Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju , is an Indian film actor and producer who appears in Malayalam films. His stage name is derived from the name of the character he played in the film Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla (1981), his break-through role. His debut film was Mohiniyattam (1976) directed by Sreekumaran Thampi. He has played a variety of roles as a character actor, starring in over 400 films.
Raju was born as youngest among four in 1955 to Shekharan Nair and Saraswati Amma at Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram. He has two sisters, Ramani, Radha and a brother surendran. He had his primary education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram. He did pre university degree in Victory Tutorial College. He learned diploma in acting course during 1973–1975 from Adyar Film Institute, Chennai. He wrote his autobiography Chirichum Chirippichum in 2012.
He married Indira in 1985. His elder son is Sachin and his younger son Niranj made his debut in Renjith's Black Butterfly .
Actor
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Untitled Devananda/Maniyanpilla Raju Project (pre-production)
-
Untitled Indrajith Ramesh/Bhavana Project (filming)
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Jai Mahendran (TV Series) (post-production)
-
Kudumba Sthreeyum Kunjadum (post-production)
-
Thimingala Vetta (post-production)
2023
Rani: The Real Story as
DYSP Reghu
2023
Maheshum Marutiyum as
Padmanabhan 'Pappettan'
2023
Enkilum Chandrike as
Shambu
2021
#Home as
Producer Baby (as Maniyan Pilla Raju)
2019
Finals as
Sivasankara Pillai
2019
Appu in search of truth
2019
Gangs of 18 as
Sudheer Kumar
2018
Panchavarnathatha as
Abraham
2018
Shikkari Shambhu as
Sahadevan
2017
Pullikkaran Staraa as
Murali Nambiar
2017
CIA: Comrade in America as
Baby
2016
Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho as
Anju's Father
2016
Anuraga Karikkin Vellam as
Prakash Koppara
2016
Karingunnam 6's as
P. Pillai
2016
Paavada as
Adv. K. Gunashekaran Nair
2015
Jamna Pyari as
Ramachandran
2015
Thinkal Muthal Velli Vare as
C. I. Dhanapalan
2015
Premam as
Principal (as Maniyan Pilla Raju)
2015
Oru Second Class Yathra
2014
Bangalore Days as
Prakashan (as Maniyampilla Raju)
2013
Namboothiri Yuvavu @43 as
Jayanthan Namboothiri
2013
Kanyaka Talkies as
Sadanandan
2013
Tourist Home as
Sathyanathan
2013
Black Butterfly as
Mahadevan
2013
Lokpal as
Minister Anirudhan
2012
Da Thadiya as
John Prakash
2012
Thatsamayam Oru Penkutty as
Ayyappan Pillai
2012
Kunjaliyan as
Vikrama Kurup
2011
Vellaripravinte Changathi
2011
The Arab, The Camel, and P. Madhavan Nair as
Jose
2011
Innanu Aa Kalyanam as
Sulochanan Pillai's Secretary
2011
Kudumbasree Travels as
Nettar
2010
Elsamma Enna Aankutty as
S.I. Sunandappan
2009
Gulumaal: The Escape as
Kalyanakrishna Swami / Ahamadkutty
2009
Shudharil Shudhan as
Kanaran
2009
Ividam Swargamanu as
Adv.Jayaraj
2009
Kerala Cafe (segment "Island Express")
2009
Red Chillies as
Tamil Nadu police officer
2008
Pakal Nakshatrangal as
IG Thilakan
2008
Twenty:20 as
SI Gopinathan
2008
Thalappavu as
Sivan Pillai
2008
Thirakkatha as
Mohanakrishnan
2007
Chota Mumbai as
Adv. Pradeep Menon
2006
Baba Kalyani as
A police officer
2005
Chandrolsavam as
Sugathan
2004
Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV Series) as
Neelaswaran
- Episode #1.14 (2004) - Neelaswaran
- Episode #1.13 (2004) - Neelaswaran
- Episode #1.2 (2004) - Neelaswaran
2004
Kottaram Vaidyan as
Thirumukham Pillai
2004
Mayilattam as
Swaminathan
2004
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty as
Sankaran
2004
Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku as
Pisharadi
2004
Vamanapuram Bus Route as
Rajappan
2003
Sahodaran Sahadevan as
Balagopalan
2001
Naranathu Thamburan as
Mohandas
2001
Sharja To Sharja as
Sethu
2000
Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam
1999
Pallavur Devanarayanan as
Manavedathan Nampoothiri
1999
Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu as
Mulaku
1999
The Godman as
Karippetti Marthandan
1999
My Dear Karady as
Nelson Fernadez
1998
Kallu Kondoru Pennu as
Mohanachandran
1998
Poothiruvathira Raavil as
Raghavan
1998
Harthal as
Kubbu Singh / CBI Officer
1998
Anuragakottaram as
Detective Hentry
1997
Aaram Thamburan as
Soman Pillai
1997
Anubhoothi as
Ambujakshan
1997
Janathipathyam as
Abootty
1997
Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam as
Mahadevan
1997
Masmaram as
Krishnan Unni
1997
Chandralekha as
Bank Manager Varghese
1997
Ullasappoonkattu as
Kuriachan
1996
Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam as
Shambu
1996
Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan as
Madhavan
1996
Mahatma as
Koshy the Attorney for Devadevan (Suresh Gopi)
1995
Aadyathe Kanmani as
Dineshan Unnithan
1995
Rajakeeyam as
Pushpangathan
1995
Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary as
Unni Thampuran
1995
Spadikam as
Kunju Mohammad
1994
CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. as
Prem Shankar
1994
Commissioner as
Gopinathan
1994
Kudumba Visesham as
Prasad
1994
Minnaram as
'Mazhuvan' Manikantan
1994
Ponthan Mada as
Gopala Kammal
1993
Butterflies as
Krishnan Eradi
1993
Ekalavyan as
Chandran Vallappuzha
1993
Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans as
Thankachan
1993
Mafia as
Police Inspector Narayanan
1993
Sopanam as
Manoharan Varma
1992
Ayalathe Addeham as
Achuthan Singh
1992
Kallan Kappalil Thanne as
Adv. Jose Kurien
1992
Neelakurukkan as
Fr. Illikkoodan
1992
Johnnie Walker as
Professor
1991
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan as
Murali
1991
Advaitham as
Chithran Namboothiri
1990
Akkare Akkare Akkare as
Gopi
1990
Kouthuka Varthakal as
Murthy
1990
Maala Yogam as
Sudhakaran
1990
Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran as
Gangan
1990
Vidhyarambham as
An Advocate
1990
Kadathanadan Ambadi as
A sidekick of Payyampally Chanthu
1990
His Highness Abdullah as
Raja Raja Varma
1990
No: 20 Madras Mail as
Hitchcock Kanjikuzhi
1989
Vandanam as
Advertising Boss
1989
Nair Saab as
Cadet Chandran Pillai
1989
Nocturne indien as
Les enfants - Le serveur du restaurant de Madras (as Raju)
1988
Kudumba Puranam as
Murali
1988
Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu as
Sujandra (as Raju)
1988
Oru Muthassi Katha as
Abdu
1988
Vellanakalude Naadu as
Gopi
1987
January Oru Orma as
Narayana Swamy
1987
Kurukkan Rajavayi as
Rajendran Nair, cousin of Prathapan
1987
P.C. 369 as
Damodaran Pillai
1987
Sarvakalasala as
Chakkara
1987
Ithrayum Kalam as
Unni Nampoothiri
1986
Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi as
Vidyadharan
1986
Hello My Dear: Wrong Number as
Ramadas
1986
Ithra Maathram as
Rajeevan
1986
Katturumbinum Kathu Kuthu as
Babu
1986
Nimishingal as
Johnychayan
1986
Ponnum Kudthinu Pottu as
A college student
1986
Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal as
Alex
1986
T.P. Balagopalan M.A. as
Bala's friend (as Raju)
1986
Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu as
Damu
1986
Dheem Tharikida Thom as
Siva Subrahmaniam
1985
Akkare Ninnoru Maran as
Achuthan
1985
Aram + Aram = Kinnaram
1985
Jeevante Jeevan as
Prakash
1985
Omanikkan Ormavaikkan
1985
Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki
1985
Akalathe Ambili as
Maniyan
1985
Karimpin Poovinakkare (as Raju)
1985
Boeing Boeing as
Kuttappan
1985
Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil
1984
Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla as
Rajappan
1984
Engane Undasane as
Sundarapandiyan / Thomasukutty
1984
Itha Innu Muthal as
'Kailasam' Raju
1984
Ivide Thudangunnu as
Peter
1984
Nokketha Dhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984
Thathamme Poocha Poocha
1984
Theere Pratheekshikkathe as
Raju
1984
Adiyozhukkukal as
Jayarajan
1984
Ariyatha Veethikal as
Soman
1983
Mortuary as
Jacob (as Raju)
1983
Oru Madapravinte Katha
1983
Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla as
Kidnapper (II)
1983
Sesham Kazhchayil as
Bhaskaran
1983
Prasnam Gurutharam as
Raju
1982
Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam as
Raghu
1982
Ithu Njangalude Katha as
Santhosh
1981
Maniyan Pillai Athava Maniyan Pillai
1979
Maalika Paniyunnavar as
Ouseph
1978
Jayikkanaayi Janichavan as
Tharakan's Sidekick
1978
Kanal Kattakal as
Man at mental hospital
1978
Mudhra Mothiram as
Kuttappan
1976
Light House as
Thankamma's Brother
Producer
-
Untitled Devananda/Maniyanpilla Raju Project (producer) (pre-production)
2023
Maheshum Marutiyum (producer)
2018
Panchavarnathatha (producer)
2013
Black Butterfly (producer)
2010
Oru Naal Varum (producer)
2007
Chota Mumbai (producer)
2005
Anandabhadram (producer)
1988
Vellanakalude Naadu (producer)
Thanks
2015
Two Countries (thanks)
2015
Anarkali (sincere thanks)
Self