Sai Kumar, also credited as Saikumar, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is the son of Malayalam actor late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. He appears in both positive and negative roles. He notably plays the hero role in Ramji Rao Speaking, and the villain in Makkal Mahatmyam.
Sai Kumar is the son of actor Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and Vijayalakshmi Amma. He has seven sisters, five elder and two younger. Actress Shobha Mohan is his elder sister and actors Vinu Mohan and Anu Mohan are his nephews. He was first married to Prasanna Kumari, but divorced in 2007. They have a daughter named Vaishnavi, who is also an actress in TV serials, from his first marriage. He later married actress Bindu Panicker.[1]
Sai Kumar started his career in theatre. He was offered the lead role in the film Swathi Thirunal (film), but it was later done by Anant Nag. He made his debut in the blockbuster Ramji Rao Speaking (1989). It was directed by two debutantes, Siddique and Lal (Siddique-Lal), and had debutant actors Sai Kumar and Rekha in the lead. Sai Kumar debuted in cinema in the 1977 film Vidarunna Mottukal as a child artist. He started his career with comedy roles, and gradually moved to character roles. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for his performance in the 2007 film Anandabhairavi.
The success of the film helped him to earn a lot of opportunities in the next few years. He has done leading roles in a few films such as Sauhradam, Thudarkkatha, Khoshayathra, Anantha Vrithantham, and Thooval Sparsam. But in that age of comedy, he could not make an impact as a hero, while Mukesh, Jagadeesh and Siddique were cast in low-budget movies. Sai Kumar remained active in the industry with supporting, character and negative roles in films including In Harihar Nagar, Saandram, Makkal Mahalmyam, Griha Pravesam and Ayushkalam. The sequel to Ramji Rao Speaking; Mannar Mathai Speaking was a blockbuster of 1995. This time Mukesh played the lead role. His villain role in Mammootty's 1996 blockbuster Hitler was noted. This earned him the reputation of acting the intelligent villain. Sai Kumar's real talent was shown once again in the year 2004 in the film Sethuramayyar CBI. He wisely recreated the sound modulation and mannerisms of actor Sukumaran, because the character which Sai Kumar had done was the son of "Inspector Devadas" in the film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu.
Sai Kumar's golden period started in the late 1990s. He was cast in the super hit Aaraam Thampuran by Shaji Kailas where he played the close friend of hero acted by the Malayalam film star Mohanlal. Then he became the inevitable ingredient of all the superstar movies. He played villain to Mohanlal in Narasimham (2000), Thandavam (2001) and Chathurangam (2001). His prominence was evident from the posters of Thandavam, where his pictures were printed the same size as Mohanlal's. In movies such as Valliettan and Vesham he played villain to Mammootty. In the Dileep movie Kunjikkoonan (2002), he appeared in a completely different get-up of a cruel Goonda called Keeri Vasu, which was much acclaimed.
2005 was a very good year for Sai Kumar in which he acted in Rajamanikyam, Mammootty's mega-hit where he played an older man. This made the directors rethink his range of characters. In Suresh Gopi's comeback film Bharathchandran I.P.S., he played the villain. He described the role as an anti-hero, not a villain, since he leads the story in the first 45 minutes until Suresh Gopi appears. He also played the supporting role as DYSP Pothen in the Suresh Gopi hit The Tiger.
He lent his voice for Sathyaraj in Aagathan and also dubbed for Thiagarajan in Thilakkam.
In 2007, he won accolades for his performance as a Kathakali artist and the father of a highly talented but ailing son in Anandabhairavi. Director Vinayan described him as talented as Mohanlal, which is the best compliment for his acting abilities.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Vidarunna Mottukal | Vikraman | Child artist |
| 1981 | Kathayariyathe | Shaji | |
| 1982 | Ithum Oru Jeevitham | Kuttan | |
| 1989 | Ramji Rao Speaking | Balakrishnan | Debut film as lead role |
| Nagapanchami | |||
| 1990 | Purappad | Shivan | |
| Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikunnu | Chandy Kunju | ||
| Sunday 7.P.M | Williams | ||
| Rajavazhcha | Vijayaraghavan | ||
| Orukkam | Freddy | ||
| In Harihar Nagar | Andrews | ||
| Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom | Girish | ||
| Ee Kannikoodi | Ravindran | Lead role | |
| Anantha Vruthantham | Ananthan | Lead role | |
| Oliyambukal | Thampi | ||
| Thoovalsparsham | Vinod | ||
| Saandhram | Unni | ||
| Ananthanum Appukkuttanum Aanayundu | |||
| 1991 | Kakkathollayiram | Ravi | |
| Bhoomika | Ravi | ||
| Kadalorakattu | Vijayan | ||
| Kilukkampetti | Raju | ||
| Agni Nilavu | Dileep | ||
| Vacation | |||
| Souhridham | Rajmohan | ||
| Oru Tharam Randu Tharam Moonu Tharam | Suresh | ||
| Thudar Katha | Vishnu Narayanan | ||
| Khanta Kavyam | |||
| Arangu | Xavier Robert Pereira | ||
| Vasudha | |||
| Apoorvam Chilar | Dr. Suresh Warrier | ||
| May Dinam | Martin | Lead role | |
| Irikku M. D. Akathundu | Suresh | ||
| 1992 | Maanthrika Cheppu | Sabu Cheriyan | |
| Makkal Mahatmiyam | Krishnankutty | ||
| Satyaprathinja | |||
| Kasarkode Kadarbhai | Sreenivasa Menon | ||
| Neelakurukkan | |||
| Ezhara Ponnana | Balan | ||
| Pramanikal | |||
| Sooryachakram | |||
| Vasudha | |||
| Congratulations Miss Anitha Menon | |||
| Ellarum Chollanu | Dasutty | ||
| Aayushkalam | Alex | ||
| Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam | Adv. Abdul Salim | ||
| 1993 | Ghoshayathra | Abdu | Lead role |
| Kulapathy | |||
| Journalist | Venu | ||
| Injakkadan Mathai & Sons | |||
| Chamayam | Charlie | ||
| Easwaramoorthy IN | SI Ramesh/Hari | ||
| 1994 | Kambolam | Royachan | |
| Paalayam | Arun | ||
| Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu | Binoy Vishwam | ||
| Gothram | |||
| 1995 | Mannar Mathai Speaking | Balakrishnan | |
| Thriumanassu | Nandan | ||
| Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum | Mahadevan | ||
| 1996 | Kireedamillatha Rajakkanmar | Mathews | |
| Hitler | Nandakumar | ||
| 1997 | Bhoopathi | Sasi Varma | |
| Snehasindooram | |||
| Rajathanthram | Rameshan | ||
| Asuravamsam | Bobby | ||
| Sibiram | Xavier | ||
| Vamsam | Kurishinkal Vavachan | ||
| Janadhipathyam | K. Gopinatha Menon | ||
| Aaram Thampuran | Nandakumar | ||
| 1998 | Samantharagal | a political leader | |
| Alibabayum Ararakallanmarum | MLA Jose Parakkan | ||
| Nakshatratharattu | Jayan | ||
| Mayilpeelikkavu | Shankaran | ||
| The Truth | DYSP John | ||
| Ayushman Bava | Prakash | ||
| Aaghosham | |||
| 1999 | Ustaad | Giri | |
| Stalin Sivadas | Commissioner Sarath | ||
| Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | Thomas Chacko | ||
| Vazhunnor | Parakkadan Aloshy | ||
| The Godman | MP Jayadevan | ||
| Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu | Babu | ||
| Pallavur Devanarayanan | Zachariah | ||
| Independence | Raghavan (CM) | ||
| Aayiram Meni | Bharathan | ||
| Jananayakan | Eliyas | ||
| 2000 | Narasimham | Manappally Sudheeran IPS | |
| Life Is Beautiful | Suraj's father | ||
| Neelathadakathile Nizhalpakshikal | |||
| Punaradivasam | |||
| Valliettan | Patteri Sivaraman Nair | ||
| Summer Palace | |||
| Varavaay | Vijayachandran | ||
| Daivathinte Makan | Peter | ||
| Dada Sahib | Mohammad Kutty | ||
| 2001 | Karumadikkuttan | Nandini's father | |
| Rakshasa Rajav | ADGP Gomas Alexander | ||
| Ravanaprabhu | Unni | ||
| Nagaravadhu | Narendra Babu | ||
| Agraharam | |||
| Suryachakram | |||
| Unnathangalil | Antony | ||
| 2002 | Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan | Rajasekhara Varma | |
| Krishnapakshakilikal | |||
| Devan | Chetta Raghu | Tamil film | |
| Kunjikoonan | Vasu | ||
| Shivam | Medayil Devarajan | ||
| Thandavam | Sankar Das | ||
| Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair | Sivapal | ||
| Chathurangam | K.C. Korah | ||
| Nandanam | Ramadasan | ||
| Ente Hridhayathinte Udama | Rajeevan | ||
| 2003 | Vasanthamallika | Varadarajan | |
| Arasu | Sabapathy | Tamil film | |
| Pattalam | Vishwanathan | ||
| Mizhi Randilum | R. P | ||
| The Kingmaker Leader | Varghese | ||
| Janakeeyam | Ravi | ||
| War and Love | Maj. Prabhakaran | ||
| Ammakilikkoodu | Sidharth | ||
| 2004 | Sethurama Iyer CBI | Sathya Das | |
| Sasneham Sumithra | DYSP Sathyadas, son of retd. DYSP Devadas | ||
| Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku | Mahendran Kondody | ||
| Udayam | Kochu Varkey | ||
| Koottu | Vishwambharan | ||
| Agninakshathram | Swami | ||
| Thalamelam | C.R. Dasan | ||
| Mayilattam | Thevar | ||
| Thudakkam | Jacob Mathew I.A.S | ||
| Vesham | Sivan | ||
| 2005 | Finger Print | Prathapa Varma | |
| Chandrolsavam | Karunakaran | ||
| Viralthumbilaaro | |||
| Pauran | Gopalji | ||
| Bharathchandran I.P.S. | Haidar Ali Hassan | ||
| Naran | Inspector Ayyappan Menon | ||
| OK Chacko Cochin Mumbai | CI Ramanathan | ||
| Manikyan | |||
| Rajamanikyam | Rajarathnam Pillai | ||
| Mayookham | Indira's father | ||
| The Tiger | DYSP Joseph Pothan | ||
| 2006 | Lion | Pavithran | |
| Parayam | |||
| The Speed Track | Doctor | ||
| Achante Ponnumakkal | |||
| Rashtram | Nooruddin | ||
| Chinthamani Kolacase | Kannai Parameshwaran | ||
| Balram vs. Tharadas | |||
| Ashwaroodan | Manikoth Marthandan | ||
| Prajapathi | M. L. A. Kuttikrishnan | ||
| Chess | Krishnadas | ||
| Keerthi Chakra | Dutta | ||
| Aanachandam | Anirudhan | ||
| Bhargavacharitham Moonnam Khandam | Ramanathan | ||
| Mahha Samudram | MLA Sebastian | ||
| Pathaka | Faruk Sha | ||
| The Don | Advocate Subrahmaniam Swami | ||
| Pothan Vava | Sivankutty | ||
| Chakkara Muthu | Police Officer | ||
| Yes Your Honour | Isaac Samuel | ||
| Baba Kalyani | Isa Muhammad Haji | ||
| 2007 | Maayavi | Aaranimuttom Sivasankaran Pillai | |
| Detective | James Joseph | ||
| Payum Puli | Josettan | ||
| Anandabhairavi | Vasudeva Panikker | ||
| Chotta Mumbai | Phylwan Michael Ashan | ||
| Time | Koshy Abraham Koshy | ||
| Sooryan | Harinarayanan | ||
| Ayur Rekha | Venugopal | ||
| Flash | Menon | ||
| 2008 | Roudram | Sethu Madhavan/Sethu Mohan Das | |
| Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu | |||
| Cycle | DYSP Surendran | ||
| Kanichukulangarayil CBI | Ajith | ||
| Positive | Bhaskar, City Police Commissioner | ||
| Madambi | Madhava Menon | ||
| Minnaminnikkoottam | Charulatha's father | ||
| Mayakazhcha | Narendran | ||
| Mayabazar | Simon Joseph | ||
| Twenty:20 | Minister Mathai | ||
| 2009 | Black Dahlia | Sirajuddin | |
| Vaigai | Mandakalai | Tamil film | |
| Daddy Cool | Shiva Prasad | ||
| Puthiya Mukham | Mahi | ||
| Meghatheertham | Balunarayana Swamy | ||
| Shudharil Shudhan | Joseph | ||
| Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan | Dr. Mukerji | ||
| Dalamarmarangal | Pratapan | ||
| Utharaswayamvaram | Dr. Thomas Paul | ||
| 2010 | Drona | ||
| Yugapurushan | |||
| Ringtone | Krishna Bhat | ||
| Thanthonni | David Lopez | ||
| Simha | Veerakesavudu | Telugu film | |
| Alexander The Great | Prathapa Varma | ||
| Kutty Srank | Unnithan | ||
| Inganeyum Oral | Balachandra Menon | ||
| Sakudumbam Shyamala | Vasudevan | ||
| Anwar | Ahmed Haji | ||
| Nizhal | |||
| Thoovalkattu | Hajiyar | ||
| 2011 | Traffic | Dr. Saifudeen | |
| Ithu Nammude Katha | |||
| Christian Brothers | Captain Varghese Mappila | ||
| August 15 | the Party Secretary | ||
| Manikyakkallu | the District Education Officer | ||
| Lucky Jokers | Surya Varma | ||
| Kunjettan | |||
| Azhakkadal | Vazhapilly Anthony Tharakan | ||
| Veeraputhran | Hassan Koya | ||
| Kathayile Nayika | |||
| Innanu Aa Kalyanam | Sulochanan Pillai | ||
| 2012 | Masters | Advocate Narayanan Thambi | |
| The King & the Commissioner | Swami Veerabhadra Chandramouliswaran Maharaj | ||
| Mallu Singh | Govindan Kutty | ||
| Ezham Sooryan | |||
| Nadabrahmam | |||
| Cinema Company | |||
| Simhasanam | Chandragiriyill Madhava Menon | ||
| Run Baby Run | Bharathan Pillai | ||
| Vaidooryam | Bhadran | ||
| My Boss | Thekkepurakkal Prabhakara Varma | ||
| Ardhanaari | Vinayan's Father | ||
| Karmayodha | ACP Eappen Devassy | ||
| 2013 | Lokpal | Manuel | |
| Black Ticket | Gabriel | ||
| Cowboy (2013 film) | Rajashekhar Menon | ||
| Sound Thoma | Plapparambil Paulo | ||
| Mazhavillinattam Vare | the Theyyam artist | ||
| Rebecca Uthup Kizhakkemala | Uthup | ||
| Blackberry | Commissioner Kurian Joseph IPS | ||
| Caribbeans | Natarajan | ||
| For Sale | Joseph | ||
| Nadodimannan | CM Thomas Chacko | ||
| 2014 | Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 | Balakrishanan | |
| Ring Master | Elizabeth's husband | ||
| Mr. Fraud | Intelligence DySP Sajan | ||
| Parayan Bakki Vechathu | |||
| Bad Boys | |||
| Mylanchi Moonchulla Veedu | Narayana Kurup | ||
| Garbhasreeman | Dr.Ravishankar | ||
| 2015 | Mili | Prabhakaran Nair | |
| Ammakkoru Tharattu | |||
| Ennu Ninte Moideen | Unni Moideen Sahib | ||
| 2016 | Pavada | Joseph | |
| Sahapadi 1975 | |||
| Jacobinte Swargarajyam | Philip | ||
| Dooram | |||
| Paulettante Veedu | |||
| Angane Thanne Nethave Anjettennam Pinnale | |||
| James & Alice | Davis Thekkeparambil | ||
| Shikhamani | Sub-Inspector P.K. Ashok | ||
| 2017 | Puthan Panam | Chandrababu | |
| History of Joy | Andrews | ||
| Ramaleela | Sakhavu P. Sugathan | ||
| Vedham | |||
| Villain | Dr. Ram Kumar | ||
| 2018 | Neerali | ||
| Koodasha | |||
| Aanakkallan | Paraykal Thomas | ||
| Theetta Rappai | |||
| Krishnam | Akshays father | ||
| Chanakya Thanthram | Ram Mohan | ||
| Orayiram Kinakkalal | Lalaji | ||
| 2019 | Mr & Ms Rowdy | Varghese Mappila | |
| Lucifer | Mahesha Varma | ||
| Moonam Pralayam | |||
| 1948 Kaalam Paranjathu | |||
| Pattabhiraman | Chengannur Thampuran | ||
| Subharathri | Ummer | ||
| My Santa | Kuttoosan | ||
| 2021 | Drishyam 2 | Vinayachandran | |
| Yuvam | Chief Minister D.K. Srinivasan | ||
| Kaalchilambu | |||
| Karannakaran | |||
| 2022 | Aaraattu | Satyasheelan | |
| DYSP Satyadas | |||
| Salute | Augustine Thomas | ||
| Varaal | |||
| Bachelors | |||
| Ulkkanal | |||
| 2023 | Nalla Nilavulla Rathri | Achayan | [2] |
| 2024 | Abraham Ozler | [3] | |
| Manasa Vacha | [4] | ||
| Marivillin Gopurangal | [5] | ||
| [6] | |||