Vineeth Radhakrishnan (born 23 August 1969) is an Indian actor, Bharatanatyam dancer, voice artist and choreographer who primarily works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu language films. He has also appeared in a few Hindi and Kannada films. He has won several awards including 3 Kerala State Film Awards, Kalaimamani honour from Government of Tamil Nadu and Filmfare Award South nominations.

Vineeth
Vineeth in 2008
Born (1969-08-23) 23 August 1969 (age 55)[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • voice artist
  • choreographer
Years active1985 – present
Spouse
Priscilla Menon
(m. 2004)
Children1
RelativesShobana (cousin)
FamilySee Travancore family
HonoursKalaimamani (2007)

Early life

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Vineeth was born to K. T. Radhakrishnan and P. K. Shanthakumari on 23 August 1969 at Thalassery in Kannur district, Kerala. His family hail from Travancore region (present-day Southern Kerala districts).[2] He has a sister, Kavitha Dinesh.[3] He attended Good Shepherd International School, Ooty, St Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thalassery and Devagiri College, Kozhikode[4] He pursued Bachelor of Commerce from The New College in 1991.

Vineeth is the nephew of Ramachandran Nair, the husband of actress Padmini of the Travancore sisters.[5] His aunt, Padmini and her sister, Ragini convinced his parents to send him to dancing school. Actress Shobana is his cousin.[6]

He started training in Bharathanatyam at the age of six, and won several dance prizes while a student, including the first prize at the Kerala School Kalolsavam for four years in a row[1] also winning the top title of "Kalaprathibha" in 1986.[citation needed]

Film career

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Vineeth entered films with the I. V. Sasi film Idanilangal in 1985, and caught the public eye with his second film, Nakhakshathangal, in 1986. His dancing skills were prominently displayed in several films as well. He played the lead characters in Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha (1987), a story by poet Balachandran Chullikkadu and Oru Muthassi Katha (1988) directed by Priyadarshan. Aavarampoo (1992), the Tamil remake of Thakara changed everything for Vineeth directed by Bharathan. As soon as Aavarampoo ended, Hariharan called him for Sargam (1992), in which he played a musical genius. Suddenly Vineeth was doing multiple films in Malayalam and Tamil. Kabooliwala (1994) and Manathe Vellitheru (1994) became two turning points in his Malayalam career, one establishing him as a young romantic hero, the other proving he could handle negative shades really well. Though his films impressed both critics and front benchers, he did not become a super hero, a sought after actor.[6] He had appeared in maximum Malayalam films. But his career did not pick up as expected.[7]

 
Ayesha Jhulka, Vineeth in 1998 Kannada film Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene

His roles in successful Tamil films also include Gentleman (1993), Pudhiya Mugam (1993), Jaathi Malli (1993) and May Maadham (1994). Among other projects came Kadhal Desam (1996), where Vineeth and Abbas played college students in love with the same woman, played by Tabu. The movie, with its themes of friendship and romance and the music of A. R. Rahman, became very popular. He has acted in several well received films since then in all South Indian languages. In spite of his success in films, he still considers dance as his first love and is undergoing advanced training in Bharatanatyam and participates in several dance programmes all over the world as well as the Surya Dance Festival.[8] He has worked in several Telugu films such as Aaro Pranam (1997), Maa Annayya (2000), Ammayi Kosam (2001), Nee Premakai (2002) and Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002). Vineeth, who disappeared from both Tamil and Malayalam cinema, made a comeback with Rajinikanth starrer Chandramukhi (2005).[9] He played the same role in the Hindi version of Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) as well.[10] He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreography for Kambhoji in 2017. Vineeth's last film release was the G. V. Prakash Kumar starrer Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019) in Tamil. It was a musical drama that was written and directed by Rajiv Menon.[11] Actor singer Krishnachandran dubbed for Vineeth in most of his early movies. Ironically, Vineeth won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist in 2020 for giving voice to Vivek Oberoi's character in Lucifer, actor Prithviraj’s first as a director.[12] In Malayalam, he was seen in Kavya Prakash's debut film Vaanku (2021), based on a story by Unni R.[11] In Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, he dubbed for the character played by Tamil star Arjun Sarja. Vineeth won the award for his dubbing.[13]

Personal life

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Vineeth married Priscilla Menon, who hails from Thalassery, in August 2004.[14] They live in Chennai, and a daughter was born to them in 2006.[15]

 
Vineeth performing at Utsav Music and Krishna Gana Sabha on ′International Dance Day’, 30 April 2012

Awards and nominations

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Filmography

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Malayalam films

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Year Film Role Notes
1985 Idanilangal Kunjumon
1986 Nakhakshathangal Ramu
Pranamam Appukuttan
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal Antony
Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha Ananth
1987 Oridathu Josekutty
Amrutham Gamaya Unnikrishnan
Rithubhedam Keshavan
Ponnu
Kanikanum Neram Vinu
1988 Aranyakam Mohan
Kanakambarangal Rajan
Janmandharam Unnikrishnan
Oru Muthassi Katha Chanthu
1989 Mahayanam Rameshan
Rugmini
1990 Lal Salam Medayil Josekutty
Kattukuthira Mohan
Aaram Vardil Aabhyanthara Kalaham
1992 Champakulam Thachan Chanthutti
Aacharyan Abraham
Daivathinte Vikrithikal Son of Landlord Kerala State Film Critics Association Second Best Actor Award
Kamaladalam Somashekharanunni (Malavika's lover)
Sargam Haridas Kerala State Film Critics Association Second Best Actor Award
1993 Gazal Muneer
Samooham Udayan
Kalippattam Harikrishnan
Kabuliwala Munna
Kanyakumariyil Oru Kavitha Vishnu
Arthana Jayakrishnan
1994 Manathe Vellitheru Ramesh
Parinayam Madhavan
Daivathinte Vikrithikal Landlord's son
1995 Thakshashila Salman
Highway Vinod Menon
Thacholi Varghese Chekavar Shyam
1996 Kala Pani G S Sethu Dubbed in Tamil as Sirai Chaalai
Hitler Whistling Passenger Cameo appearance
Kavadam Unreleased
1998 Manjeeradhwani Manu
1999 Mazhavillu Vijay Krishnan
Prempujari Murali
Ustaad Nandan
2000 Darling Darling Subash Chandra Bose/ Kochu Kurup / Aniyankutty (fake identity)
2004 Perumazhakkalam Raghu Rama Iyer Guest Appearance
Chathikkatha Chanthu Krishna
2005 Alice in Wonderland Victor Joseph
Mayookham
2006 Moonnamathoral Dr. Arun
Vadakkum Nathan Parameshwaran
2007 Rathri Mazha Harikrishnan
2008 Mizhikal Sakshi Aravind
2009 2 Harihar Nagar Shyam Sundhar
Chemistry Aloshy
Banaras Hari
2010 Neelambari Devanand
Thathwamasi Rameshan
Killy Killy Aloshy
2011 Munthiri Paadam Munna
2012 Bavuttiyude Namathil Satheeshan
Ideal Couple Ganeshan
Father's Day Gopan
Arike Balu
2013 Breaking News Live Deepak
Omega Brothers Sidharth
Cleopatra
Ezhamathe Varavu Prasad
Aattakatha Unnikrishnan
2014 Swapaanam Thuppan Namboodiri
2015 100 Days of Love S. P. Pillai
Sukhamayirikkatte
Kumbasaram Rafi
Akkaldhamayile Pennu Anto
Njan Samvidhanam Cheyum
2016 Pallikoodam Gokul Sir
2017 Kambhoji Kunjunni
2019 Panthu Anwar
Madhaveeyam Madhav Dev
2021 Vaanku Razak
Kaalchilambu Kannan, Jayadevan
2023 Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum Riyas
Dhoomam Praveen

Tamil films

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Year Film Role Ref.
1992 Aavarampoo Sakkarai Best New Face Awarded from the Film Fan's Association in Tamil Nadu
1993 Jathi Malli Moscow
Pudhiya Mugam Raja Rajeswaran / Hari (dual role)
Gentleman Ramesh
1994 May Madham Eeshwar
1996 Kadhal Desam Karthik
1997 Sakthi Sakthi
Devathai Umapathi
Nandhini Suresh
1998 Simmarasi Kathir
1999 Maravathe Kanmaniye
Suyamvaram Gautham
2000 Karisakattu Poove Pounrasu
2001 Vedham Sanjay
2003 Kadhal Kirukkan Gautham
Priyamana Thozhi Michael D'Souza
2005 Chandramukhi Viswanathan & Gunashekaran
2006 Pasakiligal Nallarasu
2008 Sila Nerangalil Madhavan
Uliyin Osai Iniyan
2019 Sarvam Thaala Mayam Mani

Telugu films

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Year Film Role Ref.
1993 Sarigamalu Kalidasu
1997 Evandi Pelli Chesukondi Vijay
Aaro Pranam Chanti
Rukmini Ravi
1998 Prema Pallaki
Padutha Theeyaga Rushi [17]
W/o V. Vara Prasad Varaprasad
1999 Preminchalani Vundi
Prema Kosam Rahul [18]
2000 Balaram Srinivasa Prasad
Maa Annayya Shekhar
2001 Ammayi Kosam Venkat
2002 Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo Srinivasa Naidu
Nee Premakai Srinivas
2003 Maa Baapu Bommaki Pellanta Krishnamoorthy Cameo appearance
2005 Thanks Sri Ram
2021 Rang De Arjun's brother-in-law

Other language films

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Year Film Role Language References
1997 Daud: Fun on the Run Inspector Sri Hindi
1998 Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene Raghunandan Kannada
2002 Bokshu – The Myth Rati's lover English [19][20]
2007 Bhool Bhulaiyaa Sharad Pradhan / Shashidhar Hindi
2010 Aptharakshaka Ramanatha Kannada
2011 Queens! Destiny Of Dance Mukta Hindi

Dubbing

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Year Film Dubbed for Character Language Notes
2019 Lucifer Vivek Oberoi Bimal Nair / Bobby Malayalam Won, Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist
2020 Big Brother Arbaaz Khan Vedantham IPS
The Kung Fu Master Jiji Scaria Rishi Ram
2021 Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham Arjun Sarja Ananthan Won, Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist
2022 Kaduva Vivek Oberoi I.G Joseph Chandy / Ouseppukutty
Ottu Arvind Swamy David

References

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  1. ^ a b Former Students. St Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thalassery
  2. ^ Sai, Veejay (18 July 2016). "The Travancore Trio: Sisters who conquered the silver screen". The News Minute. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal Archived 17 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Cinidiary. Retrieved on 21 October 2015.
  4. ^ "ലാലേട്ടന് എന്റെ ഗുരുവാണ് -വിനീത്". mangalam.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  5. ^ Is, Gopika (29 April 2024). "Malayalam films' dance heritage goes back to the '60s: Vineeth". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Winning, vulnerable Vineeth". Rediff. 16 October 1997. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Malayalam film actor Vineeth personal life and filmography". nettv4u.
  8. ^ "Exclusive biography of #Vineeth and on his life". Filmibeat. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Vineeth in Chandramukhi". IndiaGlitz. 15 February 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  10. ^ "CHANDRAMUKHI BOLLYWOOD Vineeth rajinikanth Apthamithra Hindi Akshay Kumar Padmini Vidya Balan tamil movie news hot stills picture image gallery". Behind Woods. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Vineeth to face arc lights for a Telugu film". The News Minute. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ^ "'Almost became a Chartered Accountant': Vineeth speaks on acting journey and more". The News Minute. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  13. ^ Madhu, Vignesh (14 October 2020). "Vineeth dubs for Arjun in Marakkar Arabikkadalinte Simham". Onlookers Media. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Vineeth ties nuptial knot". Archived from the original on 11 November 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  15. ^ S, Priyadershini (23 February 2012). "Elegant dancer, confident actor". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  16. ^ VM Sathish (5 November 2013). "Mammotty, Kavya Madhavan bag Asiavision awards". Emirates 24-7. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  17. ^ "PAADUTHA TEEYAGA". Andhra Today. Archived from the original on 29 January 1999. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  18. ^ Archived copyArchived 13 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Young, Deborah (13 June 2006). "Bokshu, The Myth". Variety. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  20. ^ Warrier, Shobha (22 May 2002). "Why can't an Indian make a film in English?". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
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