
2012 Father's Day Seethalakshmi's suitor
Unnam Sibi
CobraKari (Karimoorkhan)
Ozhimuri Thanupillai & Sivanpillai
Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu Ottappalam Unni
Little Master
Husbands in Goa Sunny
Chettayees Jacob
2013Isaac Newton S/O PhiliposeIsaac Newton
Maad DadPalachottil Geevargees Kuriyakose Easo[11]
Shutter Rasheed
Govindan, Nimmy's father
Kaattum MazhayumHajiyar
Abhiyum NjaanumNandan Menon
AyaalGurudasan
Honey BeeHC Michael
Buddy Michael Dominic Savio
SringaravelanYesudas
Zachariayude GarbhinikalZacharia
Idukki GoldBehnnan
VishudhanMathew Pokkiriyachan
Kadhaveedu Major Frederick Mukundan
2014 Happy Journey Gopikrishnan
God's Own Country Mohammad
Hi I'm TonyTony Kurishingal
Iyobinte Pustakam Iyob
Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan
2016 Swargathekkal Sundaram
32aam adhyayam 23aam vaakyam Ravi Uncle/R.K. Varma
King Liar Anand Varma
DumXavier
Pulimurugan Balaraman
Kappiri ThuruthuKadalakka Ustad
2017FukriRamzan Ali Fukri
Honey Bee 2 : CelebrationsMichael
Oru CinemakkaaranThomas
Zacharia Pothen JeevichirippunduSaji
ChunkzzVarkichan
Honey Bee 2.5As Himself
Oru Visheshapetta BiriyanikissaAbu Musaliyar Mowlavi
Njandukalude Nattil OridavelaK C Chacko
2018IblisShreedharan
Vallikudilile VellakaaranJoseph
2019PengalilaAzhagan
ThelivuKhalid
HelenPaul
ThakkolMetropolitan Archbishop
2020Al MalluFather Paul
SilencerEenasu
AnveshanamDr.Faris
Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam
2021 Nizhal Vishwanathan
Kala Raveendran
Bheeshma Parvam Karim Bava
Jan.E.Man Kochu Kunj
2022 Panthrandu Peelu
Mahaveeryar Rudhra Mahaveera Ugrasena Maharaja
Pathonpatham Noottandu
Vichithram Alexander
2023 Dear Vaappi Tailor Basheer [12]
2018 Mathachan [13]
2024 Nadikar David's co-actor Cameo[14]

Tamil

List of Lal Tamil film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Engal AnnaSundaralingam / Veerapandi
2005SandakozhiKasi
2007MarudhamalaiMaasi
Oram PoBigil
AalwarPunniyamoorthy
Madurai VeeranMayandi
DeepavaliChidambaram
RameswaramVasanthi's father
2008KaalaiJeevanandham IPS
2009ThoranaiChennai Police Commissioner
Anthony Yaar?Michael
Azhagar MalaiRathnavelu
2010PorkkalamAslam Bhai
2013Kutti PuliArjunan
2015Chandi VeeranThamarai's father
2018 Antony George
Seema Raja Karikkada / Kaathadi Kannan
Sandakozhi 2 Kasi Special appearance
2020 God Father Marudhu Singam
2021 Sulthan Mansoor
Karnan Yeama Raja
2022 Taanakkaran Eshwaramurthy
The Warriorr Kumarappa
2023
Maamannan CM Sindhanai Rajan
Tamil Kudimagan Sudalaiyandi
2024 Singapore Saloon Chacha [15]
Star Pandian [16]

Telugu

List of Lal Telugu film credits
YearTitleRole
2006KhatarnakSmuggler
AnnavaramPuranapool Ganga
2009 PisthaVizag Police Commissioner
2019SaahoIbrahim
2022The WarriorrKumarappa
2023Veera Simha ReddySidhappa

Other Languages

List of Lal film credits in other languages
YearTitleRoleLanguage
2007 Before the Rains Rajat English
2009 Yuvah Dhoni
2019 Saaho Ibrahim

Web Series

Director, writer

List of Lal film credits as director or writer
YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorWriter
1986Pappan Priyappetta Pappan
1987Nadodikkattu
1989Ramji Rao SpeakingDirectorial debut as Siddique–Lal
1990In Harihar Nagar
1991Godfather
1992Makkal Mahatmyam
1992Vietnam Colony
1993Kabooliwala
1993Manichithrathazhu
1995Mannar Mathai SpeakingSequel to Ramji Rao Speaking
20092 Harihar NagarDebut as independent director
2010In Ghost House InnSequel to 2 Harihar Nagar
2010Tournament – Play & Replay
2012Cobra
2016King Liar
2017Honey Bee 2.5
2021Tsunami

Producer, distributor

List of Lal film credits as producer or distributor
YearTitleCredited as
1996HitlerProducer
1997SupermanProducer
1999FriendsProducer
2000Thenkasipattanam
2001One Man ShowDistributor
2002Kalyanaraman
2003SwapnakkooduDistributor
2004Chathikkatha Chanthu
2004Black
2005Thommanum Makkalum
2005Bunglavil OuthaDistributor
2005Bharathchandran I.P.S.Distributor
2005Chanthupottu
2006Chinthamani KolacaseDistributor
2006ClassmatesDistributor
2006Pothan Vava
2007Panthaya Kozhi
2007NivedyamDistributor
2007KangarooDistributor
2008CycleDistributor
2008ThalappavuDistributor
20092 Harihar Nagar
2010In Ghost House Inn
2010Elsamma Enna AankuttyDistributor
2010Tournament – Play & ReplayProducer
2011Salt N' PepperDistributor
2011ViolinDistributor
2017Producer

Other crew credits

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cochin Kalabhavan. www.cochinkalabhavan.com. 3 March 2014. 12 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141012040629/http://cochinkalabhavan.com/contribution.html. live.
  2. News: Kunchacko's Udaya Studio being razed . 24 July 2019 . . 4 May 2019 . 24 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190724112510/https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2019/05/04/udaya-malayalam-movies-famed-studio-razed.html . live .
  3. News: A Great year for Malayalam cinema, say National award winners. 24 June 2013. mathrubhumi.com. 25 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130327105403/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/movies/malayalam/134554/. 27 March 2013. dead.
  4. Web site: Review: King Liar tests your patience.
  5. Web site: Review: HONEY BEE 2.5 MOVIE REVIEW.
  6. Web site: Review: Tsunami Movie Review : A joke that gets serious.
  7. Web site: Lal: I was depressed on the first-day shoot of 'Ponniyin Selvan'!. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304060504/https://www.sify.com/movies/lal-i-was-depressed-on-the-first-day-shoot-of-ponniyin-selvan-news-tamil-vdeewtgbbchbb.html. dead. 4 March 2021. .
  8. Web site: Taanakkaran Movie Review: A powerful film about a lesser-known problem . . 23 May 2022 . 23 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523214826/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/apr/08/taanakkaran-movie-reviewa-victory-march-30760.html . live .
  9. Web site: Mollywood actor Lal in Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan'.
  10. Web site: Kerala Crime Files Review: This well-written and engaging Malayalam thriller is a compelling watch.
  11. News: Sudhish . Navamy . Director Revathy S Varma, on 'Mad Dad' . 1 April 2024 . The New Indian Express . 31 July 2012.
  12. Web site: Lal, Anagha Narayanan headline Dear Vaappi . 2023-03-28 . . en . 28 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328145930/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2022/aug/03/lal-anagha-narayanan-headline-dear-vaappi-33392.html . live .
  13. Web site: 2022-11-05 . Jude Anthony Joseph Unveils Title of his Upcoming Film Based on 2018 Kerala Floods . 2023-01-17 . News18 . en . 12 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221212133818/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/jude-anthony-joseph-unveils-title-of-his-upcoming-film-based-on-2018-kerala-floods-6319135.html . live .
  14. Web site: Tovino's Nadikar Thilakam shoot completed . 2024-01-07 . . en . 8 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108020857/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/jan/06/tovinos-nadikar-thilakam-shoot-completed-51010.html . live .
  15. Web site: Features . C. E. . 2024-01-05 . RJ Balaji's Singapore Saloon gets a release date . 2024-06-14 . Cinema Express . en.
  16. Web site: Features . C. E. . 2024-06-09 . Video of 'Oru Naalil' song from Kavin's Star out . 2024-06-14 . Cinema Express . en.
  17. Web site: 2023-04-21 . Aju Varghese and Lal look intense in Kerala Crime Files first look poster . 2023-04-30 . The Indian Express . en . 21 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173841/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/aju-varghese-and-lal-look-intense-in-kerala-crime-files-first-look-poster-8569326/ . live .