Lal (actor)

Indian actor and filmmaker (born 1958)

Lal

Lal in 2015

Born|

M. P. Michael

(1958-12-02) 2 December 1958 (age 65)

Kochi, Kerala, India

Occupations|

* Actor
* director
* screenwriter
* producer
* distributor

Years active| 1984–present
Spouse|

Nancy Lal

(m. 1987)​

Children| 2 (including Lal Jr.)

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.

## Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

List of Lal awards Award  | Year  | Category  | Film  | Result

|
|
|
|

National Film Awards | 2012 | Special Mention for Acting | Ozhimuri | Won
Kerala State Film Awards | 1991 | Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Godfather
2008 | Best Actor | Thalappavu
2013 | Best Actor | Ayaal; Zachariayude Garbhinikal
Filmfare Awards South | 2008 | Best Actor (Malayalam) | Thalappavu
Asianet Film Awards | 2010 | Best Director | In Ghost House Inn
Vanitha Film Awards | 2012 | Best Star Pair (shared with Shwetha Menon | Salt N' Pepper

## Filmography[edit]

Key  †  | Denotes films that have not yet been released

|

### As an actor[edit]

List of Lal Malayalam film credits  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1994 | Manathe Kottaram | Guest at the wedding | Cameo
1997 | Kaliyattam | Paniyan / Iago  |
1998  | Kanmadam | Johnny  |
Punjabi House | Sikkandar Singh  |
Daya | Kombanali  |
Ormacheppu  | Jeevan  |
1999 | Friends | Man at the park  | Cameo
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil | Parthan  |
Jananaayakan | Misra  |
2000 | Mazha | Chandran  |
Arayannangalude Veedu | Sukumaran  |
Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu | Gowrishankar  |
Thenkasipattanam | Dasappan  |
2001 | Ee Nadu Ennalevare | Plappalli Sreedharan  |
Randam Bhavam | Mohammad Ibrahim  |
Unnathangalil | Shiva  |
One Man Show | Hari Narayanan  |
2002 | Ente Hridayathinte Udama | Pavitran  |
Kannaki | Manikyan  |
Krishna Gopalakrishna | Swamiji  |
Kalyanaraman | Thekkedathu Achuthankutty  |
2003  | Uthara | Ambi  |
Sinkari Bolona | Deva Sharma  |
Anyar | Raghavan  |
Pulival Kalyanam | Karunan  |
2004  | Chathikkatha Chanthu | Film Director Harikrishnan  |
Ee Snehatheerathu | Chinnappa Gounder  |
Black | Devin Carlos Padaveedan  |
2005  | Thommanum Makkalum | Sathyan  |
Banglavil Outha | Outha  |
Chanthupottu | Divakaran  |
2006 | The Don | Kasim Baba  |
Pothan Vava | As Himself  | Cameo
Oruvan | Bharathan  |
2007  | Panthaya Kozhi | Raghavan  |
Time | Dr. Srinivasa Iyengar  |
Rock N Roll | Issac  |
2008  | Pachamarathanalil | Mohammed Ali  |
Thalappavu | S. Raveendran Pillai  |
Aayudham | Swami Antony Williams  |
Twenty:20 | Radhakrishnan  |
2009 | Thirunakkara Perumal |  |
2010  | Aagathan | Major George Joseph  |
April Fool | Dr. Mohana Chandran  |
Penpattanam | Inspector Antony  |
Anwar | Babu Sait  |
Shikkar |  | Cameo in a song
Best Actor | Vandippetta Shaji  |
Kandahar |  |
2011 | Payyans | James Varghese  |
Salt N' Pepper | Kalathipparampil Kalidasan  |
Bombay March 12 |  |
Doctor Love |  | Cameo
Vellaripravinte Changathi | As Himself  |
2012 | Father's Day | Seethalakshmi's suitor  |
Unnam | Sibi  |
Cobra | Kari (Karimoorkhan)  |
Ozhimuri | Thanupillai & Sivanpillai  |
Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu | Ottappalam Unni  |
Little Master |  |
Husbands in Goa | Sunny  |
Chettayees | Jacob  |
2013  | Isaac Newton S/O Philipose | Isaac Newton  |
Maad Dad | Palachottil Geevargees Kuriyakose Easo  | [7]
Shutter | Rasheed  |
10:30 am Local Call | Govindan, Nimmy's father  |
Kaattum Mazhayum | Hajiyar  |
Abhiyum Njaanum | Nandan Menon  |
Ayaal | Gurudasan  |
Honey Bee | HC Michael  |
Buddy | Michael Dominic Savio  |
Sringaravelan | Yesudas  |
Zachariayude Garbhinikal | Zacharia  |
Idukki Gold | Behnnan  |
Vishudhan | Mathew Pokkiriyachan  |
Kadhaveedu | Major Frederick Mukundan  |
2014 | Happy Journey | Gopikrishnan  |
God's Own Country | Mohammad  |
Hi I'm Tony | Tony Kurishingal  |
Iyobinte Pustakam | Iyob  |
Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan |  |
2016 | Swargathekkal Sundaram |  |
32aam adhyayam 23aam vaakyam | Ravi Uncle/R.K. Varma  |
King Liar | Anand Varma  |
Dum | Xavier  |
Pulimurugan | Balaraman  |
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  |
2023 | Dear Vaappi | Tyler Basheer | [8]
2018 |  | [9]
2024 |  Nadikar Thilakam † | TBA | [10]
List of Lal Tamil film credits  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 |  |
2024 | Singapore Saloon | Chacha | [11]
List of Lal Telugu film credits  Year  | Title  | Role

|
|

2006  | Khatarnak | Smuggler
Annavaram | Puranapool Ganga
2009  | Pistha | Vizag Police Commissioner
2019  | Saaho | Ibrahim
2022  | The Warriorr | Kumarappa
2023  | Veera Simha Reddy | Sidhappa
List of Lal film credits in other languages  Year  | Title  | Role  | Language

|
|
|

2007  | Before the Rains | Rajat | English
2009  | Yuvah | Dhoni | Kannada
2019  | Saaho | Ibrahim  | Hindi
List of Lal web series credits  Year  | Title  | Role  | Language  | Platform

|
|
|
|

2023 | Kerala Crime Files | Kurian | Malayalam | Disney+ Hotstar[12]

### Director, writer[edit]

List of Lal film credits as director or writer  Year  | Title  | Credited as  | Notes

|
|
|

Director  | Writer
1986  | Pappan Priyappetta Pappan |  | Yes  |
1987  | Nadodikkattu |  | Story
1989  | Ramji Rao Speaking | Co-director  | Yes  | Directorial debut as Siddique–Lal
1990  | In Harihar Nagar | Co-director  | Yes  |
1991  | Godfather | Co-director  | Yes  |
1992  | Makkal Mahatmyam |  | Story  |
1992  | Vietnam Colony | Co-director  | Yes  |
1993  | Kabooliwala | Co-director  | Yes  |
1993  | Manichithrathazhu | 2nd unit |  |
1995  | Mannar Mathai Speaking |  | Yes  | Sequel to Ramji Rao Speaking
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  | Co-writer  |
2017  | Honey Bee 2.5 |  | Yes  |
2021  | Tsunami | Co-director  | Yes

### Producer, distributor[edit]

List of Lal film credits as producer or distributor  Year  | Title  | Credited as

|
|

1996 | Hitler | Producer
1997 | Superman | Producer
1999 | Friends | Producer
2000 | Thenkasipattanam | Producer
Distributor
2001 | One Man Show | Distributor
2002 | Kalyanaraman | Producer
Distributor
2003 | Swapnakkoodu | Distributor
2004 | Chathikkatha Chanthu | Producer
Distributor
2004 | Black | Producer
Distributor
2005 | Thommanum Makkalum | Producer
Distributor
2005 | Bunglavil Outha | Distributor
2005 | Bharathchandran I.P.S. | Distributor
2005 | Chanthupottu | Producer
Distributor
2006 | Chinthamani Kolacase | Distributor
2006 | Classmates | Distributor
2006 | Pothan Vava | Producer
Distributor
2007 | Panthaya Kozhi | Producer
Distributor
2007 | Nivedyam | Distributor
2007 | Kangaroo | Distributor
2008 | Cycle | Distributor
2008 | Thalappavu | Distributor
2009 | 2 Harihar Nagar | Producer
Distributor
2010 | In Ghost House Inn | Producer
Distributor
2010 | Elsamma Enna Aankutty | Distributor
2010 | Tournament – Play & Replay | Producer
2011 | Salt N' Pepper | Distributor
2011 | Violin | Distributor
2017 | Honey Bee 2: Celebrations | Producer

### Other crew credits[edit]

* 1987: Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal – Script supervisor and assistant director (as Siddique–Lal)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Cochin Kalabhavan". www.cochinkalabhavan.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
2. ^ "Kunchacko's Udaya Studio being razed". Malayala Manorama. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
3. ^ a b "Mathrubhumi English – Acting is easy, direction most satisfying: Filmmaker Lal". Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
4. ^ "A Great year for Malayalam cinema, say National award winners". mathrubhumi.com. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
5. ^ "Lal: I was depressed on the first-day shoot of 'Ponniyin Selvan'!". Sify. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
6. ^ "Taanakkaran Movie Review: A powerful film about a lesser-known problem". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
7. ^ Sudhish, Navamy (31 July 2012). "Director Revathy S Varma, on 'Mad Dad'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
8. ^ "Lal, Anagha Narayanan headline Dear Vaappi". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
9. ^ "Jude Anthony Joseph Unveils Title of his Upcoming Film Based on 2018 Kerala Floods". News18. 5 November 2022. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
10. ^ "Tovino's Nadikar Thilakam shoot completed". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
11. ^ "RJ Balaji's Singapore Saloon gets a release date". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
12. ^ "Aju Varghese and Lal look intense in Kerala Crime Files first look poster". The Indian Express. 21 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Lal at IMDb
* Lal Actor/ Director SNP Database

* v
* t
* e

National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film)

* Mrinal Sen and Muzaffar Ali (1978)
* - (1979)
* - (1980)
* - (1981)
* - (1982)
* Kumar Shahani (1983)
* - (1984)
* - (1985)
* Sandip Ray (1986)
* - (1987)
* Aamir Khan (1988)
* Mohanlal and Anupam Kher (1989)
* Anoubham Kiranmala (1990)
* Mamata Shankar and Raveendran (1991)
* Sibaprasad Sen (1992)
* Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Indradhanura Chhai (1993)
* Mahesh Mahadevan, Bishnu Kharghoria and S. Kumar (1994)
* Uttara Baokar, Rohini, and Benaf Dadachandji (1995)
* Dolon Roy and Bhagirathee (1996)
* Nagarjuna and Jomol (1997)
* Dasari Narayana Rao, Prakash Raj, and Manju Warrier (1998)
* Mohan Joshi, Manju Borah and Kavitha Lankesh (1999)
* - (2000)
* Panoi-Jongki (2001)
* Jyothirmayi (2002)
* H. G. Dattatreya and Nedumudi Venu (2003)
* Gurdas Maan and Pradeep Nair (2004)
* - (2005)
* Thilakan and Prosenjit Chatterjee (2006)
* - (2007)
* - (2008)
* Padmapriya Janakiraman (2009)
* K. Shivaram Karanth and V. I. S. Jayabalan (2010)
* Mallika and Sherrey (2011)
* Lal, H. G. Dattatreya, Bishnu Kharghoria, Parineeti Chopra, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Hansraj Jagtap, and Thilakan (2012)
* Gauri Gadgil, Sanjana Rai, and Anjali Patil (2013)
* Musthafa, Palomi Ghosh, and Parth Bhalerao (2014)
* Rinku Rajguru, Jayasurya, and Ritika Singh (2015)
* Kadvi Hawa, Mukti Bhawan, Adil Hussain, and Sonam Kapoor (2016)
* Pankaj Tripathi, Parvathy, Prakruti Mishra, and Yasharaj Karhade (2017)
* Sruthi Hariharan, Chandrachoor Rai, Joju George, and Savithri Sreedharan (2018)

* v
* t
* e

Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor

1969–1980|

* Sathyan (1969)
* Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair (1970)
* Sathyan (1971)
* Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair (1972)
* P. J. Antony (1973)
* Adoor Bhasi (1974)
* Sudheer (1975)
* M. G. Soman (1976)
* Bharath Gopi (1977)
* Sukumaran (1978)
* Adoor Bhasi (1979)
* Achankunju (1980)

1981–2000|

* Nedumudi Venu (1981)
* Bharath Gopi (1982–1983)
* Mammootty (1984)
* Bharath Gopi (1985)
* Mohanlal (1986)
* Nedumudi Venu (1987)
* Premji (1988)
* Mammootty (1989)
* Thilakan (1990)
* Mohanlal (1991)
* Murali (1992)
* Mammootty (1993)
* Thilakan (1994)
* Mohanlal (1995)
* Murali (1996)
* Suresh Gopi (1997)
* Murali (1998)
* Mohanlal (1999)
* O. Madhavan (2000)

2001–2020|

* Murali (2001)
* Oduvil Unnikrishnan (2002)
* Nedumudi Venu (2003)
* Mammootty (2004)
* Mohanlal (2005)
* Prithviraj Sukumaran (2006)
* Mohanlal (2007)
* Lal (2008)
* Mammootty (2009)
* Salim Kumar (2010)
* Dileep (2011)
* Prithviraj Sukumaran (2012)
* Fahadh Faasil and Lal (2013)
* Sudev Nair and Nivin Pauly (2014)
* Dulquer Salmaan (2015)
* Vinayakan (2016)
* Indrans (2017)
* Jayasurya and Soubin Shahir (2018)
* Suraj Venjaramood (2019)
* Jayasurya (2020)

2021–present|

* Biju Menon and Joju George (2021)
* Mammootty (2022)

* v
* t
* e

Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actor

1972–1989|

* Madhu (1972)
* P. J. Antony (1973)
* Kamal Haasan (1974)
* Adoor Bhasi (1975)
* Madhu (1976)
* Madhu (1977)
* Kamal Haasan (1978)
* Prathap Pothan (1979)
* Prathap Pothan (1980)
* Nedumudi Venu (1981)
* Bharath Gopi (1982)
* Bharath Gopi (1983)
* Mammootty (1984)
* Mammootty (1985)
* Mohanlal (1986)
* Nedumudi Venu (1987)
* Mohanlal (1988)
* Premji (1989)

1990–2009|

* Mammootty (1990)
* Mammootty (1991)
* Murali (1992)
* Mohanlal (1993)
* Mohanlal (1994)
* Mohanlal (1995)
* Jayaram (1996)
* Mammootty (1997)
* Balachandra Menon (1998)
* Mohanlal (1999)
* Mammootty (2000)
* Jayaram (2001)
* Dileep (2002)
* Jayaram (2003)
* Mammootty (2004)
* Mohanlal (2005)
* Mammootty (2006)
* Mohanlal (2007)
* Lal (2008)
* Mammootty (2009)

2010–present|

* Mammootty (2010)
* Salim Kumar (2011)
* Fahadh Faasil (2012)
* Fahadh Faasil (2013)
* Mammootty (2014)
* Mammootty (2015)
* Nivin Pauly (2016)
* Fahadh Faasil (2017)
* Joju George (2018)
* Biju Menon (2020-2021)

* v
* t
* e

Films by Lal

Writer & Director|

| as Siddique–Lal|

* Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
* In Harihar Nagar (1990)
* Godfather (1991)
* Vietnam Colony (1992)
* Kabooliwala (1993)
* Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995)

|

alone|

* 2 Harihar Nagar (2009)
* In Ghost House Inn (2010)
* Tournament – Play & Replay (2010)
* Cobra (2012)
* King Liar (2016)

Writer|

| as Siddique–Lal|

* Pappan Priyappetta Pappan (1986)
* Nadodikkattu (1987)
* Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995)
* Hera Pheri (2000)

|

alone|

* Honey Bee 2.5 (2017)

Producer|

* Hitler (1996)
* Superman (1997)
* Friends (1999)
* Tournament – Play & Replay (2010)
* Honey Bee 2: Celebrations (2017)

| & Distributor|

* Thenkasipattanam (2000)
* Kalyanaraman (2002)
* Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004)
* Black (2004)
* Thommanum Makkalum (2005)
* Chanthupottu (2005)
* Pothan Vava (2006)
* Panthaya Kozhi (2007)
* 2 Harihar Nagar (2009)
* In Ghost House Inn (2010)
* Chanthupottu (2005)

|

Distributor|

* One Man Show (2001)
* Swapnakkoodu (2003)
* Bunglavil Outha (2005)
* Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005)
* Chinthamani Kolacase (2006)
* Classmates (2006)
* Nivedyam (2003)
* Kangaroo (2003)
* Cycle (2003)
* Thalappavu (2008)
* Elsamma Enna Aankutty (2010)
* Salt N' Pepper (2011)
* Violin (2003)

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[m.]: married
*[†]: Film has not yet been released
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