# Maniyanpilla Raju

Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam: മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry. His debut film was Mohiniyaattam in 1976. He has played a variety of roles as a character actor, appearing in over 400 films. His stage name was derived from the character he played in the film Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla (1981), his break-through role.

## Early life

Raju was born as the youngest among four in 1955 to Shekharan Nair and Saraswati Amma at Thycaud, Thiruvanathapuram. He has two sisters, Ramani and Radha, and a brother Surendran. He had his primary education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvanathapuram. He did his pre-degree in Victory Tutorial College. He learned diploma in acting course during 1973–1975 from Adyar Film Institute, Madras (now Chennai).

## Personal life

Maniyanpilla Raju married Indira in 1985, and the couple have two sons, Sachin and Niranj. The younger son, Niranj, made his debut in Renjith's Black Butterfly. He wrote a book titled Chirichum Chirippichum containing his memoirs in 2012. In 2019, he opened a restaurant, Be@Kiwizo, in Kannur, which is Kerala's first restaurant to use robots to serve customers.

## Filmography
### As an actor
#### 1970s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1976 | Mohiniyaattam | Job hunter |
| 1976 | Light House | Thankamma's brother |
| 1976 | Chirikkudukka | |
| 1977 | Neethipeedam | |
| 1977 | Aval Oru Devaalayam | |
| 1978 | Mudramothiram | Kuttappan |
| 1978 | Jayikkaanaay Janichavan | Tharakan's sidekick |
| 1978 | Kanalkattakal | Man at mental hospital |
| 1978 | Kanyaka | |
| 1978 | Mattoru Karnan | |
| 1978 | Thiranottam | |
| 1978 | Aaravam | |
| 1979 | Maalika Paniyunnavar | Ouseph |

#### 1980s

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Theenalangal | Appu | |
| 1980 | Chamaram | Raju | |
| 1981 | Chamayam | | |
| 1981 | Theekkali | | |
| 1981 | Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla | Maniyan Pilla | |
| 1981 | Tharattu | Viswanathan | |
| 1982 | Football | Shivankutty | |
| 1982 | Ithu Njangalude Katha | Santhosh | |
| 1982 | Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam | Raghu | |
| 1982 | Bheeman | | |
| 1982 | Kattile Pattu | Raju | |
| 1982 | Aasha | Sunil Kumar | |
| 1982 | Chiriyo Chiri | Santhosh | |
| 1983 | Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla | Kidnapper (II) | |
| 1983 | Prasnam Gurutharam | Raju | |
| 1983 | Oru Madapravinte Katha | | |
| 1983 | Mortuary | Jacob | |
| 1983 | Sesham Kazhchayil | | |
| 1983 | Pinnilavu | Sreedharan | |
| 1983 | Koodevide | Shankar | |
| 1984 | Onnanu Nammal | Hari | |
| 1984 | Thathamme Poocha Poocha | | |
| 1984 | April 18 | | |
| 1984 | Theere Pratheekshikkathe | | |
| 1984 | Koottinilamkili | Gopan | |
| 1984 | Ivide Thudangunnu | Peter | |
| 1984 | Itha Innu Muthal | 'Kailasam' Raju | |
| 1984 | Athirathram | Anthony | |
| 1984 | Ariyaatha Veethikal | Soman | |
| 1984 | Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla | Rajappan | |
| 1984 | Adiyozhukkukal | Jayarajan | |
| 1985 | Akalathe Ambili | Maniyan | |
| 1985 | Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki | Suresh | |
| 1985 | Angadikkappurathu | Vasu | |
| 1985 | Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu | Abdu | |
| 1985 | Jeevante Jeevan | Prakash | |
| 1985 | Boeing Boeing | Kuttappan | |
| 1985 | Aram + Aram = Kinnaram | Saravanan | |
| 1985 | Akkare Ninnoru Maran | Achuthan | |
| 1985 | Karimpinpoovinakkare | Raju | |
| 1986 | Dheem Tharikida Thom | Siva Subrahmaniam | |
| 1986 | Yuvajanotsavam | Bhagaval Das | |
| 1986 | Nimishangal | Joseph | |
| 1986 | Ithramathram | Rajeevan | |
| 1986 | T. P. Balagopalan M. A. | Narayankutty | |
| 1986 | Katturumbinum Kathu Kuthu | Babu | |
| 1986 | Ponnum Kudathinum Pottu | College student | |
| 1986 | Thalavattam | Joseph | |
| 1986 | Hello My Dear Wrong Number | Ramadasan | |
| 1986 | Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal | Alex | |
| 1986 | Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi | Vidyadharan | |
| 1986 | Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu | Damu | |
| 1987 | Poovizhi Vasalile | | Tamil film |
| 1987 | Ellavarkkum Nanmakal | | |
| 1987 | Sarvakalashala | Chakkara | |
| 1987 | P.C. 369 | Damodaran Pillai | |
| 1987 | January Oru Orma | Narayana Swamy | |
| 1987 | Ithrayum Kaalam | Unni Nampoothiri | |
| 1988 | Vellanakalude Nadu | Gopi | |
| 1988 | Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu | | |
| 1988 | Ayitham | Thankamani | |
| 1988 | Oru Muthassi Katha | Abdu | |
| 1988 | Chithram | Murugan | |
| 1988 | Aryan | Adv. Radhakrishnan | |
| 1988 | Kudumbapuranam | Murali | |
| 1989 | Mahayanam | | |
| 1989 | Kireedam | Najeeb | |
| 1989 | Adhipan | Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1989 | Vandanam | Hariharan Iyer | |
| 1989 | Season | Kanthi | |
| 1989 | Nair Saab | Cadet Chandran Pillai | |
| 1989 | Naduvazhikal | Ravi | |
| 1989 | Nocturne Indien | Restaurant owner | |

#### 1990s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1990 | Kadathanadan Ambadi | Kandasseri |
| 1990 | Aye Auto | Thangu |
| 1990 | Malayogom | Dr. Sudhakaran |
| 1990 | Kouthuka Varthakal | Ramamoorthy |
| 1990 | His Highness Abdullah | Raja Raja Varma |
| 1990 | Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran | Gangadharan |
| 1990 | Akkare Akkare Akkare | Gopi |
| 1990 | No.20 Madras Mail | Hitchcock Kanjikuzhi |
| 1991 | Ganamela | Kannan |
| 1991 | Adhwaytham | Chithran Nampoothiri |
| 1991 | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Murali |
| 1991 | Anaswaram | |
| 1992 | Kizhakkan Pathrose | Mathai |
| 1992 | Kudumbasametham | Sreedharan Kurup |
| 1992 | Kallan Kappalil Thanne | Adv. Jose Kurien |
| 1992 | Aham | Marfee Markose |
| 1992 | Vasudha | |
| 1992 | Johnnie Walker | Professor |
| 1992 | Neelakurukkan | |
| 1992 | Thalastaanam | Narendran Pillai |
| 1992 | Ellarum Chollanu | Mani |
| 1992 | Ayalathe Adheham | Achuthan Singh |
| 1993 | Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans | Thankachan |
| 1993 | Ekalavyan | Chandran Vallappuzha |
| 1993 | Kudumbasneham | |
| 1993 | Chenkol | Najeeb |
| 1993 | Butterflies | Krishnan Eradi |
| 1993 | Paithrukam | |
| 1993 | Mafia | |
| 1993 | Devasuram | Bharathan |
| 1994 | Ponthan Mada | |
| 1994 | Rudraksham | Appu |
| 1994 | Kudumba Vishesham | Prasad M. Nair |
| 1994 | Commissioner | Gopinathan |
| 1994 | CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. | Prem Shankar |
| 1994 | Minnaram | 'Mazhuvan' Manikantan / Lassar |
| 1994 | Cabinet | Razzak |
| 1995 | Simhavalan Menon | Patrick |
| 1995 | Spadikam | Kunju Mohammad |
| 1995 | Rajakeeyam | Pushpangathan |
| 1995 | Agnidevan | Poojari Potti Kunju |
| 1995 | Aadyathe Kanmani | Dineshan Unnithan |
| 1995 | Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary | Unni Thampuran |
| 1996 | Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam | Shambu |
| 1996 | Mahathma | Attorney Koshy |
| 1996 | Kala Pani | Nair |
| 1996 | Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan | Madhavan |
| 1997 | Sayaamees Irattakal | |
| 1997 | Asuravamsam | Inspector |
| 1997 | Chandralekha | |
| 1997 | Oru Yathramozhi | |
| 1997 | Aaraam Thampuran | Soman Pillai |
| 1997 | Kannur | |
| 1997 | Bharatheeyam | |
| 1997 | Ullasapoongattu | Kuriyachan |
| 1997 | Lelam | Umman |
| 1997 | Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam | Mahadevan |
| 1997 | Janathipathyam | SI Abootty |
| 1998 | Aaraam Jaalakam | |
| 1998 | Poothiruvathira Ravil | |
| 1998 | Thirakalkkappuram | |
| 1998 | Anuragakottaram | Private Detective Hentry |
| 1998 | Harikrishnans | Kunjikuttan's Advocate |
| 1998 | Kallu Kondoru Pennu | Mohanachandran |
| 1999 | F. I. R. | CI Gurumoorthy |
| 1999 | Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu | Mulaku |
| 1999 | Stalin Sivadas | Mayor Anto |
| 1999 | Ustaad | Adv. Abraham |
| 1999 | Pallavur Devanarayanan | Manavedathan Nampoothiri |
| 1999 | The Godman | SI Karippetti Marthandan |

#### 2000s

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam | | |
| 2000 | Narasimham | CI Habeeb | |
| 2000 | Swayamvara Panthal | S.I Vijayan | |
| 2000 | Sathyameva Jayathe | SI George | |
| 2000 | Pilots | Venkidi | |
| 2001 | Sharja To Sharja | Sethu | |
| 2001 | Naranathu Thampuran | Mohandas | |
| 2001 | Raavanaprabhu | | Cameo |
| 2001 | Suryachakram | | |
| 2001 | Nariman | Moytheen | |
| 2002 | Thandavam | Pushpakumar | |
| 2002 | Chathurangam | Alex | |
| 2003 | Sahodaran Sahadevan | Balagopalan | |
| 2003 | Leader | Sadasivan | |
| 2004 | Njan Salperu Ramankutty | Sankaran | |
| 2004 | Kottaram Vaidyan | Thirumukham Pillai | |
| 2004 | Vamanapuram Bus Route | Rajappan | |
| 2004 | Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku | Pisharadi | |
| 2004 | Udayam | | |
| 2004 | Mayilattam | Swaminathan | |
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | C.I. Sugathan | |
| 2005 | Rajamanikyam | Adv. Shivadaas Menon | |
| 2005 | Anandabhadram | Police Constable | |
| 2006 | Prajapathi | Kumaran | |
| 2006 | The Don | Abdullah | |
| 2006 | Pothan Vava | Paulachan | |
| 2007 | Pranayakalam | | |
| 2007 | Chotta Mumbai | Adv. Menon | |
| 2007 | Big B | Dr. Venu | |
| 2007 | Nasrani | Kunjachan | |
| 2007 | Akkare Ninnoru Sultan | | |
| 2007 | Janmam | | |
| 2008 | Pakal Nakshatrangal | Tharakan | |
| 2008 | One Way Ticket | | |
| 2008 | Malabar Wedding | Unni | |
| 2008 | Sound of Boot | Antony | |
| 2008 | Annan Thampi | Appu's and Achu's uncle | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | SI Gopi | |
| 2008 | Thalappavu | Shivan Pillai | |
| 2009 | Red Chillies | SI Palaniswamy | |
| 2009 | Perumaal | | |
| 2009 | Evidam Swargamanu | Adv. Jayaraj | |
| 2009 | Shudharil Shudhan | Kanaran | |
| 2009 | Dr. Patient | Shankaran | |
| 2009 | Calendar | Fr. Thazhekkadan | |
| 2009 | Duplicate | Devan | |
| 2009 | Kerala Cafe | | |
| 2009 | Gulumaal: The Escape | Rangaswami / Ahammedkutty | |

#### 2010s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2010 | Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe | |
| 2010 | Plus Two | Avarachan |
| 2010 | Happy Husbands | Pazhakutti Pavithran |
| 2010 | Oru Naal Varum | Ramesh |
| 2010 | Elsamma Enna Aankutty | S.I. Sunandappan |
| 2011 | Kudumbasree Travels | Nettar |
| 2011 | Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2 | |
| 2011 | Oru Marubhoomikkadha | Jose |
| 2011 | Rathinirvedam | Pattalam Maman |
| 2011 | Innanu Aa Kalyanam | Kuttichan |
| 2011 | Vellaripravinte Changathi | Preman |
| 2011 | Kunjettan | |
| 2011 | Sevenes | Habeebullah |
| 2012 | Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty | Ayyappan |
| 2012 | Da Thadiya | John Prakash |
| 2012 | Simhasanam | |
| 2012 | Diamond Necklace | V. K. Narayana Menon |
| 2012 | Ustad Hotel | Chef Babu |
| 2012 | Kunjaliyan | Vikrama Kurup |
| 2012 | Cobra: Kottayam Brothers | Balan |
| 2013 | Ardhanaari | Jameela |
| 2013 | Black Butterfly | Mahadevan |
| 2013 | Radio | Priya's father |
| 2013 | Lokpal | Minister Anirudhan |
| 2013 | Second Innings | |
| 2013 | Tourist Home | Sathyanathan |
| 2013 | Idukki Gold | Madan |
| 2013 | Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43 | Jayanthan Namboothiri |
| 2014 | Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram | Prabhakaran Thanchappuzha |
| 2014 | My Dear Mummy | |
| 2014 | Thamarassery to Thailand | |
| 2014 | Bad Boys | |
| 2014 | Close Friends | |
| 2014 | Munnariyippu | |
| 2014 | Rosappookkaalam | |
| 2014 | Bangalore Days | Prakash |
| 2014 | Tamaar Padaar | |
| 2015 | Thinkal Muthal Velli Vare | C. I. Dhanapalan |
| 2015 | Premam | College Principal |
| 2015 | Acha Dhin | SI Soman |
| 2015 | Oru Second Class Yathra | ASI Johnson |
| 2015 | Kanyaka Talkies | Sadanandan |
| 2015 | Kukkiliyar | Raveendran |
| 2016 | Paavada | Adv. Gunasekharan Nair |
| 2016 | Ore Mukham | Older Ayyappadas |
| 2016 | Anuraga Karikkin Vellam | Prakash Kopara |
| 2016 | Karinkunnam 6's | Pillai |
| 2016 | Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho | Himself |
| 2017 | Sakhavu | Rajan |
| 2017 | Comrade in America | Babychan |
| 2017 | Pullikkaran Staraa | Murali Nambiar |
| 2017 | Adam Joan | Andrews |
| 2017 | Lavakusha | |
| 2018 | Shikkari Shambhu | Sahadevan |
| 2018 | Mohanlal | Himself |
| 2018 | Panchavarnathatha | Abraham |
| 2018 | My Story | Vishwan |
| 2019 | Pathinettam Padi | Sudheer Kumar |
| 2019 | Finals | Sports Minister Siva Shankara Pillai |
| 2019 | Ganagandharvan | Kuttan |
| 2019 | Thelivu | |

#### 2020s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2022 | Viddikalude Maash | |
| 2022 | Varayan | Isthaakki |
| 2023 | Poovan | |
| 2023 | Maheshum Marutiyum | Padmanabhan 'Pappettan' |
| 2023 | Enkilum Chandrike | Shambu |
| 2023 | Corona Papers | Pillai |
| 2023 | Neymar | |
| 2024 | Iyer In Arabia | |
| 2024 | Gu | |
| 2024 | Kudumbasthreeyum Kunjadum | |
| 2024 | Paalum Pazhavum | Tamarakshan |
| 2024 | Bha. Bha. Ba. † | TBA |

### As producer

* Hello My Dear Wrong Number (1985)
* Vellanakalude Nadu (1988)
* Aye Auto (1990)
* Anaswaram (1991)
* Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999)
* Anandabhadram (2005)
* Chotta Mumbai (2007)
* Oru Naal Varum (2010)
* Black Butterfly (2013)
* Pavada (2016)
* Panchavarnathatha (2018)
* Finals (2019)
* Maheshum Marutiyum (2023)
* Gu (2024)

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2024 | Jai Mahendran | Koshy Thomas Revenue Minister | |

## Television
### As judge

* Comedy Super Show (Flowers Tv)
* Comedy Stars Plus (Asianet Plus)
* Comedy Stars Season 2 (Asianet)
* Comedy Stars (Asianet)

### As host

* Beautiful minds (YouTube)
* Laughing Villa (Surya TV)
* Malayali Durbar (Amrita TV)
* Jambanum Thumbanum (Asianet Plus)

### As actor

* Ettu Sundarikalum Njanum (Surya TV) 2004-2005
* Mahatma Gandhi Colony (Surya TV) 2007-2008
* Kadamattathu Kathanar (Asianet)- 2004-2005
* Sthree (Asianet) 1998-2000
* Laksharchana (Doordarshan) 1995-1996
* Aarohanam (Kairali TV) 2013-2014
* Akshayapatram (Asianet)- 2001-2002

## Controversy

Actress Minu Muneer accused Maniyanpilla Raju of harassment. He later denied it and said he would be fine with the investigations if true.