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Nedumudi Venu Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 6, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth22 May 1948

Age73 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceNedumudi, Kingdom of Travancore (now Alappuzha, Kerala, India)

ProfessionActor, Screenwriter

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseTR Susheela

FamilyChildren: Unni Gopal and Kannan Gopal

Nedumudi Venu Biography

Nedumudi Venu, born Kesavan Venugopal on 22 May 1948 in Nedumudi, Travancore, was a celebrated Indian actor and screenwriter known for a long and versatile

Early life and background

Kesavan Venugopal, universally known by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was born on 22 May 1948 in Nedumudi in the former Kingdom of Travancore (now in Alappuzha, Kerala). The youngest of five siblings, he completed his schooling at NSS Higher Secondary School, Nedumudi, and St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School in Champakulam, and later graduated from S. D. College, Alappuzha, with a BA in Malayalam. Before turning full-time to film and theatre, he worked as a journalist for the weekly Kalakaumudi and taught at a coaching institute. Music and theatre were lifelong interests; he played the mridangam and was active in stage work early in his career.

Career

Venu’s film career began with a small role in the 1972 Malayalam film Oru Sundariyude Katha. His early theatre work and friendships with filmmakers and fellow artists helped him transition into more prominent film roles. During the late 1970s and early 1980s he appeared in notable Malayalam films directed by filmmakers such as Bharathan and Padmarajan, and began to take on lead and character roles that established him as a major presence in Malayalam cinema.

Beyond acting, he worked as a screenwriter and director. His screenplay and dialogue credits include Aarohanam (1980), and he contributed scripts to films such as Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983), Ambada Njaane! (1985), Theertham (1987), and Sruthi (1987). He directed the Malayalam film Pooram (1989). His television work included acting and directing the Doordarshan series Kairali Vilasam Lodge (1988), and he appeared in serials such as Swapnam, Oomakkuyil, and Peythozhiyathe.

Venu’s filmography spanned multiple languages. He acted in Tamil films including Mogamul (1995) and had roles in high-profile Hindi-influenced Tamil productions such as Indian (1996) and Anniyan (2005). He also appeared in an English-language Indian film, Chaurahen (completed 2007), and performed in the Sanskrit film Ishti (2016). His last Malayalam acting credits include Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021) and the screenplay credit Rasam (2015). A posthumous or late-career Tamil credit listed is Indian 2 (2022), where he is credited as Muthu Krishnaswamy.

Recognition and awards

Over the course of his career, Venu received numerous awards at national and state levels. He won multiple National Film Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for His Highness Abdullah (1990), a Special Jury Award for Margam (2003), and an award for Best Non-Feature Film Narration/Voice Over for Minukku (2006). At the Kerala State Film Awards he was honored several times, with wins spanning Best Actor, Second Best Actor and Special Jury awards for performances in films such as Vidyaparayum Munpe, Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Bharatham, Thenmavin Kombath and Margam. His work was also recognized at the Filmfare and Asianet ceremonies, including Filmfare Best Actor awards and an Asianet Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Public profile

Nedumudi Venu was respected for his adaptability across genres and for bringing depth to both lead and supporting roles. He acted in more than 500 films, a body of work that included Malayalam, Tamil and other language projects, and he was also active as a writer and theatre enthusiast. His collaborations with prominent filmmakers and actors over decades made him a familiar and influential figure in South Indian cinema.

Personal life

Venu was married to TR Susheela and had two sons, Unni Gopal and Kannan Gopal. His parents were P. K. Kesavan Nair, a school teacher, and P. Kunjikkuttiyamma.

Final illness and passing

In 2021 Venu contracted COVID-19 and initially recovered, but he had been receiving treatment for stomach-related ailments for several months. He was admitted urgently to a private hospital on 10 October 2021 after feeling unwell, and he died on 11 October 2021 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, at the age of 73. News of his death prompted public tributes from colleagues and public figures, acknowledging his contribution to film and culture.

Latest updates

At the end of his career Venu continued to work across film industries and in television. His most recent listed film appearances include Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021) and a credit for Indian 2 (2022). His long career left a significant legacy in Malayalam cinema through an extensive and varied body of work.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Nedumudi Venu, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea

Malayalam film in which he appeared as Samoothiri

2021
Indian 2

Tamil film credited as Muthu Krishnaswamy

2022
Rasam

Malayalam film for which he has a screenplay credit

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Malayalam cinema with Oru Sundariyude Katha (1972)
  2. Acted in over 500 films across Malayalam, Tamil and other languages
  3. Worked as actor, screenwriter and director in film and television
  4. Recipient of multiple National Film Awards and Kerala State Film Awards
  5. Asianet Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nedumudi Venu born?

Nedumudi Venu was born on 22 May 1948.

What is Nedumudi Venu known for?

Nedumudi Venu is known for actor, Screenwriter.

What is Nedumudi Venu’s marital status?

Nedumudi Venu's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Nedumudi Venu married to?

Nedumudi Venu is publicly listed as married to TR Susheela.