# Manikuttan

Thomas James, (born 2 March 1986) better known by his stage name Manikuttan, is an Indian actor who works primarily in Malayalam films. He is known for his role as Kayamkulam Kochunni in the 2004 television serial of the same title. He was also apart of the Kerala Strikers team in Celebrity Cricket League for several years. In 2021, he participated and won the third season of the reality show Bigg Boss.

## Early life

Thomas James was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He attended St. Mary's Higher Secondary School in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Mahatma Gandhi College.

## Career

Manikuttan debuted as a child artist in Varnachirakukal (1999). He was made his debut as a lead actor in the film Oru Peelekanenta Oormakke (2004). His first film appearance was in the Malayalam film Boyy Friennd (2005), directed by Vinayan. He has since acted in films such as Mamangam (2019), and Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021).

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
* All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 1999 | Varnachirakukal | Balu | Child artist |
| 2005 | Boyy Friennd | Ramesh Prasad | |
| 2006 | Bada Dosth | Nandu | |
| 2007 | Mayavi | Satheesh | |
| 2007 | Black Cat | Himself | Special appearance |
| 2007 | Chotta Mumbai | Sainu | |
| 2007 | Heart Beats | Manu Idikkula | |
| 2007 | Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan | Alex | |
| 2007 | Flash | | |
| 2007 | Kalabham | Parthasarathy | |
| 2008 | Kurukshetra | Naik Prakash | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | Dancer at the bar | Special appearance in the song "Hey Dil Deewana" |
| 2008 | Minnaminnikoottam | Minister's son | Cameo appearance |
| 2008 | Positive | Udayan | |
| 2009 | Passenger | Sudheendran | |
| 2009 | Dr. Patient | Rafeeq | |
| 2009 | Meghatheertham | Young Balunarayanan | |
| 2009 | Swantham Lekhakan | Vinod Raghavan | |
| 2010 | Valiyangadi | Ananthu | |
| 2010 | Thathwamasi | Lord Rama | |
| 2010 | Chaverpada | Ameer Sulthan | |
| 2010 | Elsamma Enna Aankutty | Jerry | |
| 2010 | Four Friends | Vishnu | |
| 2011 | Doctor Love | Venkidi | |
| 2011 | Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar | Cadet Rajesh | |
| 2012 | Kunjaliyan | Vinayan | |
| 2012 | Karmayogi | | |
| 2012 | Grandmaster | Eby Kuriakose | |
| 2012 | Thattathin Marayathu | Najaf | |
| 2012 | Simhasanam | Suresh | |
| 2012 | Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu | Rafique | |
| 2013 | Hotel California | Sharath | |
| 2013 | Crocodile Love Story | Sreeraj | |
| 2014 | God's Own Country | Zakir | |
| 2014 | Snehamulloral Koodeyullappol | Sabarinath | |
| 2015 | Loham | Jayan's brother | |
| 2016 | Pavada | SI Suresh Kumar | |
| 2016 | Karinkunnam 6'S | Vishnu | |
| 2016 | Oppam | Devayani's brother | |
| 2017 | 1971: Beyond Borders | Soldier | |
| 2017 | Masterpiece | Singer | Cameo appearance |
| 2018 | Kammara Sambhavam | Thilakan | |
| 2018 | Nimir | Shenbaghavalli's husband | Tamil film |
| 2018 | Irumbu Thirai | Kathir's colleague | Tamil film |
| 2019 | Mamangam | Moyin | |
| 2019 | Thrissur Pooram | Ali | |
| 2019 | An International Local Story | Himself | Special appearance |
| 2021 | Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea | Mayinkutty | |
| 2023 | Divorce | Ramdas | |
| 2024 | Kuruvipappa | | |
| 2024 | Nadikar | David's co-actor in a film | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | Sree Muthappan | Muthappan | |
| 2024 | Secret | Harishankar | |
| 2025 | L2: Empuraan † | Mani | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 2004 | Black and White | | Asianet | |
| 2004-2007 | Kayamkulam Kochunni | Kayamkulam Kochunni | Surya TV | |
| 2008 | Devi Mathathmyam | | Asianet | |
| 2009 | Idea Star Singer | Guest | Asianet | |
| 2016 | Asianet Comedy Awards | Host | Asianet | |
| 2018 | Super Jodi | Host | Surya TV | |
| 2018 | Rana Maharani | Host | Surya TV | |
| 2021 | Navarasa | Shanmugam | Netflix | Tamil television series |
| 2021 | Bigg Boss Malayalam | Contestant | Asianet | Winner |
| 2023 | Comedy Stars (Season 3) | Celebrity Judge | Asianet | |
| 2023 | Katturumbu (Season 2) | Judge | Flowers TV | |