Madhupal

Madhupal Kannambathu is an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Madhupal made his acting debut with Kashmeeram in 1994 and his directorial debut with Thalappavu (2008), which was about Naxal Varghese and won several awards in 2008. Madhupal is a native of Kozhikode and took post graduation in commerce. His association with cinema dates back to when he was a child in Palakkad. His father, Chengalath Madhava Menon, ran a movie theatre. Madhupal is also a short story writer in Malayalam. He has acted in more than 90 films in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi, including lead roles. His short stories have been translated into English, Hindi, and Tamil, and have appeared in publications like Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, and Bhashaposhini magazines. He started his career in film as an assistant director to eminent film makers like Bharath Gopi and Rajiv Anchal. Madhupal assisted Rajiv Anchal in Butterflies, Kashmeeram, Guru (which won national awards and was the only entry to the Academy Awards from India in the year 1997), Made in USA (which had R. Madhavan in the lead), Nothing But Life (English, shot in Las Vegas) and the eminent actor Bharath Gopi in the film Yamanam (which won a National Award in 1991). He turned actor in Kashmeeram. It was a negative role and more of such roles came his way after that. He won the Critic's Award for Best Debutante Actor for his role in the film Kashmeeram and the Second Best Actor for his role of Hari in the series on MT Kathakal, called Kazhcha, telecast on Amritha TV. He assisted Jude Attipetty in the direction of Shararandal, a 13-part serial, written by National Award-winning writer P. F. Mathews. He also wrote the screenplay and dialogue for the Malayalam movie Bharatheeyam, which was released in 1997. Films he has acted in include Kashmeeram (1994), Soosanna, Agnisakshi, Guru, Made in USA, Rishivamsam, Vardhakyapuraanam, Ravanaprabhu, Twenty-Twenty, Freekick (Hindi), Nothing but Life (English), and Oru naal Oru Kanavu (Tamil). His first directorial venture was for television (Akaasaththile Paravakal, telecast on Kairali Channel). Thalappavu was his big screen directorial debut; the film received the Kerala State Best Debutante Director Award and various other awards. Madhupal has ventured more and more into the world of letters and has published seven collections of short stories. He became engaged in several projects to help those affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake; he is associated with Santhigiri Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram as Assistant General Convener Advisory Committee. He is a former Member of Kerala Chalachithra Academy (the organizers of IFFK), Member of Kerala Folklore Academy (Kerala state Govt. organisation) and Kerala Children's Film Society (Kerala state government organisation). His second film, Ozhimuri (A Document of Separation), was selected for Indian Panorama 2012 and the International Film Festival of Kerala 2012. Ozhimuri won the Kerala State Second Best Movie Award. Madhupal is a member of the board of directors of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).