Two-time National Film Award winner Nedumudi Venu passes away — Here’s a look back at his finest characters

Kesavan Venugopal, a Malayalam cinema icon, who was popularly known by...

...his stage name Nedumudi Venu passed away on Monday.

Venu had acted in more than 500 movies and has written several screenplays and directed a film as well.

He was a two-time National Film Award winner and had won the Kerala State Film Awards six times.

His Highness Abdullah

A Malayalam musical thriller drama directed by Sibi Malayil revolves around Abdullah, a character in dire need of money, who accepts the job of murdering King Thampuran (played by Venu). For this film, Venu won his first national award for Best Supporting Actor.

Chithram

A Malayalam comedy, which was released in 1988, is about Kalyani who gets dumped by her boyfriend just before marriage and her father, who is unaware of this news, comes home to spend time with her daughter and son-in-law in Kerala. Venu plays advocate Kaimal, a friend of Kalyani’s father, who ropes in a thief to act as Kalyani’s husband.

Bharatham

A Malayalam musical drama written by A. K. Lohithadas is interpreted as a modern-day adaptation of the Ramayana from Bharatha's perspective. Venu plays the unforgettable role of Kalloor Ramanathan, a brilliant classical singer who falls from grace because of alcoholism. Mohanlal, who acts as Ramanathan’s brother, bagged the National Film Award for Best Actor for this movie.

Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam

Directed by Bharathan and written by the legendary John Paul, this is a sad narrative about a Malayali couple who grieves of being childless. Venu, as Ravunni Nair, is almost perfect in portraying the sadness of being a childless father and with as much rigour the cheerfulness of being loved by a daughter- figure.

Anniyan

This action-packed superhit Tamil movie is given a larger-than-life depiction by iconic director S Shankar. The film is all about Ramanujan, a lawyer who suffers from a multiple personality disorder. Venu plays a short but pivotal role as Parthasarathy Iyengar, father of the protagonist.

Indian

The Tamil film focuses on an ex-army officer who targets ministers and bureaucrats and decides to teach them a lesson by making them work without accepting bribes. Venu plays the role of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer.

Thanmathra

This is an emotional drama, which is about a man — played by Mohanlal — who is suddenly detected with Alzheimer’s and he starts becoming forgetful and lost. His death leaves his family devastated. Venu brings out an array of emotions on screen as the father of the protagonist.

Margam

This film is an adaptation of Pithru Tharpanam, which is written by M Sukumaran. The story revolves around a revolutionary who lives a secluded life in a state of clinical depression after the ill-fate of his rebels. Venu, who acted in the main role, got a Special Mention in the National Film Awards of 2003 for this film.

Thakara

Released in 1979, this movie -- directed by Bharathan and written by Padmarajan -- is about an orphan who is deceived for having an intimate relationship with a girl he loves. He goes to an extreme length to marry her. Nedumudi Venu’s portrayal of Chellappanashari in this movie is one of his most memorable performances ever.