Lal (actor)

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.

Lal
Lal in 2015
Born
M. P. Michael

(1958-12-02) 2 December 1958
Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • distributor
Years active1984–present
Spouse
Nancy Lal
(m. 1987)
Children2 (including Lal Jr.)

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][3]

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.[3] 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.[4] He was the winner of two state film Awards for Best Actor in Thalappavu (2008), Ayaal (2013) and Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013).

Lal, who also plays an important role in Karthi's Sulthan (2021) and also heaped praise on Mari Selvaraj for Karnan (2021).[5] 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.[6]

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

Award Year Category Film Result
National Film Awards2012Special Mention for ActingOzhimuriWon
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

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

As an actor

Malayalam films
YearTitleRole Notes
1994Manathe KottaramGuest at the wedding Cameo Appearance
1997KaliyattamPaniyan / Iago
1998 KanmadamJoseph
Punjabi HouseSikkandar Singh
DayaKombanali
Ormacheppu Jeevan
1999FriendsMan at the park Cameo Appearance
Chandranudikkunna DikhilParthan
JananaayakanMisra
2000MazhaChandran
Arayannangalude VeeduSukumaran
Nakshathragal ParayathirunnathuGowrishankar
ThenkasipattanamDasappan
2001Ee Nadu EnnalevarePlappalli Sreedharan
Randam BhavamMohammad Ibrahim
UnnathangalilShiva
One Man ShowHari Narayanan
2002Ente Hridayathinte UdamaPavitran
KannakiManikyan
Krishna GopalakrishnaSwamiji
KalyanaramanThekkedathu Achuthankutty
2003 UtharaAmbi
Sinkari BolonaDeva Sharma
AnyarRaghavan
Pulival KalyanamKarunan
2004 Chathikkatha ChanthuFilm Director Harikrishnan
Ee SnehatheerathuChinnappa Gounder
BlackDevin Carlos Padaveedan
2005 Thommanum MakkalumSathyan
Banglavil OuthaOutha
ChanthupottuDivakaran
2006The DonKasim Baba
Pothan VavaAs Himself Cameo Appearance
OruvanBharathan
2007 Panthaya KozhiRaghavan
TimeDr. Srinivasa Iyengar
Rock N RollIssac
2008 PachamarathanalilMohammed Ali
ThalappavuS. Raveendran Pillai
AayudhamSwami Antony Williams
Twenty:20Radhakrishnan
2009Thirunakkara Perumal
2010 AagathanMajor George Joseph
April FoolDr. Mohana Chandran
PenpattanamInspector Antony
AnwarBabu Sait
Shikkar Cameo in a song
Best ActorVandippetta Shaji
Kandahar
2011PayyansJames Varghese
Salt N' PepperKalathipparampil Kalidasan
Bombay March 12
Doctor Love Cameo appearance
Vellaripravinte ChangathiAs Himself
2012Father's DaySeethalakshmi's suitor
UnnamSibi
CobraKari (Karimoorkhan)
OzhimuriThanupillai & Sivanpillai
Scene Onnu Nammude VeeduOttappalam Unni
Little Master
Husbands in Goa Sunny
ChettayeesJacob
2013 Isaac Newton S/O PhiliposeIsaac Newton
Maad DadPalachottil Geevargees Kuriyakose Easo
ShutterRasheed
10:30 am Local CallGovindan, Nimmy's father
Kaattum MazhayumHajiyar
Abhiyum NjaanumNandan Menon
AyaalGurudasan
Honey BeeHC Michael
Buddy Michael Dominic Savio
SringaravelanYesudas
Zachariayude GarbhinikalZacharia
Idukki GoldBehnnan
VishudhanMathew Pokkiriyachan
KadhaveeduMajor Frederick Mukundan
2014Happy JourneyGopikrishnan
God's Own CountryMohammad
Hi I'm TonyTony Kurishingal
Iyobinte PustakamIyob
Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan
2016Swargathekkal Sundaram
32aam adhyayam 23aam vaakyamRavi Uncle/R.K. Varma
King LiarAnand Varma
DumXavier
PulimuruganBalaraman
Kappiri Thuruthu Kadalakka Ustad
2017 Fukri Ramzan Ali Fukri
Honey Bee 2 : Celebrations Michael
Oru Cinemakkaaran Thomas
Zacharia Pothen Jeevichirippundu Saji
Chunkzz Varkichan
Honey Bee 2.5 As Himself
Oru Visheshapetta Biriyanikissa Abu Musaliyar Mowlavi
Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela K C Chacko
2018 Iblis Shreedharan
Vallikudilile Vellakaaran Joseph
2019 Pengalila Azhagan
Thelivu Khalid
Helen Paul
Thakkol Metropolitan Archbishop
2020 Al Mallu Father Paul
Silencer Eenasu
Anveshanam Dr.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 Mathews Mar Athanasius / Marthoma XIII
Vichithram Alexander
2023Dear VaappiTyler Basheer[7]
2018[8]
Tamil films
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Engal Anna Sundaralingam / Veerapandi
2005 Sandakozhi Kasi
2007 Marudhamalai Maasi
Oram Po Bigil
Aalwar Punniyamoorthy
Madurai Veeran Mayandi
Deepavali Chidambaram
Rameswaram Vasanthi's father
2008 Kaalai Jeevanandham IPS
2009 Thoranai Chennai Police Commissioner
Anthony Yaar? Michael
Azhagar Malai Rathnavelu
2010 Porkkalam Aslam Bhai
2013 Kutti Puli Arjunan
2015 Chandi Veeran Thamarai'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
Ponniyin Selvan: I Tirukoilur Malaiyaman
2023 Ponniyin Selvan: II
Maamannan CM Sindhanai Rajan
Tamil Kudimagan
Other language films
Year Title Role Language Notes
2006 Khatarnak Smuggler Telugu
Annavaram Puranapool Ganga
2007 Before the Rains RajatEnglish
2009 Pistha Vizag Police Commissioner Telugu
2019 Saaho Ibrahim Telugu Multilingual film
Hindi
2022 The Warriorr KumarappaTelugu
2023 Veera Simha Reddy Sidhappa
Web series
Year Title Role Language Platform
2023Kerala Crime FilesKurianMalayalamDisney+ Hotstar[9]

Director, writer

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer
1986 Pappan Priyappetta Pappan Yes
1987 Nadodikkattu Yes Story Only
1989 Ramji Rao Speaking Yes Yes Directorial debut as Siddique–Lal
1990 In Harihar Nagar Yes Yes
1991 Godfather Yes Yes
1992 Makkal Mahatmyam Yes Story
1992 Vietnam Colony Yes Yes
1993 Kabooliwala Yes Yes
1993 Manichithrathazhu 2nd unit Second unit director
1995 Mannar Mathai Speaking Yes Sequel to Ramji Rao Speaking
2000 Hera Pheri Yes Hindi remake of Ramji Rao Speaking
2004 Hulchul No Yes Story only; remake of Godfather
2009 2 Harihar Nagar Yes Yes Debut as independent director
2010 In Ghost House Inn Yes Yes Sequel to 2 Harihar Nagar
2010 Tournament – Play & Replay Yes Yes
2012 Cobra Yes Yes
2016 King Liar Yes Yes Co-written with Siddique
2017 Honey Bee 2.5 Yes
2021 Tsunami Yes Yes Co-directed with his son

Producer, distributor

YearTitleCredited as
1996Hitler Producer
1997Superman Producer
1999Friends Producer
2000Thenkasipattanam Producer
Distributor
2001One Man Show Distributor
2002Kalyanaraman Producer
Distributor
2003Swapnakkoodu Distributor
2004Chathikkatha Chanthu Producer
Distributor
2004Black Producer
Distributor
2005Thommanum Makkalum Producer
Distributor
2005Bunglavil Outha Distributor
2005Bharathchandran I.P.S. Distributor
2005Chanthupottu Producer
Distributor
2006Chinthamani Kolacase Distributor
2006Classmates Distributor
2006Pothan Vava Producer
Distributor
2007Panthaya Kozhi Producer
Distributor
2007Nivedyam Distributor
2007Kangaroo Distributor
2008Cycle Distributor
2008Thalappavu Distributor
20092 Harihar Nagar Producer
Distributor
2010In Ghost House Inn Producer
Distributor
2010Elsamma Enna Aankutty Distributor
2010Tournament – Play & Replay Producer
2011Salt N' Pepper Distributor
2011Violin Distributor
2017Honey Bee 2: Celebrations Producer

Other crew credits

References

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