# Oduvil Unnikrishnan

Oduvil Unnikrishnan (13 February 1943 – 27 May 2006) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has portrayed supporting roles in both dramatic and comedic roles. He is a four-time winner of Kerala State Film Awards.

## Early life

Oduvil Unnikrishnan Menon was born on 13 February 1943 in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur, to Wadakkancheri Enkakkatt Oduvil Veettil Krishna Menon and Parukkutty Amma, as their youngest son. He had his primary education from Government Boys' High School, Wadakkanchery. His uncle, Sarasakavi Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon, was a noted Malayalam writer.
Unnikrishnan was interested in music since his childhood, and he learned vocal music and percussion instruments like mridangam and tabla. His trainer in vocal music was Kalamandalam Vasudeva Panikker. With his knowledge of music instruments, he joined some orchestra groups. He later joined renowned Malayalam theatres like K.P.A.C. and Kerala Kalavedi. His major job in those theatres was that of a tablist. He also sang many songs and composed songs for many albums, like 'Parasuram Express' an album named after the train through the places where it goes. He performed many fill-in roles in plays as well. That was his first experience in acting.

## Film career

Oduvil Unnikrishnan debuted the film industry in the late 1970s with a role in Darshanam, directed by P. N. Menon. His second film was Chenda, directed by A. Vincent. His early notable roles were that of a mahout in Guruvayur Keshavan, directed by Bharathan and as Subbaiyer in Sarapanjaram, directed by Hariharan. He earned public recognition through character roles in films directed by Thoppil Bhasi, Hariharan and Sathyan Anthikkad. He has acted in more than 400 films. His memorable roles include those in Nizhalkuthu, Kathapurushan, Thooval Kottaram, Sargam, Yodha, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Oru Cheru Punchiri, Aaram Thamburan and Manassinakkare. He could even make very brief roles like that of an idaykka player in Devasuram, directed by I. V. Sasi very memorable. He was regularly cast in films with Jayaram as the lead hero.
He composed music for an album named Parasuram Express (1984) to lyrics written by Bichu Thirumala and an unreleased film named Sarvam Saha directed by Ravi Gupthan. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor once and for Best Supporting Actor twice.

## Personal life

Unnikrishnan married Padmajam in 1975. They have two daughters, Padmini and Shalini.
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was suffering from kidney problems since 2000. He underwent dialysis at hospitals in Malappuram and Thrissur. Later, he was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. He died there on 27 May 2006 at 6 am due to kidney failure. His body was taken to his birthplace at Wadakanchery, Thrissur and cremated at Ivarmadam, Pampady, nearby. Oduvil Mayatha Bhavangal written by E.Jayachandran is the biography of the actor published by Chintha Publishers.

## Awards
### Kerala State Film Awards

| Year | Award | Film | Director |
| 1995 | Second Best Actor | Kathapurushan | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1996 | Second Best Actor | Thooval Kottaram | Sathyan Anthikkad |
| 2002 | Best Actor | Nizhalkuthu | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |

## Filmography
### 1970s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1973 | Darsanam | |
| 1973 | Dharmayudham | Avarachan |
| 1973 | Chenda | Mahout |
| 1974 | Chakravakam | Mammad |
| 1977 | Anugraham | School master Unnnikrishnan |
| 1977 | Agninakshathram | |
| 1977 | Guruvayur Kesavan | |
| 1978 | Adimakkachavadam | Appan/Kudukudu Kuttappan |
| 1978 | Yagaswam | |
| 1979 | Sarapanjaram | Subbaiyer |
| 1979 | Pushyaraagam | |
| 1979 | Mochanam | |

### 1980s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1980 | Sakthi | Man at the Toddy Shop |
| 1980 | Vaiki Vanna Vasantham | Gonsalvas |
| 1980 | Lava | Panikkar |
| 1980 | Muthuchippikal | Keshavan |
| 1980 | Karimpana | Broker |
| 1981 | Veliyattam | Mani |
| 1981 | Valarthumrugangal | Govindan |
| 1981 | Poocha Sanyasi | |
| 1981 | Dwandha Yudham | Lawyer |
| 1981 | Sreeman Sreemathi | |
| 1981 | Randu Mukhangal | |
| 1982 | Anuraagakkodathi | Pachu Nair |
| 1983 | Varanmaare Aavashyamundu | Karanavar |
| 1984 | Sreekrishna Parunthu | Maarar |
| 1984 | Appunni | Kurup Mash |
| 1985 | Njan Piranna Nattil | Menon |
| 1985 | Vellam | Moideen |
| 1985 | Manakkale Thatha | Damodhara Kurup |
| 1985 | Boeing Boeing | Ramankutty Shop Owner |
| 1985 | Kandu Kandarinju | Boys Hostel Warden |
| 1987 | P.C. 369 | Adv. Swaminathan/Dr. Viswanathan/Prof. Kashinathan |
| 1987 | Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar | Adv. Balan |
| 1987 | Kurukkan Rajavayi | |
| 1987 | Thaniyavarthanam | Raman Karthavu |
| 1988 | Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu | Pappi |
| 1988 | Pattanapravesham | Home Minister |
| 1988 | Kudumbapuranam | Achuthan |
| 1988 | Dhwani | Kurpu |
| 1988 | Vicharana | Adv. Krishnamurthy |
| 1988 | Oozham | Kunjan Nair |
| 1989 | Varavelpu | Narayanan |
| 1989 | Vadakkunokkiyantram | Policeman |
| 1989 | Kalpana House | Fr. D'Souza |
| 1989 | Kireedam | ASI Gopalakrishnan Nair |
| 1989 | Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam | Panicker |
| 1989 | Ulsavapittennu | Paramu Nair |
| 1989 | Season | Thirumeni |
| 1989 | Pradeshika Varthakal | Fr. Antony Paramel |
| 1989 | Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal | Appunni Nair |
| 1989 | Mazhavilkavadi | Kunjappu |
| 1989 | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha | Naduvazhi |
| 1989 | Artham | Ananthan |

### 1990s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1990 | Thalayana Manthram | K. G. Poduval |
| 1990 | Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran | Principal Kurup |
| 1990 | Vidhyarambham | Kumaran Vaidyar |
| 1990 | Sasneham | Srinivasa Iyer |
| 1990 | Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam | Panicker |
| 1990 | Malayogom | 'Kaliyugam' Paramu Nair |
| 1990 | Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom | Gangadharan |
| 1990 | Gajakesariyogam | Philipose |
| 1990 | Kalikkalam | Devassy |
| 1990 | Kuttettan | Nanu Nair |
| 1991 | Sandesam | Achuthan Nair |
| 1991 | Parallel College | Karunakaran |
| 1991 | Ennum Nanmakal | Balan |
| 1991 | Dhanam | Menon |
| 1991 | Bharatham | Unnimama |
| 1991 | Nettippattom | Avarachan |
| 1991 | Mookilla Rajyathu | Dr. V. N. Sharma |
| 1991 | Kankettu | Ananthan |
| 1991 | Kadinjool Kalyanam | Pothuval |
| 1991 | Innathe Program | Unni's Father |
| 1991 | Cheppu Kilukkunna Changathi | Nishkalankan Pillai |
| 1991 | Apoorvam Chilar | T. T. Punnoose |
| 1991 | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Ramakrishna Iyer |
| 1991 | Kanalkkattu | Ayyappan Nair |
| 1992 | Snehasagaram | Vishnunarayan Nambuthiri |
| 1992 | Sargam | Valiya Thampuran |
| 1992 | Pandu Pandoru Rajakumari | Parameswara Kaimal |
| 1992 | Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam | Dentist |
| 1992 | Nakshthrakoodaram | Singapore Uncle |
| 1992 | My Dear Muthachan | Factory Worker |
| 1992 | Kaazhchakkppuram | Appukuttan Nair |
| 1992 | Valayam | Govindan Ashan |
| 1992 | Kamaladalam | Ravunni Nambeesan Aasan |
| 1992 | Yoddha | Gopalan Menon |
| 1992 | Chevalier Michael | |
| 1992 | Kallanum Polisum | |
| 1992 | Ellarum Chollanu | Ravunni Menon |
| 1992 | Aayushkalam | Menon |
| 1993 | Sthreedhanam | |
| 1993 | Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | Poomukhathu Kurup |
| 1993 | Devaasuram | Peringodu Sankara Marar |
| 1993 | Bhaagyavaan | Vasudevan |
| 1993 | Meleparambil Anveedu | Kuttan Nair |
| 1993 | Oru Kadankatha Pole | Kaimal |
| 1993 | Ente Sreekuttikku | |
| 1993 | Golanthara Vartha | Susheelan |
| 1993 | Kalippattam | Ottappalam Chittappan |
| 1993 | Bandhukkal Sathrukkal | Vasu Contractor |
| 1993 | Patheyam | Keezhseri Nampoothiri |
| 1994 | Vadhu Doctoranu | Marar |
| 1994 | Varanamaalyam | Sankara Pilla |
| 1994 | Sukrutham | Cheriyachan |
| 1994 | Parinayam | Othikkan |
| 1994 | Sagaram Sakshi | Narayanan |
| 1994 | Vardhakya Puranam | Attakulangara Ambujakshan |
| 1994 | Pingami | Menon |
| 1994 | CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. | Pappunni |
| 1994 | Vishnu | Thampi |
| 1995 | Thirumanassu | Thirumulpad |
| 1995 | Sreeragam | Indu's Father |
| 1995 | Sipayi Lahala | Radhika's Father |
| 1995 | Sindoora Rekha | Raghavan Nair |
| 1995 | No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North | Shivaraman |
| 1995 | Minnaminuginum Minnukettu | Pothuval |
| 1995 | Keerthanam | |
| 1995 | Punnaram | |
| 1995 | Manikya Chempazhukka | Njanasheelan Gurukkal |
| 1995 | Kusruthikaatu | Dr. K. Gopala Menon |
| 1995 | Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava | Easwara Pillai |
| 1995 | Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary | Adv. Ramavarma Thampuran |
| 1996 | Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam | Warrier |
| 1996 | Thooval Kottaram | Achuthan Marar |
| 1996 | Sallapam | Madhava Menon |
| 1996 | Kalyana Sougandhikam | Murukeshan Thattan |
| 1996 | Dilliwala Rajakumaran | Rama Varma |
| 1996 | Kathapurushan | |
| 1996 | Udyanapalakan | |
| 1996 | The Prince | Ram Mohan |
| 1996 | Indraprastham | Manikkoth Kunjukrishna Panicker |
| 1997 | Ullasapoongattu | Thirumeni |
| 1997 | Oral Mathram | K. P. Pankunny Menon |
| 1997 | Manthra Mothiram | Fr. Vattakuzhi |
| 1997 | Kalyana Uniikal | Pushkaran Pillai |
| 1997 | Aaraam Thampuran | Krishna Varma Thampuran |
| 1997 | Kudamattam | |
| 1997 | Kaliyoonjal | |
| 1997 | Katha Nayakan | Sankunni Nair |
| 1998 | Vismayam | Adhikari |
| 1998 | Meenakshi Kalyanam | Adv. K. T. Easwara Pillai |
| 1998 | Sreekrishnapurathe Nakshathrathilakkam | Munshi Parameshwara Pillai |
| 1998 | Mattupetti Machan | Prabhakara Prabhu |
| 1998 | Kusruthi Kuruppu | Meera's father |
| 1998 | Kattathoru Penpoovu | |
| 1998 | Meenathil Thalikettu | Doctor |
| 1998 | Manthrikumaran | Pothuval |
| 1999 | Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal | Fr. Nedumaram |
| 1999 | Prem Poojari | Bhairavan |
| 1999 | Udayapuram Sulthan | College Principal |
| 1999 | Pallavur Devanarayanan | Achuthan Marar |
| 1999 | Njangal Santhushtaranu | Sanjeevan's Father |
| 1999 | Deepasthambham Mahascharyam | Govinda Varma Raja |
| 1999 | Chandamama | Bullet Achan |

### 2000s

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Varnakkazhchakal | Pothuval | |
| 2000 | Oru Cheru Punchiri | Krishna Kuruppu | |
| 2000 | Madhuranombarakattu | Head Master | |
| 2000 | Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | Shekharan | |
| 2000 | Darling Darling | Warrier | |
| 2000 | Arayannangalude Veedu | Sreedharan | |
| 2001 | Randam Bhavam | Adv. Easwaran Potty | |
| 2001 | Nalacharitham Nalam Divasam | | |
| 2001 | Rajapattam | | |
| 2001 | Meghasandesam | Easwara Varma | |
| 2001 | Ee Parakkum Thalika | Sreedhara Kaimal | |
| 2001 | Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka | 'Naxalite' Vasu | |
| 2001 | Sundara Purushan | Suryanarayanan's Father | |
| 2002 | Malayali Mamanu Vanakkam | Narayana Kurup | |
| 2002 | Meesa Madhavan | Achuthan Namboothiri | |
| 2002 | Abharana Charthu | | |
| 2002 | Kadha | | |
| 2002 | Nizhalkuthu | Kaliyappan the executioner | |
| 2002 | Yathrakarude Sradhakku | K. G. Nambiar | |
| 2003 | Choonda | Vasu | |
| 2003 | Thilakkam | Govinda Panikkar | |
| 2003 | Gramophone | Paattu Sett | |
| 2003 | Vellithira | Peppatty Nair | |
| 2003 | C.I.D. Moosa | Moolankuzhiyil Prabhakaran | |
| 2003 | Pattalam | Narayanan | |
| 2003 | Anyar | | |
| 2003 | Manassinakkare | Sreedharan | |
| 2003 | Gowrisankaram | | |
| 2004 | Maratha Nadu | Raman | |
| 2004 | Vamanapuram Bus Route | Appukuttan | |
| 2004 | Nerkku Nere | | |
| 2004 | Runway | Krishnan Nair | |
| 2004 | Mayilattam | Kannan Mash | |
| 2005 | Achuvinte Amma | Abdullah | |
| 2005 | Choliyattam | | |
| 2005 | December | | |
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | | Cameo |
| 2006 | Rasathanthram | Ganeshan Chettiyar | |
| 2008 | Magic Lamp | Achutha Menon | Posthumously |
| 2009 | Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan | Pisharadi Mashu | Posthumously |
| 2009 | Seetha Kalyanam | Nellayi Ramaswami | Posthumously |
| 2009 | Aayirathil Oruvan | Sreedharan | Posthumously |

## As a composer

* Parasuram Express (1984 album): lyrics by Bichu Thirumala; singers K. P. Brahmanandan, K. S. Chitra, Krishnachandran, Lathika.
* Sarvam Saha (unreleased movie) directed by Ravi Gupthan.
* Malayalam Basic Devotional SREE PADAM {1984 ALBUM}: lyrics by Bharanikkavu sivakumar: singers P. Jayachandran, Dhanya, Sunanda
HMV LP RECORD SIDE 1 [S2XJT. 10651] SONGS:
* 1, VIGHNESHWARA SIVANANDANA
* 2, VRISCHIKA KRISHNASHTAMI
* 3, MANINAGANGALE
* 4, MOOKAMBIKE
* 5, ASHTAKSHARAMANTHRADHWANI
HMV LP RECORD SIDE 2 [S2XJT. 10652] SONGS:
* 1, GOKULASHTAMI
* 2, PAVIZHAMALARUKAL
* 3, OCHIRAVAZHUM
* 4, DEVIKANYAKUMARI
* 5, VADAKKANTHARAKAVILULSAVAM