Monisha (Malayalam: മോനിഷ, 1971–1992) was an Indian film actress, primarily of Malayalam cinema, who made her presence known with her very first film. She was only 15 years old when she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her debut film, Nakhakshathangal (1986).^[1] This made her the youngest recipient of the National Film Award. She died in a car accident at the age of 21.

Early life[link]

Monisha was born in Panniyankara, Calicut in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi. She has a brother, Sajith. Her father, Narayanan Unni, hailed from Shornur and was in the leather business in Bangalore, Karnataka, where Monisha was brought up. Her mother, Sreedevi, was a dancer. Monisha started to learn dance during her childhood and soon became a danseuse. She did her first stage performance when she was 9. She won the Kaushika Award in the Karnataka state-level Bharatanatyam competition in 1985. She completed her schooling at St Charles High School, Bangalore and Bishop Cotton Girls School, Bangalore. She completed her degree in psychology at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.^[2]

Career[link]

Noted Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair, who is also a screenwriter and film director, is a family friend of Monisha's. He was responsible for her entry into films. She made a debut in film acting with Nakhakshathangal (1986), which was written by M.T. and directed by Hariharan. The film portrayed a love triangle involving three teenagers. Monisha was paired opposite another debutant Vineeth, who was to become a famous south Indian actor. Monisha's portrayal of Gowri, the film's female protagonist, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1987.^[3] Monisha proved her performance in her first film was not a fluke with her performances in Perumthachan (1990), Kadavu (1991) and Kamaladalam (1992), which was a Bharath Mohanlal starrer. She also acted in the Tamil films Pookkal Vidum Ithal (a remake of Nakhashathangal), Unna Nenachen Paatu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988), pairing with Raghavendra Rajkumar in the lead roles.

Death[link]

Monisha was working on the Malayalam film Cheppadividya when she died. On 5 December 1992, a car carrying her and her mother met with an accident near Cherthala in Alappuzha. While her mother escaped with fractures and bruises, Monisha succumbed to severe brain damage and other injuries.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography[link]

• Cheppadividya (1992)
• Champakkulam Thachan (1992)
• Kamaladalam (1992)
• Kudumbasametham (1992)
• Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam (1992)
• Thalastaanam (1992)
• Unna Nenachen Paattu Padicchen (1992)
• Kadavu (1991)
• Venal Kinavukal (1991)
• Veena Meettiyavilagukal (1990)
• Perumthachan (1990)
• Kuruppinte Kanakkupusthakam (1990)
• Adhipan (1989)
• Dravidan(1989)
• Kanakambaragal (1988)
• Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988) (Sandalwood movie)
• Aryan (1988)
• Pookkal Vidum Thottu (1987)
• Sayamsandhya (1986)
• Hrithubhedam (1986)
• Nakhakshathangal (1986)

References[link]

External links[link]

• IMDB Profile at Internet Movie Database

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2011)

M. G. Sreekumar
Background information
Birth name	M. G. Sreekumar
Also known as	Sreekuttan
Born	(1957-05-25) May 25, 1957 (age 55) Harippad, Kerala, India
Occupations	Playback singer, bank employee, music director (composer)
Years active	1984–present
Website	http://www.mgsreekumar.com/

M. G. Sreekumar is a two-time National Award-winning Indian playback singer and music director who works in Malayalam cinema. With a career of over 25 years, he is one of the prominent male singers in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for matching voice with Malayalam actor Mohanlal. He has sang in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi. He is the youngest brother of music director M. G. Radhakrishnan and singer K. Omanakutty. He owns a music company named KMG Musics.

Biography[link]

Sreekumar worked in State Bank of Travancore, before starting his career as a singer. He started his music career by accompanying his brother M. G. Radhakrishnan in his carnatic musical concerts. Born in Haripad, Alappuzha District of Kerala, his father, Malabar Gopalan Nair was a well known singer. His elder brother and music guru, the late M. G. Radhakrishnan, was an award-winning music director and carnatic musician. His elder sister, K. Omanakutty, is a classical music vocalist and a principal at Kerala Music Academy.

Sreekumar made his debut in the Malayalam movie Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984). The Malayalam movie Chithram (1988) directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mohanlal, was the first movie where Sreekumar sang all the songs in a movie. He has sung more than 3000 songs^[1] for films in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu.

He worked as music director in Malayalam films such as Chathurangam (2002), and Thandavam (2002). Sreekumar's latest movies as music director are Priyadarshan's Kanchivaram (2008), Mohanlal's Alexander The Great and Oru Naal Varum. He will also do the music for Paraya Paraya Pattanam and another Tamil film to be produced by Seven Arts. Sreekumar's voice has most often been used in films with Mohanlal, Dileep and Jayaram. It is alleged that his latest work for director Priyadarsan's Arabeem Ottakom P. Madhavan Nayarum In Oru Marubhoomikkadha is a copy of popular Egyptian singer Amr Diab's song.^[2]

He is currently anchoring a TV show named SaReGaMa on Asianet and is a judge for the reality show Idea Star Singer.

Discography[link]

Partial discography[link]

• Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2 (2011)
• 1993 Bombay, March 12 (2011)
• Chinatown (2011 film) (2011)
• Living Together (2011)
• Kandahar (2010)
• Oru Naal Varum (2010)
• Alexander the great (2010)
• In Ghost House Inn (2010)
• Sagar alias Jacky Reloaded (2009)
• Kurukshetra (2008)
• Innathe Chintha Vishayam (2008)
• College Kumaran (2008)
• Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)
• Chocolate (2007)
• Hallo (2007)
• Classmates (2006)
• Kirtichakra (2006)
• Prajapathi (2006)
• Vadakkumnathan (2006)
• Thanmathra (2005)
• Black (2004)
• Vettam (2004)
• Jalolsavam (2004)
• Thekkekara Super Fast (2004)
• Vamanapuram Bus Route (2004)
• Chakram (2003)
• Pattanathil Sundaran (2003)
• Ammakilikkoodu (2003)
• Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu (2003)
• Pattalam (2003)
• Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam (2003)
• Chronic Bachelor (2003)
• Vasanthamallika (2003)
• Kalyanaraman (2002)
• Meesa Madhavan (2002)
• Jagathi Jagathish in Town (2002)
• Mazhathullikkilukkam (2002)
• Pranyamanithooval (2002)
• Valkannadi (2002)
• Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair (2002)
• Majunu (2001)
• Ravanaprabhu (2001)
• Akasthile Paravakal (2001)
• Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001)
• Megasandesam (2001)
• Kakkakuyil (2001)
• Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001)
• Karumadikkuttan (2001)
• Vasanthiyum Lakshimiyum Pinne Njanum (2001) - Won National Award for the song "Chanthu Pottum"
• Narasimham(2000)
• Thenkasipattanam (2000)
• Taj Mahal (2000)
• Dada Sahib (2000)(as M.G. Sreekumar)
• Valliettan (2000)
• Ezhupunna Tharakan (1999)
• En Swasa Kaatre (1999)
• Dil Se.. (1998)
• Kadhalar Dhinam (1998)
• Kabhi na Kabhi (1998)
• Mangalya Pallakku (1998)
• Mayajalam (1998)
• Chandralekha (1997)
• Bhoopathi (1997)
• Ekkareyanente Manasam (1997)
• Gajaraja Manthram (1997)
• The Good Boys (1997)
• Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997)
• Lelam (1997)
• Manthramothiram (1997)
• Superman (1997)
• Mohamul (1997)
• Madamma (1996)
• Nirnayam
• Manikya Chempazhukka (1995)
• Sadaram (1995)
• Kaalapaani (1994)
• Siaisaalai (1994)
• Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1994)
• Kashmeeram (1994)
• Pavithram (1994)
• Hey Hero (1994)
• Pingami (1994)
• Devasuram (1993)
• Midhunam (1993)
• Vietnam Colony (1993)
• Gardish (1993)
• Yoddha (1992)
• Champakulam Thachan (1992)
• Maanthrika Cheppu (1992)
• Advaitham (1991)
• Chanchattam (1991)
• Ennathe Programme (1991)
• Kilukkam (1991)
• Godfather (1991)
• Abhimanyu (1991 film)
• Kilukkampetti (1991)
• Kuttapathram (1991)
• Ulladakkam (1991)
• Oliyampukal (1990)
• Akkareakkareakkare (1990)
• Appu (1990)
• Dr. Pasupathy (1990)
• His Highness Abdullah (1990) - Won National Award for the song "Nadaroopini"
• Indrajaalam (1990)
• Kadathanadan Ambadi (1990) (singer)
• Rajavazhcha (1990)
• Varthamana Kalam (1990)
• Vadakkunokkiyanthram (1989)
• Kireedam (1989)
• Mahayanam (1989)
• Nair Saab (1989)
• News (1989)
• Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam (1989)
• Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
• Chithram (1988)
• Aaryan (1988)
• Janmandharam (1988)
• Anantaram (1987)
• Manivatharile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987)
• Thalavattam (1986)
• Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (1986)
• Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985)
• Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984)
• Kooli (1984)

As a composer[link]

• Thandavam (Malayalam; 2002)
• Chathurangam (Malayalam; 2002)
• Kanchivaram (Tamil; 2008)
• Poi Solla Porom (Tamil)
• Alexander the Great (Malayalam; 2010)
• Bumm Bumm Bole (Hindi; 1 song only, 2010)
• Rakhupathi Raghava Rajaram (Malayalam; 2010)
• Oru Naal Varum (Malayalam; 2010)
• Sakudumbam Shyamala (Malayalam; 2010)
• Penpattanam (Malayalam; 2010)
• Sarkar Colony (Malayalam; 2010)
• Arabiyum Ottakavum P. Madhavan Nairum (Malayalam; 2011)
• Thamarassery to Thailand (Malayalam; 2011)
• Vaadhyar (Malayalam; 2011)
• Sneham + Ishtam = Amma (Malayalam; 2011)
• Njanum Ente Familiyum (Malayalam; 2011)
• Kunjaliyan (Malayalam; 2011)

Awards[link]

National Film Awards:

• 1999 - Best Male Playback Singer - Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum (Song: "Chanthu Pottum")
• 1990 - Best Male Playback Singer - His Highness Abdullah (Song: "Nadha Roopini")

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 1992 - Best Playback Singer - Different films
• 1991 - Best Male Playback Singer - Kilukkam (Song: "Kilukil Pambaram") and Thudarkkadha (Song: "Aathiravaravayi")
• 1989 - Best Male Playback Singer - Kireedam (Song: "Kanneer Poovinte") and Vadakkunokkiyantram (Song: "Mayamayooram Peeliveeshiyo")

Asianet Film Awards:

• 2010 - Best Music Director - Oru Naal Varum
• 2008 - Best Male Playback - Innathe Chintha Vishayam
• 2005 - Best Male Playback Singer - Thanmathra, Ananthabhadram
• 2003 - Best Male Playback Singer - Manassinakkare

Surya TV Awards:

• 2010 - Best Playback Singer - Oru Naal Varum^[3]
• 2008 - Best Playback Singer - Innathe Chintha Vishayam^[4]

Other awards:

• 2010 - Asiavision Movie Award for Best Music Director - Oru Naal Varum^[5]
• 2008 - Raju Pilakkattu Memorial Award^[6]
• 2008 - Jeevan TV - P. Jayachandran Award^[7]

References[link]

• "Singing from the soul"

External links[link]

• M. G. Sreekumar at the Internet Movie Database
• Home Page
• MG Sreekumar's Hit Songs
• M. G. Sreekumar in MSI
• M. G. Sreekumar at the Internet Movie Database

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2010)

Manoj K. Jayan
Occupation	Film actor
Years active	1988 - present
Spouse	Urvashi (2000-2008) Asha (2011-present)[1]
Children	Tejalakshmi

Manoj K. Jayan (bornമനോജ്‌ കെ. ജയന്‍ on 26 July 1966) is an Indian actor who mainly acts in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. Manoj has won the Kerala State Film Award twice: Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Hariharan's Sargam (1992) and Second Best Actor for Hariharan's Pazhassi Raja (2009).

Family and early life[link]

Manoj K. Jayan was born in Kottayam District, Kerala in an Ezhava family to the Carnatic musician Jayan and V. K. Sarojini, a teacher. Biju K. Jayan is his only brother.^{[citation needed]} Despite being the son of a renowned Carnatic musician, as a child Manoj was not keen to learn Carnatic music. From his childhood days onward he had a passion for movies. As an introvert, he didn't participate in competitions during his school/college days. Manoj used to imitate movie actors for his friends and their appreciation encouraged him to try his luck in acting.

While he was studying in Nattakam (near Kottayam) Government College, Manoj enjoyed watching movies more than attending classes. One day he revealed his interest in acting to his parents and they sent him to Southern Film Institute, Trivandrum. Hostel life, theory classes and video practical in the institute helped Manoj to overcome his inhibitions and shyness. The training and direction he received from the institute transformed Manoj into a more professional and polished actor.

Immediately after leaving his institute, Manoj got a call from his professor Adam Ayub for a role in a serial to be telecasted in Doordarshan. The TV serial "Kumilakal" featured him in two roles: one an abnormal person and second one a smart fellow. This role in itself was a challenging one and the serial went on to become a super hit in the history of Dooradarshan. The character Rajasekaran portrayed by Manoj in Kumilakal became an unforgettable character for Malayalees and a stepping stone for his entry into cinema.^[2]

His first film was made by Ali Akbar, a person from his film institute. His first movie, Mamalakalkappurathu, was never released. Perunthachan, a script by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, was a milestone in his career; this role gave him numerous openings, such as Kuttan Thampuran in Sargam (one of the outstanding characters of Malayalam cinema) and his role in Thalapathi along with Mammooty and Rajinikanth.

Television serials[link]

Awards[link]

Playback singer[link]

• Saivar Thirumeni (2001) Alli Kallinu Vellam Kootti

Filmography[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Manoj K. Jayan

• Manoj K. Jayan at the Internet Movie Database

References[link]