Kochi: Tributes are pouring in for noted Malayalam actor, screenwriter and director Nedumudi Venu, (Venugopal) 73, who passed away due to liver-related ailments at Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. Mortel remains of the veteran actor was kept at Mahatma Ayyankali Hall (VJT Hall) in Thiruvananthapuram for the public to pay last respects. Expressing his condolence, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Nedumudi’s passing away was an irreparable loss. Nedumudi’s last rites will be held at Thycadu Santhi Kavadam at 2 p.m.
He had recovered from covid infection and subsequently become sick, media reports said. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Nedumudi, who showed exceptional acting and singing talent as a student in school and college began his career as a journalist and left it to try his skills as a teacher in a parallel college.
Simultaneously, he was involved with theatres which made his entry into films easy. His acquaintance with noted film personalities like Aravindan, Padmarajan and Bharath Gopi helped him considerably.
His maiden popular film was Thambu in 1978 directed by G Aravindan. Nedumudi acted in more than 500 films, wrote screenplays and directed one film. He got more recognition after doing Oridathoru Phayalwan and Kallan Pavithran. He was the youngest of five boys in his family.
The scripts of Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Theertham, Sruthi, Ambada Njaane!, Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha, Savidham and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu were written by him. He directed Pooram. The was also part of two super hit Tamil movies, Indian and Anniyan.
Nedumudi won three national film awards and six Kerala state film awards. He won the Best Actor award for his role in Saira at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival in 2007.
