Shankar (actor)
Shankar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Shankar Panicker 22 June 1960[1] |
| Other names | Oru Thalai Ragam Shankar Shankar T. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouses | Radhika
(m. 1992, divorced)Rooparekha
(m. 2002; div. 2011)Chitra Lekshmi (m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Shankar Panicker, better known as Shankar, is an Indian film and television actor, film director and producer, known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in nearly 200 films in lead and supporting roles in Malayalam and Tamil cinema in the 1980s and early 90s.[2] Shankar’s Tamil debut Oru Thalai Ragam and Malayalam debut Manjil Virinja Pookkal enjoyed theatrical runs of 365 and 250 days respectively, catapulting him to overnight stardom. The immense success of these films established him as a bankable lead and earned him a huge fan base among audiences in the 1980s. Celebrated for his handsome, chocolate-boy looks, he became a youth sensation in the 1980s, which helped him quickly rise to the status of a superstar. From the late 1990s onward, he has also worked as a director and producer while continuing his acting career.[2]
Shankar produced the film Ezhuthola (2024), which won four awards at London Independent Film Award, Sundarban International Film Festival, and Tagore International Film Festival. Beyond his acting career, Shankar is involved in business and social welfare activities. He is widely considered as the one of the romantic heroes in Malayalam cinema history.
Early life
[edit]Shankar was born to Thekkeveettil N. K. Panicker and Sulochana in Kechery, Thrissur, Kerala in 1960.[3] His family later moved to Chennai when he was four years old. His father was a senior manager at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. He has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Indra.[4] He completed the schooling from St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai.[citation needed] He pursued a Bachelors in History from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Rishikesh. Later, he completed 2 years of acting course at South Indian Film Chamber School of Acting, Chennai.
Career
[edit]As an actor
[edit]Shankar's first film was with superstar Jayan starred Sharapanjaram in 1979. Shankar auditioned for and was the lead actor of Oru Thalai Ragam. Oru Thalai Ragam not only completed 365 days run in theatres[5][6] but also became a cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Then Navodaya Studio signed Shankar for their romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal along with newcomers Mohanlal and Poornima Jayaram, directed by Fazil. The success of Manjil Virinja Pookal and films like Kadathu opposite Roja Ramani, Oothikachiya Ponnu with Poornima Jayaram and Ente Mohangal Poovaninju cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films.[7] Simultaneously his Tamil films Sujatha, Koyil Puraa, Mouna Yuddham and Raagam Thedum Pallavi also done okay business.[8]
Success continued in Malayalam with Shanker getting a chance in movies of hit directors like P.G. Viswambharan, Joshiy and I.V. Sasi with movies like Padayottam, Anuragakodathy, Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram, Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Engane Nee Marakkum. Following this success, he decided to concentrate on Malayalam films. His other successful films of 1983 are Mortuary, Hello Madras Girl and Himam.[7] In 1984, Shankar appeared in Ente Kalithozhan, Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla, Muthodumuthu, Poochakkoru Mookkuthi and Itha Innu Muthal.[7] Next year, he was a part of the films Archana Aaradhana, Ambada Njaane!, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram and Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki.
In mid-1980's Shankar began losing his market for doing repetitive roles, so he became a producer to save his career.[8] He directed Sibi Malayil's Chekkaeran Oru Chilla, but the film flopped. His other major films of that year were Naale Njangalude Vivahum, Oppam Oppathinoppam and Sughamo Devi along with Mohanlal. Shankar had fewer Malayalam releases in the late 1980s and his attempt to become a director with Suresh Gopi starrer Rakshakan also did not materialize, so he decided to take a break[8] from films to concentrate on business, although he did guest roles in the films Manathe Kottaram, Gandharvam and Guru.
Shankar staged a comeback as lead hero in the films Sooryavanam (1998), Bhadra, Sundarippravu and The Fire. He also acted in Stalin Sivadas with Mammootty, but all these films failed at the box office.[9] So he moved to television with a successful serial Ithu Manju Pole and continued to perform in serials Swara Raagam and Parasparam. He also won the 2006 Film Critics Television Best Actor Award for his performance in TV serial Chithrashalabham. His last serial Ammakkayi (aired on Surya TV) was a success. As he wanted to concentrate on films, he stopped doing serials and made his debut as a director with Virus,[8] a film on HIV/AIDS, which was censored in 2007.
Shankar later appeared in films like Ividam Swargamanu, Casanovva alongside Mohanlal, Rhythm, Koottukar, Banking Hours 10 to 4, Hide N' Seek, Father's Day, Oomakkuyil Padumbol and Bhoomiyude Avakashikal. In 2013, he was appreciated for his good performance in a comic role in Anoop Menon scripted film Hotel California. His other releases were Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu and Cleopatra, Naku Penda Naku Taka and in 2015, Shankar played the lead role in Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam along with Shine Tom Chacko directed by Jayaraj Vijay, but the film flopped. In 2018, he starred in Niranjana Pookkal as the hero. He also starred in Bhramam along with Prithviraj Sukumaran in 2021.
As a director
[edit]Shankar directed a video film Kaatti in 2006 based on child labour, which won him the best director award from Malayalam Television viewers DRISHYA awards for video film. He made his feature film debut with Virus,[8] an Indo-American co-production urging society not to shun HIV/AIDS-affected people.[9] His first commercial Malayalam directorial venture Keralotsavam 2009 starred Kalabhavan Mani and Vinu Mohan dealt with how three youngsters falling prey to terrorist links.[9] In 2015, he directed Manal Naharam, a bilingual Tamil-Malayalam film[7] based on NRI Indians in the U.A.E., which released to positive reviews.[10][11][12]
Personal life
[edit]Shankar's first marriage was with Radhika in December 1992, which ended in a divorce.[13] After the failure of his first marriage, he married Rooparekha, but this marriage also ended in divorce. The couple has a son named Gokul.[14] In 2013, he married Chitra Lekshmi, a dance teacher, and settled in the U.K.[15][16]
Filmography
[edit]Malayalam films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Sarapanjaram | Baby's friend | |
| 1980 | Manjil Virinja Pookkal | Prem Kishan | [9] |
| 1981 | Guha | Das | |
| Kanakachilanka Kilunge Kilunge | Unreleased | ||
| Kadathu | Rajappan | ||
| Oothikachiya Ponnu | Vishwanathan | ||
| Kaattupothu | Unreleased | ||
| 1982 | Ente Mohangal Poovaninju | Prasanth | |
| Kayam | |||
| Kaaliya Mardhanam | Ramu | ||
| Aranjaanam | Madhu | ||
| Velicham Vitharunna Penkutty | Prasad | ||
| Anuraagakkodathi | Shivadas | ||
| Padayottam | Chandrootty | ||
| Palangal | Ravi/Rails | ||
| Pooviriyum Pulari | Balan | ||
| 1983 | Eettappuli | Kabeer | |
| Ee Vazhi Mathram | Babu | ||
| Engane Nee Marakkum | Prem | ||
| Coolie | Sethu | ||
| Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu | Thilakan | ||
| Samrambham | |||
| Kodungattu | Rajan | ||
| Hello Madras Girl | |||
| Marakkillorikkalum | Pradeep | ||
| Mortuary | Venu | ||
| Angam | Johny | ||
| Thimingalam | Vijayan | ||
| Himam | Vijay | ||
| Mouna Raagam | Shankaran | ||
| 1984 | Krishna Guruvaayoorappa | Unni | |
| Anthichuvappu | |||
| Ente Kalithozhan | |||
| Poochakkoru Mookkuthi | Shyam | ||
| Athirathram | Abu | ||
| Aarorumariyathe | Raju | ||
| Ethirppukal | Ravi | ||
| Itha Innu Muthal | 'Vaikuntam' Shankar | ||
| Vanitha Police | Shankar | ||
| Muthodumuthu | Anil | ||
| Odaruthammava Aalariyam | Anil | ||
| Amme Narayana | |||
| Oru Thettinte Katha | |||
| Paavam Krooran | Madhusoodanan | ||
| Piriyilla Naam | Babu | ||
| Thirakkil Alppa Samayam | Rahim | ||
| Umaanilayam | Vinod | ||
| Jeevitham | Narayanankutty | ||
| Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla | Omanakuttan | ||
| Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram | Vinayan | ||
| 1985 | Punnaram Cholli Cholli | ||
| Ambada Njaane! | Kuttikrishnan | ||
| Aram + Aram = Kinnaram | Balan | ||
| Archana Aradhana | Vimal Kumar | ||
| Aarodum Parayaruthu | Gopi | ||
| Choodatha Pookal | Ravi | ||
| Mounanombaram | Venu | ||
| Mukhyamanthri | Venu | ||
| Nerariyum Nerathu | Rajeev | ||
| Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil | Anand | ||
| Onningu Vannengil | Baby | ||
| Oru Kudakeezhil | Ravi | ||
| Oru Naal Innoru Naal | Sukumaran | ||
| Oru Sandesam Koodi | Gopi | ||
| Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya | T. G. Raveendran | ||
| Sammelanam | Ramu | ||
| Saandham Bheekaram | |||
| Boeing Boeing | Man at Restaurant | Cameo | |
| Pachavelicham | Mukundan | ||
| Scene No. 7 | |||
| Soundaryappinakkam | Anil | ||
| Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki | Dr. Ravi | ||
| Vasantha Sena | Mahesh Varma | ||
| 1986 | Adukkan Entheluppam | Satheeshan | |
| Ashtabandham | Abdu | ||
| Chekkaeran Oru Chilla | Unni | ||
| Dheem Tharikida Thom | Suresh Menon | ||
| Ilanjippookkal | Satheesh | ||
| Naale Njangalude Vivaham | Haridas | ||
| Nimishangal | Ravi | ||
| Oppam Oppathinoppam | Gopinath | ||
| Ithramathram | Guest at the wedding | ||
| Oru Yugasandhya | Babu | ||
| Ponnum Kudathinum Pottu | Gopan | ||
| Sughamo Devi | Nandan | ||
| Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi | Balu | ||
| Viswasichalum Illenkilum | |||
| 1987 | Ajantha | ||
| Aalippazhangal | Sudheer | ||
| Amme Bhagavathi | Unni | ||
| Ithente Neethi | Ravi | ||
| Onnaam Maanam Poomaanam | Ravi | ||
| Ithrayum Kalam | Sulaiman | ||
| 1988 | Evidence | Prince | |
| 1989 | Bhadrachitta | Madhu | |
| 1990 | Niyamam Enthucheyyum | ||
| 1991 | Master Plan | S. I. Vijay Varma | |
| Abhimanyu | Shekhar | [9] | |
| Kizhakkunarum Pakshi | Gopi Krishnan | ||
| 1992 | Australia | Alex | Unreleased |
| 1993 | Gandharvam | Chandran | Cameo |
| 1994 | Manathe Kottaram | Himself | Cameo |
| 1995 | Thakshashila | Rajeevan | |
| 1996 | Ente Soniya | ||
| 1997 | Guru | Singer | Cameo |
| Sneha Sindooram | Krishnanunni | Cameo | |
| 1998 | Sooryavanam | Ajith | |
| 1999 | Stalin Sivadas | Jayachandran | |
| 2001 | Bhadra | Rocky | [9] |
| 2002 | Sravu | Marakkar | |
| Sundarippravu | Dennis | ||
| Madhuram | Hari | ||
| 2003 | The Fire | Sidharthan | [9] |
| 2007 | Virus | Also director[9] | |
| Twenty:20 | Guest appearance in the title song | ||
| Cycle | Jayadevan | Cameo | |
| 2008 | Robo | Venu | |
| 2009 | Evidam Swargamanu | Sudheer | [9] |
| Keralotsavam 2009 | Dancer | Also director; special appearance[9] | |
| 2010 | Koottukar | Masthan Bhai | |
| 2011 | China Town | Jayakrishnan | Cameo |
| 2012 | Casanovva | Ajoy | [9] |
| Oomakkuyil Padumbol | Doctor | ||
| Father's Day | Ram Menon | ||
| Banking Hours 10 to 4 | Fernandez | ||
| Bhoomiyude Avakashikal | |||
| Hide N' Seek | Niranjan | ||
| 2013 | Hotel California | Aby Mathew | |
| Cleopatra | |||
| Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu | Dr. Balasubramanyiam | ||
| 2014 | Naku Penda Naku Taka | Iyer | |
| 2015 | Sand City | Ibrahim Rabbani | Also director; credited as Shankar T. |
| Akashangalil | Devadathan | ||
| Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam | A. S. A. Luca | ||
| Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum | 150th Film | ||
| 2017 | Neeranjana Pookal | Kiranlal | |
| 2018 | Drama | Cameo | |
| 2020 | Oru Vathil Kottai | Suresh Nair | |
| 2021 | Bhramam | Actor Uday Kumar | |
| 2022 | Ormakalil | DIG | |
| 2024 | Ezhuthola | — | As producer; credited as Shankar T.[17] |
| 2024 | Bad Boyz | Prem Menon |
Tamil films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Oru Thalai Ragam | Raja | |
| Sujatha | |||
| 1981 | Mouna Yuddham | ||
| Koyil Puraa | |||
| 1982 | Nadamaadum Silaigal | ||
| Udhayamakirathu | |||
| Kanalukku Karaiyethu | |||
| Raagam Thedum Pallavi | Madhu | ||
| Punitha Malar | Prasad | ||
| 1989 | Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile | Prem Kumar | |
| 1990 | Panthaya Kuthiraigal | Unreleased | |
| 1991 | Thayamma | Rangarajan | |
| MGR Nagaril | Victor | ||
| 2007 | Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen | ||
| 2015 | Manal Nagaram | Ibrahim Rabbani | Also director |
Television Serials
[edit]- Ithu Manju Pole
- Swara Raagam (Asianet)
- Parasparam (Surya TV)
- Chithrashalabham (Amrita TV)
- Ammakkayi (Surya TV)
- Thulabharam (Surya TV)
- Ammathottil (Asianet)
- Monuttante Onam - telefilm
References
[edit]- ^ "Shankar Panikkar Biography | Malayalam Actor | Fact File | Photo Gallery | Wallpapers | Videos | News | Oneindia.in". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ a b Ajith Kumar, P K (26 June 2010). "The circle of life". The circle of life. The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
- ^ "The lover boys of Indian cinema-100 years of Indian cinema". Galatta Cinema. December 2012.
- ^ "Shankar Panikkar Biography | Malayalam Actor | Fact File | Photo Gallery | Wallpapers | Videos | News | Oneindia.in". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ "Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen's music is brilliant". rediff.com. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ "Shankar directs Tamil film". deccanchronicle. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d "The Second Coming". newindianexpress. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "My Career Mistakes". mangalam. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "I believe in destiny:Shankar Panicker". The Indian Express. 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ^ "Sand City Movie Review". movietoday. 2 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "Sand City Movie Review". onlookersmedia. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "Sand City Film Review". muyals.com. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "Shankar's 2nd Marriage". Mangalam Weekly. No. 29. 20 July 2002. pp. 10, 11, 37.
- ^ "എന്റെ വലിയ പിഴ". mangalamvarika.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". reporter365.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "ഗുരുവായൂര് പത്മനാഭന്റെ വിയോഗത്തില് കണ്ണീരണിഞ്ഞു യുകെ മലയാളികളുടെ പ്രിയ നര്ത്തകി". Britishmalayali.co.uk. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Suresh Unnikrishnan's Debut Film Ezhuthola Roars At London Film Festival". News18. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Male actors from Thrissur
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- Male actors in Tamil cinema
- Living people
- 1960 births
- Male actors in Malayalam cinema
- Indian male film actors
- Malayalam film directors
- Tamil film directors
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- Film directors from Thrissur
- Indian male television actors
- Male actors in Malayalam television
- Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University alumni