Venu Nagavally

Venu Nagavally was born on 16 April 1949 as the son of the noted play writer Nagavally R. S. Kurup and Rajamma. Ramachandran, Vasundara and Lalithambika are his siblings.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/28/stories/2003122803880400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040109140537/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/28/stories/2003122803880400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2004|title=Nagavally R.S.Kurup dead|date=28 December 2003|access-date=7 October 2009|work=The Hindu|location=Chennai, India}} He completed his education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram and University College Thiruvananthapuram. He had a bachelor's degree in Politics and a Diploma in journalism. Venu Nagavally died at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010 due to liver cirrhosis. He was 61 at the time of his death, and was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam crematorium on the same day. He is survived by his wife Meera and son Vivek.

Venu started his career as an announcer in Akashvani. He later sung a song in the movie Chottanikkara Amma (1976) but was noticed only in 1978 when he acted in the movie Ulkkadal (1979) directed by K. G. George, thus starting his acting career in movies.{{cite news|title=വേണു നാഗവള്ളി അന്തരിച്ചു|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam+News&contentId=7869515&tabId=11&contentType=EDITORIAL|access-date=9 September 2010|newspaper=Malayala Manorama|language=ml}} His noted movies as an actor are Shalini Ente Koottukari, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Pakshe, and Chillu.

Venu's first movie as a director was Sukhamo Devi (1986) which he himself describes as his own tragical love story. Later he directed the superhit movies Lal Salam, Aey Auto, Aayirappara, Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad etc. Lal Salaam and Rakthasaakshikal Zindabad revolved around the lives of the early Communist leaders of Kerala.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_malayalam-actor-and-director-venu-nagavally-dies_1435664|title = Malayalam actor and director Venu Nagavally dies|date = 9 September 2010}} It was his directorial projects like "Sughamo devi", "Sarvakalashala", "Aey Auto" and "Lal Salam" that cemented Mohanlal's status as a superstar, in the late 1980s.{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/95276/writer-actor-director-venu-nagavally.html|title = Writer, actor, director Venu Nagavally dead|date = 9 September 2010}} Venu has also written scripts for a few movies including the Priyadarshan directed blockbuster movie Kilukkam.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article622966.ece|title=Malayalam actor, director Venu Nagavally dead|date=9 September 2010|work=The Hindu|access-date=9 September 2010|location=Chennai, India}} His first movie as a script writer was Ee Ganam Marakkumo.

His oeuvre also had a strain of his left leanings; in addition to acting in films like Meenamasathile Sooryan (about the Kayyur revolt) and heading the production wing of a pro-left television channel, two of the films he directed – Lal Salam (1990) and Raksthasakhikal Zindabad (1998) – were an introspective look at the rise and fall of communist ideals. Venu examines these issues by dealing with the cracks in political movements, its hopes and later degeneration, create in human relationships.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/17/stories/2010091750880200.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411032312/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/17/stories/2010091750880200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 April 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=The unconventional hero | date=17 September 2010}}

The movies for which he has sung songs include Chillu, Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki, Oru Painkilikatha out of which the song "Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu" from the movie Ente Ammu, Ninte Thulasi, Avarude Chakki became quite popular.{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/flash_back/231172/ |title=ആ സ്‌നേഹത്തണലില്‍, Flash Back - Mathrubhumi Movies |website=www.mathrubhumi.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120232842/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/flash_back/231172/ |archive-date=2011-11-20}}

• Bharya Swantham Suhruthu (2009) (screenplay)
• Vishnu (1994) (screenplay and dialogue)
• Aayirappara (1993) (writer)
• Kalippattam (1993) (writer)
• Kilukkam (1991) (writer)
• Kizhakkunarum Pakshi (1991) (screenplay and dialogue)
• Aye Auto (1990) (writer)
• Ardham (1989) (writer)
• Sarvakalasala (1987) (screenplay and dialogue)
• Sukhamodevi (1986) (writer)
• Gayathri Devi Entae Amma (1985) (Screenplay)
• Guruji Oru Vaakku (1985)
• Daivathae Orthu (1985)
• Ee Gaanam Marakkumo (1978) (screenplay)

• Ente Manasaputhri (Asianet)
• Kadamattath Kathanar (Asianet)
• Mizhi thurakumbol (Surya TV)
• "Thinkalum Tharakangalum" (Amrita TV)
• Marubhumiyil pookkalam
• Ekaakini
• Arohanam
• Chitta (Surya TV)
• Thanichu (Asianet)
• Ohari
• Kurukhetram
• Gandhari
• Mangalyam (Asianet)
• Manaswini (DD Malayalam)
• Thalolam (Asianet)
• Ellam Mayajaalam (Asianet)
• Kannan Vannengil (Surya TV)

{{reflist}}

• [http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Venu%20Nagavally&limit=59 Profile of Malayalam Actor Venu Nagavally]
• {{IMDb name|1964412|name=Venu Nagavalli}}

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Category:Male actors from Alappuzha

Category:Malayalam film directors

Category:Malayalam screenwriters

Category:2010 deaths

Category:1949 births

Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni

Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema

Category:Film directors from Alappuzha district

Category:20th-century Indian male actors

Category:21st-century Indian male actors

Category:Indian male film actors

Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:Screenwriters from Kerala

Category:Indian male television actors

Category:Male actors in Malayalam television