Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960[1]) is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005.[2]
Renji Panicker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 September 1960 |
| Other names | Renji |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | Aneeta Marium Thomas |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editHe did B.Com from SD College, Alappuzha and certificate in Journalism from Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram. He earned MCJ from Kerala University.[3]
Career
editPanicker began his career as a journalist. He started off as a reporter for magazines and publications. During an interview, while working for Chithrabhumi, a film magazine, he met director Shaji Kailas. Renji scripted several films for Shaji Kailas, including Dr. Pasupathy (1990), Thalastaanam (1992), Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993), Ekalavyan (1993), Mafia (1993), Commissioner (1994), and The King (1995). The Renji Panicker-Shaji Kailas team elevated Suresh Gopi into a bankable lead actor during the early 1990s. He is known for his collaboration with director Joshiy, which included the films Lelam (1997) and Pathram (1999). He became a film director and directed two films. He is one of the managing directors of the Malayalam newspaper Metrovaartha.[citation needed]
Renji has taken several cameo roles in his own films. However, he gained popularity as an actor for his role in Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014). He acted in Njaan (2014), Premam (2015), Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016), Thoppil Joppan (2016), Alamara (2017), Godha (2017) and Bhayanakam (2018).[citation needed]
Personal life
editRenji Panicker was married to Aneeta Mariam Thomas, his classmate at Kerala University.[citation needed] Aneeta died on 10 March 2019, suffering from a kidney ailment. They have twin sons, Nithin and Nikhil, and were living in Alappuzha before moving to Kochi.[4]
Film career
editWhile interviewing director Shaji Kailas, for a film magazine in 1990, he was impressed by Renji's language and asked him to do a script for him. Renji, who was an active politician since his college days tried out a political satire, Dr. Pasupathy, that turned out to be a hit. But the success of his debut film failed to bring recognition. His next venture Akashakottayile Sulthan, in 1991, directed by Jayaraj, with Sreenivasan in the main role, bombed. This made Renji to rethink film as a career. Upon Kailas' insistence, Renji made another attempt in 1992. Thalastaanam, revolving around campus politics was a hit and marked the beginning of the Shaji-Renji combination.[citation needed]
In the year 1993, Renji penned Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans. Directed by Kailas, this film was a turning point in the life of Jagadish, who was until then slotted into comic roles.[citation needed] Jagadish played the role of a common man who overnight becomes the home minister of the state. Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans completed 150 days in theatres, establishing Renji Panicker as one of the leading script writers in Malayalam cinema. Next was Ekalavyan, released in May 1993. Directed by Kailas, Ekalavyan was an action thriller revolving around the unholy nexus of drug mafia-godmen and politicians. Appearing in the lead role of a police officer, Suresh Gopi established himself as the next star of Malayalam cinema. Ekalavyan completed 150 days in most theatres. Mafia then revolved around Bangalore underworld. Directed by Kailas with Gopi as hero, it was released in 1993, making Renji the most expensive script-writer in Malayalam film.[5]
In 1994, Kailas/Panicker created Commissioner, a police film, which completed a run of 200 days in theatres. Gopi appeared in the title role and the film became the biggest grosser of the year. Shaji/Renji rejoined in 1995, casting Mammootty as the hero of The King, which was released in the end of 1995 was successful. Thereafter the duo parted ways.[6]
Renji, after a long time wrote a script for director Joshi in 1997.[citation needed] Lelam, another action thriller with Gopi as the hero was again a hit. The same team brought out Pathram the next year. Revolving around print media and the politics surrounding it, this flick is best remembered for dialog. The continuous run of hits came to an end in 2001. Renji's combination with Joshi, Dubai bombed. This was followed by Praja, the first time Mohanlal appeared in a Renji film and it completed 100 days in theatres.[citation needed] The back to back set backs forced Renji to take a break for three years. In 2005, he followed with Bharatchandran IPS the sequel of Commissioner, released in 1994. Bharatchandran IPS was his directorial debut. He also co-produced this film. This film crossed 100-day run in all major centres and gave a rebirth to Gopi. Renji's second directorial attempt was Roudram, released in 2008, with Mammootty in the main role, Another police story, this film was a box-office success.[7] Renji's next project was The King & the Commissioner in which Mammootty and Gopi played the lead roles, Joseph Alex I.A.S. and Bharathchandran I.P.S., taken from the films The King and Commissioner. It was directed by Kailas. This film had many expectations, as Mammootty and Gopi were reuniting after many years as were Kailas and Panicker,[8] it becomes a blockbuster and commercial success.[citation needed]
Plots and style
editPanicker's dialogue in Lelam is based on a real-life character while the jingoistic and valorised protagonists in Commissioner (1994) and The King (1995) are considered timeless classics for Malayalam cinema.[9]
Filmography
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (September 2022) |
As an actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Thalastaanam | Politician | |
| 1993 | Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | Politician | |
| Ekalavyan | Airport passenger | ||
| Mafia | Excise/Home Minister Venkidappa | ||
| 1994 | Commissioner | Journalist | |
| 2014 | Pakida | Nandakumar | |
| Ohm Shanthi Oshaana | Dr. Mathew Devasya | ||
| Money Ratnam | Isaac | ||
| Munnariyippu | Mohan Das | ||
| Njaan | Kuttysankaran | ||
| Cousins | Doctor | Cameo | |
| 2015 | Picket 43 | C.O Vinay Chandran | |
| Aadu | Thomas Paappan & Varkey Pappan | ||
| Ennum Eppozhum | CEO of GM Builders | ||
| Ayal Njanalla | K.P.K. Menon | ||
| Haram | Isha's Father | ||
| Loham | Albert Alex | [10] | |
| Premam | David Kalapparambath, George's father | Cameo | |
| Acha Dhin | Home minister Thomas Chacko | ||
| Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum | Jury committee member | ||
| Jamna Pyari | Sridharan | ||
| Rajamma @ Yahoo | Mayor Abraham Pothen | ||
| Punchirikku Parasparam | Person reading newspaper | short film | |
| Anarkali | Pappan | ||
| Charlie | Panicker Doctor | Guest appearance | |
| 2016 | Pavada | Paul Scaria | |
| Jacobinte Swargarajyam | Jacob | ||
| Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti | Madhavan | ||
| Pa Va | Thampuran Johnny | ||
| Mohavalayam | |||
| Angane Thanne Nethave Anchettannam Pinnale | Zachariya | ||
| Welcome to Central Jail | Gopinath | ||
| Oru Muthassi Gadha | Dr. Mathew / Mathai | ||
| Oppam | Padmakumar P, IPS officer | ||
| Thoppil Joppan | Fr. James Anakattil | ||
| Aanandam | Diya's father | Cameo | |
| Campus Diary | Koya Saahib | ||
| Ore Mukham | Prakashan | ||
| 2017 | Georgettan's Pooram | Fr. Mathews Vadakkan | |
| Kadamkatha | Sreekumar | ||
| Samarpanam | |||
| Gemini | Dr. Gokul | ||
| Alamara | Pavithran | ||
| 1971: Beyond Borders | Janardanan | ||
| Sakhavu | Kuriyachan | Cameo | |
| Godha | Captain | ||
| Clint | Writer V K Nambiar | ||
| Puthan Panam | Iqbal Rowther | Cameo | |
| Ramaleela | V. G. Madhavan | ||
| Viswasapoorvam Mansoor | Kalathil Haji | ||
| Oru Cinemakkaran | Fr. Mathew | ||
| Role Models | Gautham's father | ||
| Villain | Commissioner Sreenivasan | ||
| Solo | Thomas Zachariah | Segment: World of Trilok | |
| Masterpiece | Edward Livingstone | Cameo | |
| 2018 | Kadha Paranja Kadha | ||
| Captain | Coach Jafer | ||
| Aami | S. K. Nair | ||
| Krishnam | Dr. Sunil | ||
| Vallikkudilile Vellakkaran | Chief Guest | ||
| Kinar | |||
| Abrahaminte Santhathikal | SP Shahul Hameed | ||
| Kuttanadan Marpappa | John's father | Photo presence | |
| Naam | Fr. James Kottayil | ||
| Bhayanakam | Postman – disabled in World War I | ||
| Drama | Kunjachan | ||
| Ente Ummante Peru | Mohammed Hydarali Mehfil | Photo appearance and voice | |
| 2019 | Vijay Superum Pournamiyum | Venugopal | |
| Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel | DGP K. E. Eappan | ||
| Margamkali | Urmila's father | ||
| Sakalakalashala | |||
| Thelivu | Ramesh Kumar | ||
| Roudram 2018 | Narayanan | ||
| Kalikoottukkar | |||
| Pengalila | Koshy Mathew | ||
| Athiran | Jayanarayana Varma | ||
| Oru Yamandan Premakadha | Advocate John Kombanayil | ||
| Ningal Camera Nireekshanathinlannu | |||
| Aniyan Kunjinum Thannalayathu | |||
| Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla | Thangal | ||
| Sachin | Ramachandran | ||
| Love Action Drama | Swathi's father | ||
| Ulta | |||
| Thakkol | Clement | ||
| 2020 | Kalamandalam Hyderali | Kalamandalam Hyderali | |
| Forensic | Retd. SP Abdul Wahab IPS | ||
| 2021 | Backpackers | Rawther | |
| Muddy | Master of Hero | [11] | |
| Kaaval | Antony | ||
| 2022 | Naaradan | Govinda Menon | |
| CBI 5: The Brain | Balagopal, DYSP, C.B.I. | ||
| Kooman | Somasekharan, CI | ||
| Gold | Other bride's father | ||
| 2023 | Kolaambi | Abdul Kader | [12] |
| Iru | [13] | ||
| Section 306 IPC | [14] | ||
| Otta | [15] | ||
| Thaal | [16] | ||
| Bullet Diaries | [17] | ||
| 2024 | Little Hearts | Johnson | [18] |
| DNA | DGP | [19] | |
| Secret | [20] | ||
| Hunt | [21] | ||
| Kadha Innuvare | [22] |
Other works
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Dr. Pasupathy | Yes | ||
| 1991 | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Yes | ||
| 1992 | Thalastaanam | Yes | ||
| 1993 | Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | Yes | ||
| Ekalavyan | Yes | |||
| Mafia | Yes | |||
| 1994 | Commissioner | Yes | ||
| 1995 | The King | Yes | ||
| 1997 | Lelam | Yes | ||
| 1999 | Pathram | Yes | ||
| 2001 | Praja | Yes | ||
| Dubai | Yes | |||
| 2005 | Bharatchandran IPS | Yes | Yes | |
| 2008 | Roudram | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | The King & the Commissioner | Yes | ||
| TBA | Lelam 2 | Yes | [23] | |
| TBA | Untitled Jeethu Joseph film | Yes | [24] |
Distribution
edit| Year | Title | language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Orayiram Kinakkalal | Malayalam | |
| Adam Joan | Malayalam | ||
| Kaabil | Hindi | In Kerala | |
| Raees | Hindi | In Kerala | |
| TBA | Lelam 2 | Malayalam | Pre production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Aniyara | Surya TV | Host | |
| 2019 | Nammal Thammil 2 | Asianet | Host | |
| 2019–2020 | Jananayakan | Amrita TV | Judge | |
| 2020 | Crime Patrol | Kairali TV | Host | |
| 2020-2021 | Indulekha | Surya TV | Ramanadha Menon | TV Serial |
| 2021 | Votography | Kairali TV | Co-Host with John Brittas | |
| 2022 | Naatupaksham | Surya TV | Host | |
| 2023 | Masterpeace | Disney+ Hotstar | Chandichan | Web series |
Awards and nominations
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (September 2022) |
- Won
- FMB Minnale Film Award 2021– Best Actor (Male) for Kalamandalam Hyderali
- Madrid Imagineindia International Film Festival 2019 – Best Actor (Male) for Bhayanakam
- Indywood Academy Award for the Best Actor (Male) – Bhayanakam, 2018
- Kerala Film Critics Association Awards for Best Second Actor (Male) – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2017
- Asianet Comedy Awards for Star performer of the year – various films, 2017
- Asianet Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2017
- South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Supporting Actor – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2017
- Asiavision Awards for Best Character Actor – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2016
- Nominations
- 65th Filmfare Awards Southfor Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam- Godha, 2018
- 2nd IIFA Utsavam for Best Supporting Actor – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2017
- 64th Filmfare Awards South for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam – Jacobinte Swargarajyam, 2017
- 4th South Indian International Movie Awardsfor Best Supporting Actor – Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, 2015
References
edit- ^ "Renji Panicker: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Renji Panicker's next flick". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008.
- ^ "Fire Brand @25" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived 1 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Renji Panicker busy scripting two mammoth projects". 2 August 2017.
- ^ "Renji Panicker – Movies, biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow.
- ^ BizHat.com – Roudram Review. Mammootty, Manju, Lalu Alex, Saikumar, Vijayaraghavan, Rajan.P.Dev, Janardhanan, Shammi Thilakan, Subair, T.P.Madhavan, Jayakrishnan, Spadikam George, Maya Moushmi, Urmila Unni. Movies.bizhat.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Day of the action heroes. The Hindu (22 March 2012). Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Fire Brand @25 – Page 3. mangalam.com.
- ^ Thomas, Pramod (22 August 2015). "When Film-makers Prefer Shadow Walking". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Malayalam action thriller Muddy to release on December 10". The New Indian Express. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Nithya Menen-starrer Kolaambi's trailer is here". Cinema Express. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Othello adaptation Iru is a tale of caste politics". Cinema Express. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Renji Panicker and Shanthi Krishna to play lead roles in 'Section 306 IPC'". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Otta trailer: Resul Pookutty's star-studded directorial debut promises some intense drama". Cinema Express. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Anson Paul's 'Thaal' trailer unveils gripping psychological thriller inspired by real events". The Times of India. 7 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Dhyan Sreenivasan and Prayaga Martin join Santosh Mandoor-directed Bullet Diaries". The New Indian Express. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Features, C. E. (4 May 2024). "Shane Nigam's Little Hearts gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (11 May 2024). "Raai Laxmi's DNA gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (10 July 2024). "SN Swamy's directorial debut Secret gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Bhavana Menon teams up with Kaapa director Shaji Kailas for a thriller titled Hunt". India Today. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ Features, C. E. (24 August 2024). "Kadha Innuvare release date announced". Cinema Express. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ George, Anjana. "Suresh Gopi to play 'Chackochi' and Gokul Suresh 'Kochu Chackochi' in Lelam 2". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Renji Panicker to team up with Jeethu Joseph for his next film". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 February 2023.