# Vineeth Kumar

Vineeth Kumar is an Indian actor, director and screenwriter known for his work in the Malayalam film industry. He has had a career spanning decades, transitioning from a child artist to an accomplished director.
He made his acting debut in 1988 as a child artist in the movie Padippura. The same year, he earned critical acclaim and the Kerala State Film Award for his performance in the epic historical drama Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. Directed by Hariharan and written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, this film featured him as the younger version of Mammootty's iconic character Chandu Chekavar.
He made his directorial debut with Ayal Njanalla (2015), a romantic comedy entertainer, starring Fahad Faasil. As writer and director, his fresh approach and storytelling marked a strong start to his filmmaking journey.

## Personal life

Vineeth Kumar was born on 11 November 1977 to Karunan and Yamuna in Pazhayangadi, Kannur. He had his primary education from Koodali Higher Secondary School. After pre-degree from Government Brennen College, Thalassery, he pursued a BSc degree in Mathematics.
He started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of six and quickly became known for his talent. As a student, he won several dance prizes, including the top "Kalaprathibha" title at the Kerala School Kalolsavam in 1988. He remains the youngest person to ever win this prestigious award, a testament to his exceptional skill and hard work.
He married Sandhya Vineeth on 19 August 2010. They have two daughters, Maitreyi and Mathangi.

## Filmography
### As a child actor

During his early years, Kumar played significant roles in several notable films, including: Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Bharatham (1991), Sargam (1992), Midhunam (1992) and Adwaitham (1993). These performances established him as a versatile child actor in Malayalam cinema.
After he transitioned into adult roles, Kumar gained recognition for his performances in films like:Devadoothan (2000), Kanmashi (2002), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Vegam (2014) and Simon Daniel (2022)

### As director

Vineeth Kumar ventured into direction with his debut film Ayal Njanalla (2015), starring Fahadh Faasil. He also wrote the screenplay for this film which explored themes of self-discovery and relationships.
His second directorial venture, Dear Friend (2022), starring Tovino Thomas in the lead, premiered in theaters on June 10, 2022. The film received widespread acclaim and was subsequently released on the Netflix OTT platform in July 2022, where it continued to garner positive reviews. The movie delved into the lives of a group of friends searching for their missing companion, who is later revealed to be a con artist. The film received praise for its engaging narrative and character development.
His latest movie was Pavi Caretaker (2024) starring Dileep.

## Filmography

Film credits as an actor :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha | Young Chandu | Child actor |
| 1989 | Mudra | | Child actor |
| 1989 | Padippura | | Child actor |
| 1989 | Anagha | | Child actor |
| 1989 | Dasharatham | Joseph | Child actor |
| 1991 | Bharatham | Appu | Child actor |
| 1991 | Inspector Balram | Jithu | Child actor |
| 1992 | Sargam | | Child actor |
| 1992 | Adhwaytham | | Child actor |
| 1993 | Mithunam | Young Sethu | Child actor |
| 1994 | Vishnu | | Child actor |
| 1996 | Azhakiya Ravanan | Santhosh | |
| 1997 | Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu | Balan | |
| 2000 | Devadoothan | Nikhil Maheshwar | |
| 2000 | Thottam | | |
| 2001 | Sharja to Sharja | | |
| 2002 | Pranayamanithooval | Balagopal | |
| 2002 | Kanmashi | | |
| 2003 | Melvilasom Seriyanu | | |
| 2003 | Mazhanoolkkanavu | | |
| 2004 | Aparichithan | Chacko | |
| 2004 | Sethurama Iyer CBI | Ganesh | |
| 2004 | Kottaaram Vaidyan | | |
| 2005 | The Tiger | | |
| 2006 | Pulijanmam | | |
| 2006 | Baba Kalyani | Santhosh | |
| 2007 | Flash | Arunkumar | |
| 2008 | Thirakkatha | | |
| 2010 | Sufi Paranja Katha | Writer | |
| 2011 | Sevenes | Aravindan | |
| 2011 | Ithu Nammude Katha | Mahesh | |
| 2012 | Chapters | Arun | |
| 2012 | Face2Face | Anwar | |
| 2013 | Oru Yathrayil | | |
| 2014 | Vegam | Sidharth | |
| 2015 | Oru Vadakkan Selfie | himself | Cameo |
| 2016 | Sahapadi 1975 | | |
| 2017 | Careful | Bijoy | |
| 2018 | Oru Kuttanadan Blog | | Cameo |
| 2019 | Krishnam | | |
| 2022 | Simon Daniel | Simon Daniel | |
| 2023 | Higuita | Goon | |
| 2024 | Pavi Caretaker | Abhishek Krishna | Also Director |
| 2024 | Rifle Club | Shahjahan | |
| 2025 | Dear Krishna | | Telugu film |
Short Films :
| Year | Title |
| 2012 | The Spark |
| 2020 | Oru Nurungu Samsayam (The Little Riddle) |
Film credits as director :
| Year | Title |
| 2015 | Ayal Njanalla |
| 2022 | Dear Friend |
| 2024 | Pavi Caretaker |