Years active 1968–present Children 2 daughters and 1 son | Spouse(s) (1981 - present) Name Satheesh Menon | |
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Full Name Satheesh Choppullil Menon Born 10 May 1950 Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, India Residence Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala Occupation Film actor, Theatre actor Parent(s) Late Capt. T Balachandran Menon (father), Choppulil Kumudam (mother) Alma mater Christ College, Irinjalakuda Movies Mizhikal Sakshi, Arabikkatha, Manal Naharam Similar People Lal Jose, V Dakshinamoorthy, Shankar Panicker | ||
Gulf News : Actor Satheesh Menon back to home മലയാള സിനിമയിലെ പരിചിത മുഖം
Early life
Satheesh Menon was born to late Capt. T Balachandra Menon and Choppulil Kumudamma on 10 March 1950 at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District of Kerala. He did his high schooling at National High School, Irinjalakuda and then took his degree from Christ College, Irinjalakuda.
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During his school/college days he participated in extra curricular activities and won many prizes and was the Senior Under Officer in National Cadet Corps India. Attended several camps including Army Attachment Camp with Gurkha Rifles and commanded Maharashtra and Kerala Battalions. He was active in student politics. His played in Agnipralayam as DYSP John and Prof Lukkose in Kaliyugam. He was actively participated in dramas in his home town and school old students stages including Pe Pidicha Lokam, Aakasa Ganga ,Papikalkkoru Parudeesa, Puthrakameshti etc.
In 1973 he moved to Bombay. During his official work as an auditor, he found his passion in continuing his favorite theater life. During his five and half year's life in Bombay, he played many characters with various drama troupes in different parts of Maharashtra including MIzhikal Vazhikal, Agniparvatham, Pathu Centu ,Brahmanam, Sarath, Gandeevam, Angam,Saparasmi, Padmavyooham, Vellappoocha, Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Padmabhooshan, Gaurilla, Samudayam, Agnipeedam, Neram Iruttatte and Manalkattu.
In 1978 December he moved to Dubai, UAE to work in Novotel (International group of hotels) and spent 35 years of career in the Middle East. During this period he was active on the stage and some of the plays worth mentioning are Olipporu, Vighraham, Yaathra, Brahmanam with T. G. Ravi, Onnam Sakshi, Samathalam, Ponnuvilayicha thampuram, Uthrarayanapakshi with Sabita Anand & [Kunjali Marakkar,Kudeecharan, Vilapappakshikal, Karutha Paksham, Ayodhyayile Chuvanna Mannu, Kiratheeyam,Chennaikkal Adhava Pattinimaranam, Ambra,Samharam, Sarghakshetram, Maadreeghothram,Kudeecharan, Cheri, Samharam, Ambada Kalla, Nagarathinte Santhathikal etc.to name a few and so many skits. He has dubbed for various ads back in the early 90's, some of them are Lipton tea (voice), Rainbow Milk (voice and video, Swiss Arabian Perfume (Voice and Video) in Hindi. he undertook these at the same time as his professional career as Finance Manager at the Marbella Resort in Sharjah and the responsibilities of family life. He credits his family for his success. "My wife Sunanda and kids have been very understanding and supportive. I used to take them with me for endless rehearsals during the weekends in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain," he recalls.
He was a recipient of several awards for his recital of famous poems, especially in ACKAF stages. Menon's name is synonymous with malayalam theatre in the Gulf. He has been much-after actor for plays presented in all the seven emirates.
Career
His major roles on stage were noticed which paved way to the Malayalam television industry in meha serials. He attracted critics reviews for his performances as Highlight Mathachan in Manal Nagaram by Shyamaprasad with [Late Ratheesh and wellknown cine artists, David Philip inDream City with Devan,Asha Sarath, by Ashok R Nath which was shot extensively in the Middle East, Azad Mohammed in Venalkalam with Siddique by Suresh Unnithan, Vikramman in Chankrangal etc. His characters in telifilms like Prahelika,Manalkattu, Arppu, Meghangal,Oru Puzha Ozhukum Vazhi, Arabia 20/20, He has won numerous stage awards for his performance recognised by Amol Palekar & Prof.Narendraprasad&Bharath Murali &Pro Vayala Vasudevan Pillai to name a few.
Even though he shared the frames with Mammukka in Dubai,the turning point in his life came in the role of a Pakistani supervisor in the Malayalam super hit Arabikatha directed by Lal Jose. Later he played vital roles in Mizhikal Sakshi by Ashok R Nath, Diamond Necklace by Lal Jose again, role of Philip Koshy in the movie Red Wine directed by Salam Bappu and Persiakaran, Thirunyhida Kathal Thiruda (Thami) directed by Ashok R Nath, Rajeev Nath's Rasam featuring superstar Mohanlal in the lead role. His Kalyanism, directed by Anu Ram will be releasing soon. He is currently acting in Roopesh Thikkodi's Mistake. He later returned to Kerala in mid 2013 to actively contribute to the Malayalam movie industry. He lives with his wife in Irinjalakuda and got 2 daughters both married and settled in the UK & the UAE. His only son is working in Dubai. In 1978 he was selected for the documentary by the Central Board of Film division, Bombay with A grade. Menon's tryst with the world of theatre began over 45 years ago during his college days at the Christ College in Kerala, which he continued during his sojourn in Mumbai. From 1973 to 1978, he built a formidable reputation on the amateur Malayalam stage in Mumbai enacting dozens dozens of powerful roles like Raman Kutty in Mizhikal Vazhikal,Thomas in Agniparvatham, Mohan in Pathucentu, Lal in Bramanam, Dr Sreelan In Vellappoocha, Kaliyappan in Vellappoocha, Bishop in Guerrilla, Jayan in Sathyameva Jayathe, Dr Stephen in Samudayam, Dr Jose in Sarath, Madhu in Ankam, Rajasekharan in Ghandeevam, etc. His theatrical tour de force which marked him out as an actor's actor was the character of Ismail Hassan in Neram Iruttatte (an adaption of Fredseric knot's Wait Until Dark) directed by Venu, a product of the National School of Drama
He caught the eye of Amol Palekar, the renowned Hindi and Marathi actor-director, for his acting in Ankam. Documentaries, video films, ad jingles... from villains, character and lead roles. Menon is six-foot tall with a captivating presence and voice. He believes in keeping fit through regular workouts at the gym and swimming.
Decades of dedicated effort has not satiated this artiste a wee bit. He is still thirsty for roles and to conquer greater heights –now on the big screen. Offers have come from tinsel town earlier but in the hustle and bustle of expatriate life, Menon was unable to take it up seriously. Now after his 35 years of professional career as a Financial Controller ended and getting ready for more roles in more films.
Awards & Recognition
Menon has been given dozens of awards from drama competitions and from various organizations for his contribution to the theater activities starting in his college days and local amateur acting including Bombay theatre: