Malayalam Movie Review Palunku - Cast & Crew

Lakshmi Sharma is the glamorous Mollywood actress renowned for her acting in some noted Malayalam films. She had left her mark in the heart of Mollywood. Although she made her debut in Telugu films, she could not become popular in Tollywood. She came to Hyderabad from Vijayawada to pursue her dream to become a heroine. So she adjusted herself even in a side actress role in’’ Ammo Okato Thareeku’’(2000). Her first film remuneration was Rs 20,000. Quite upset in her career in Telugu films, she migrated to Kerala where she was offered some good movies. She had left Tollywood due to lack of heroine roles and surprised everyone by doing 10 films as a heroine in Malayalam films later on. The actress made her debut into Malayalam films through the Mammootty starrer film ‘Palunku’(2006). The film was directed by Blessy. She was born in Andhra Pradesh. She was keen to act in cinema since her childhood. She acted with Chiranjeevi too in “Indra”(2002), but the actress went un-noticed. She acted in 12 Telugu films, but since her films were not appreciated, she considered this as a setback in her career. She had then chances of doing some Malayalam movies and even had a chance to act in two Kannada film too. Although she was not a huge star in Tollywood, she had definitely utilized her skills of acting in every film that she had acted so far. She always felt that whenever she tried her luck to get a heroine role in Telugu cinema, she was sidelined and offers were not too impressive either. Later, she attended a screen test by a professional filmmaker in Chennai in 2005. Her photos and video footage impressed star Malayalam director Blessy and she started getting offers. This is how she made her foray in Mollywood. Kerala audiences found a Srividya in her. After her success in big screen, she did a title role in the Telugu TV serial Durga. Her second life began with TV industry now. She has some offers even in Malayalam TV screen too.

This bubbly girl with expressive eyes was an anchor before taking up the role of an actress in Malayalam cinema. The 2006 flick Palunku was her first film and she was a child then (10 years). She enacted the role of Mammooty’s daughter in the film and her performance was very much lauded. She tried her luck with some other flicks in Malayalam. Before taking up leading roles, this cute girl did some supporting portrayals. In 2013 she debuted as a lead heroine with the movie Maad Dad which didn’t create ripples in the box office. She had also acted in few Tamil films. Neram, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, Raja Rani and Bangalore Days are some of her hit films. 

Born on 20th December 1994, Nazriya was inclined in taking up something related to business. Later she quit college and it is believed that she was busy shooting. Before shifting to Thiruvananthapuram she was living in UAE. 

Nazriya’s album Yuvh became very popular and it was liked by the youth. The 2013 flick Neram was a bilingual film, both Malayalam and Tamil and it was a big success. Later she did few Tamil flicks including Raja Rani, Thirumanam Enum Nikkah and Naiyaandi. 

Nazriya has donned the role of an anchor for some Malayalam projects. Munch Star Singer Junior of Asianet gave her recognition as an anchor. This is a talent hunt program. Being a kids program, it was well received by the audience. She worked as a VJ for a decade for several television channels. 

Nazriya has that innate acting skills in her and she received several awards. Romance blossomed between Nazriya and co-star Fahadh Faasil on the sets of the Malayalam flick Bangalore Days. They got married on 21st August 2014. Nazriya is indeed an actress to reckon with in Malayalam and Tamil film industry.

Blessy is a Malayalam film director and screenwriter who was earlier associated with veterans of film industry such as Padmarajan and Lohithadas and was an assistant director to both of them. Blessy got his first break as a director and screenwriter in the movie ‘Kaazcha’ in 2004. It was his debut movie which depicted Mammootty as a film operator who tours the countryside with his 16 mm projector and shows his films at festivals and functions. The film also dealt with an orphaned boy who was a victim of Gujarat earthquake and meeting Mammootty changes his life. This film fetched him Kerala State Film Awards. The biggest asset of Kaazcha is the story, and screenplay by Blessy and even Mammootty proved that no other actor can match up to his skills of acting in such roles. He was the heart of the movie. 

Mohan Sithara is a Malayalam music composer who made his debut into movie world in 1986. Since his childhood, he was deeply interested in music. At the age of 14, he became an expert violinist, and he began his music career as a violinist. He joined a music troupe ‘Mohan Sithara’ and got his name credited as Mohan Sithara too later in his career. Later he engaged himself playing violin with leading music composers such as M G Radhakrishnan, Shyam, etc. He even played orchestra in music composer Perumbavoor G Raveendranath’s film ‘Thoovanathumbikal’ which became a hit. 

Kaithpram Damodaran Namboothiri is a famous Malayalam Lyrist, Actor, Singer, Writer and Music Director. Born on January 1^st, 1950 in village Kaithpram, he is also a famous performer of Carnatic music. His father is Keshavan Namboothiri who is widely known as Kannadi Bhagavatar, known as the disciple of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar. His mother is Anjali Antharjanam. His preferred language of performance remains to be Malayalam. He has completed music and acting at the school of Natyagruha. His wife is Devi Antharjanam who is the daughter of actor Unnikrishnan Namboothiri. His kids are Deepankuran and Devadarshan. Deepankuran has also sung for Desadanam and many more songs for various films.

Alex Paul is a music director by profession in the Indian film industry. He is a composer and a musician as well and works mainly in the Malayalam movies, where he is a well-known personality. He was born on 21 November in the year 1961 in Kochi, Kerala, India. His father is A. M. Paul who is a famous music artist and formed the first ever orchestra troupe at the places Kochi and Philomena.

Anwar Sadath was born on January 6, 1981, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu (Chennai). Anwar Sadath is also known as Anwar Saduth. He is a follower of the Hindu religion. He is an Indian film singer and producer who has primarily worked in the Malayalam film industry. Anwar has worked in major films such as “Madura Raja” and “School Diary”.

Jassie Gift is a music composer and singer who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He predominantly works for Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil movies and is currently, based in Bengaluru.

Raja Mohammad is an editor for Indian films and is involved in the working of the Malayalam and the Tamil film industries. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Raja Mohammad has received much critical fame in his career. In his early ventures, Raja was involved in the editing and work on Malayalam movies. The first movie he worked on was in 2002 by the name 'Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari’. In the coming years, he worked on subsequent films - ‘Kaazhcha’ in 2004, 'Thanmathra’ in 2005 and 'Palunku’ in 2006.

Muhammed Kutty Ismail Paniparambil is the original name of Mammootty, the Malayalam superstar. Having working in more than 300 movies he is still a star to reckon with, in Malayalam film industry. Apart from acting, he was also a lawyer. Currently he is busy with philanthropic works too.

Born on 7th September 1951, Mammootty also donned the role of a producer. He has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada, other than Malayalam films. He garnered the National Award for his acting skills, thrice in his career. He shares this feat with veteran actor Kamal Haasan. 5 Kerala State Film Awards and a dozen Filmfare Awards also decorate his cupboard. Mammootty was bestowed with Padmashri during 1998. He is fondly called as Mammukka or Megastar by Malayalam fans.

Hailing from Kottayam, Kerala, Mammootty, after studying in Maharajah College, he pursued law at the Ernakulam Government Law College. Mammootty entered the film industry through the insignificant role in the film Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971. The flick Devalokam was the first flick in which he played the lead role. Sphodanam and Trishna made Mammootty a star to reckon with in Malayalam cinema.

Mammootty was very much lauded for his performance in the flick New Delhi. Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is the another film which provided the perfect fodder to his acting skills. Some of the other notable films of Mammukka include August 15, Pranchiyettan & The Saint, Drona 2010, Kutty Shrank, Nazrani, Pazhassi Raja, Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, Yugapurushan, Maunam Sammatham, Thalapathy, Swathi Kiranam, Balram vs Tharadas and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Mammootty’s penchant towards acting made him to take both commercial and offbeat roles with equal panache. Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salman is a rising star in Malayalam film industry now.

In his career, Mammootty acted with several actors and actresses. Mammootty also involved himself in the production of some serials in television. Mammootty is credited with the responsibility of Akshaya project’s goodwill ambassador. He also supports various other social causes, including a project pertaining to health.

Jagathy Sreekumar, a famous Indian film actor known for his comedy roles. His original name is Sreekumar Achary known by his screen name Jagathy. Sreekumar was born in 1951 in Jagathy, Trivandrum.His father was a drama artist, and he worked for all India radio. He did his schooling in Trivandrum and completed his graduation from Mar Ivanious College Trivandrum. He first started his career as a medical representative and due to his immense passion towards the film, he turned to the film industry and became an actor.

During his school and college days itself, he acted in dramas and play and became a theater artist. He started his film career in the movie Chattambi Kalyani directed by J Sasikumar in 1975.After that, he did small roles, and later he became popular for his comedy roles. In 1976 after his after Jagathy married to Mallika Sukumaran and Jagathy at that time was at the starting stage of his career. Mallika was a lead actress in the industry also. Later they got separated, and Jagathy continued with his acting. Jagathy mentions his father as a strict person and in interviews, he always mentions about his father.Jagathy film journey continued and in 1979 he again married Kala, and the couple had a daughter Sreelakshmi. Later in 1984, the relationship ended with a divorce. Kalpavriksham, Madalasa, Ethoruswapnam, Pappu, Munettam, Adipan, Yavanika, Ayityham, Jaalakam, Shikkar, Naayika, Udayananu Taram, etc. were his famous hits. In 1984, Jagathy again married Shobha and has one son and daughter.

Jagathy directed two films in Malayalam Kalyanaunnikal and Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikunu. 1990's Jagathy Kalpana combination was a hit and almost all films the pair joined. He wrote the screen play for the movie champion Thomas in 1990.Apart from all these Jagathy also tried his luck as a playback singer and sung almost five songs in Malayalam.

Jagathy got many awards for his performance, and he is in Guinness book of world records for completing 1500 films .he got 5 Kerala state film award,2 Kerala film critics award, Bahadoor Award in 2003, Prem Nazir ward in 2005, etc. He got The Kochi Times Film Award for his negative role in the movie Urumi.

During the peak point of his career in 2012 Jagathy met with an accident while returning to his house after film shoot. Jagathy was hospitalized over 1 year and is still recovering from his injuries. There is only one Jagathy in Indian cinema and nobody can ever replace his place.   The name Jagathy Sreekumar echoes in the mind of every malayalee audience and all are waiting for his comeback.

Nedumudi Venu was born on 22nd May 1948. He is commonly known as Kesavan Venu Gopal. His parents are PK Kesavan Nair and Kunjikkuttiyamma in Nedumudi Alappuzha in Kerala. He had four siblings, all brothers. His father was a schoolmaster. Nedumudi completed his primary education at NSS Higher Secondary School and St Mary's Higher Secondary School, Champakulam. During school days, he was interested in music and arts.