Madhupal

Biography

Madhupal's association with cinema dates back to the time when he was a child in Palakkad. His father, Chengalath Madhava Menon, ran a movie theatre. He is a native of Calicut and took post graduation in commerce. He is a noted actor and 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 many other languages like English, Hindi, and Tamil and have been published in various leading publications like Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, and Bhashaposhini magazines. He started his career in films as an assistant director to eminent film makers like Bharath Gopi and Rajiv Anchal. Madhupal assisted Rajeev Anchal in Butterflies, Kashmeeram, and GURU (the film won national awards and 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 ( the film won 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 Bharatheeyamm 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, telecasted on Kairali Channel), which received many awards. Thalappavu is his big screen directorial debut and the film received the Kerala State Best Debutante Director Award and various organisations awards. Madhupal has ventured more and more into the world of letters and published seven collections of short stories. Social activities also keep him occupied. He was engaged in several projects to help those effected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, as he is also 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 Govt. 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.

Now Madhupal is the member of the board of directors of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC)

Personal life

Madhupal is married to Rekha. He has two daughters, Madhavi and Meenakshi. His father (late) Chengalath Madhava Menon was from Kannur and his mother Kannambath Rugmani Amma is a native of Calicut. He now lives in Thiruvananthapuram with his family.

Awards and recognitions

Published works

Other works

He is presently judging popular reality show YUVATHARAM which is telecasting in Jaihind TV.