Shankar (actor)
Shankar is an Indian actor (Malayalam: ശങ്കര്‍) who has worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. In the early and mid-1980s, he was the most prominent romantic lead actor of Malayalam cinema. Shankar's debut Tamil film "Oru Thalai Ragam," and Malayalam debut, "Manjil Virinja Pookkal," completed a theatrical run of 365 and 150 days respectively. Early life. Shankar was born to Thekkeveettil N. K. Panicker and Sulochana in Kechery, Thrissur, Kerala in 1960. His family later moved to Chennai when he was four years old. His father was a senior manager at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. He  has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Indra. He completed the schooling from St. Bede's Anglo Indian High School, Chennai. He pursued a Bachelors in History from Garhwal University, Rishikesh. Later he joined South Indian Film Chambers of acting completing 2 years of an acting course. Career. As an actor. Shankar was selected as the lead actor of "Oru Thalai Ragam," through audition. "Oru Thalai Ragam" not only completed 365 days run in theatres but also became a cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Then Navodaya Studio signed Shankar for their romantic film "Manjil Virinja Pookkal" along with newcomers Mohanlal  and Poornima Jayaram, directed by Fazil. The success of "Manjil Virinja Pookal" and films like "Kadathu" opposite Roja Ramani, "Oothikachiya Ponnu" with Poornima Jayaram and "Ente Mohangal Poovaninju" cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films. Simultaneously his Tamil films "Sujatha", "Koyil Puraa", "Mouna Yuddham" and "Raagam Thedum Pallavi" also done okay business. Success continued in Malayalam with Shanker getting chance in movies of hit directors like P.G. Viswambharan , Joshiy and I.V. Sasi with movies like "Padayottam", "Anuragakodathy", Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram, "Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu" and "Engane Nee Marakkum", so he decided to concentrate on Malayalam films. His other successful  films of 1983 are "Mortuary", "Hello Madras Girl" and "Himam". In 1984, Shankar appeared in "Ente Kalithozhan", "Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla", "Muthodumuthu", "Poochakkoru Mookkuthi" and "Itha Innu Muthal". Next year he was a part of the films "Archana Aaradhana", "Ambada Njaane!", "Aram + Aram = Kinnaram" and "Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki". In mid 80's Shankar began losing his market for doing repetitive roles, so he became a producer to save his career with Sibi Malayil's "Chekkaeran Oru Chilla", but the film flopped. His other major films of that year were "Naale Njangalude Vivahum", "Oppam Oppathinoppam" and "Sughamo Devi" along  with Mohanlal. Shankar had fewer Malayalam releases in the late '80s and his attempt to become director with Suresh Gopi starrer "Rakshakan" also did not materialize, so he decided to take a break from films to concentrate on business, although he did guest roles in the films "Manathe Kottaram", "Gandharvam" and "Guru". Shankar staged a comeback as lead hero in the films "Sooryavanam" (1998), "Bhadra", "Sundarippravu" and "The Fire". He also acted in "Stalin Sivadas" with Mammootty, but all these films failed at the box-office. So he moved to television with a successful serial "Ithu Manju Pole" and continued  to perform in serials "Swara Raagam" and "Parasparam". He also won the 2006 Film Critics Television Best Actor Award for his performance in TV serial "Chithrashalabham". His last serial "Ammakkayi" (aired in Surya TV) was a success. As he wanted to concentrate in films, he stopped doing serials and made his debut as a director with "Virus", a film on HIV/AIDS, which was censored in 2007. Later Shankar appeared in films like "Ividam Swargamanu", "Casanovva" alongside Mohanlal, "Rhythm", "Koottukar", "Banking Hours 10 to 4", "Hide N' Seek", "Father's Day", "Oomakkuyil Padumbol" and "Bhoomiyude Avakashikal". In 2013, he was  appreciated for his good performance in a comic role in Anoop Menon scripted film "Hotel California". His other releases were "Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu" and "Cleopatra", "Naku Penda Naku Taka" and in 2015, Shankar played the lead role in "Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam" along with Shine Tom Chacko directed by Jayaraj Vijay, but the film flopped. In 2018 he starred in "Niranjana Pookkal" as hero and main role in the incomplete film "Oru Vathil Kottai". He also starred in "Bhramam" along with Prithviraj Sukumaran in 2021. As a director. Shankar directed a video film "Kaatti" in 2006 based on child labour  which won him the best director award from Malayalam Television viewers DRISHYA awards for video film. He made his feature film debut with "Virus", an Indo-American co-production urging society not to shun HIV/AIDS affected people. His first commercial Malayalam directorial venture "Keralotsavam 2009" starred Kalabhavan Mani and Vinu Mohan dealt with how three youngsters falling prey to terrorist links. In 2015, he directed "Sand City", a Tamil film based at "U.A.E." to good review. he has directed a handful of films Personal life. Shankar's first marriage was with Radhika in December 1992, that ended in a  divorce. After the failure of his first marriage, he married Rooparekha, that also ended in divorce. The couple has a son named Gokul. In 2013, he married Chitra Lekshmi, a dance teacher, settled at U.K.