List of Malayalam film actors

This list outlines the names of notable male lead film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the Malayalam film industry, based in Kerala, India. The list is ordered by the year of their debut as a leading actor or the year of their landmark film. Actors who have starred in at least five films as lead are included in the list.

1930s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1938 K. K. Aroor Balan Gnanambika (1940), Kerala Kesari (1950), Genova (1953)

1940s

Sebastian Kunju Kunju Bhagavathar
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1940 Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar Gnanambika Navalokam (1951), Sheriyo Thetto (1953), Vidhi Thanna Vilakku (1962)

1950s

Prem Nazir
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1952 Prem Nazir[1] Marumakal Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969)
Sathyan[2] Athmasakhi Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968)
1953 Adoor Bhasi Thiramala Thommante Makkal (1965), Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966), C.I.D. Nazir (1971)
1958 P. J. Antony Randidangazhi Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) Kurukshethram (1970), Manninte Maril (1979)

1960s

Raghavan
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1964 Madhu Bhargavi Nilayam Chemmeen (1965), Bobanum Moliyum (1971), Geethaanjali (2013)
1968 Raghavan Kayalkkarayil Swami Ayyappan (1975), Hridhayathinte Nirangal (1979), Evidence (1998)

1970s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1972 Thilakan Periyar Kireedam (1989), Spadikam (1995), Narasimham (2000), Pazhassi Raja (2009), Ustad Hotel (2012)
1973 Sukumaran Nirmalyam Rajan Paranja Kadha (1978), Angadi (1980), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)
1976 Jayan Panchami Sarapancharam (1979), Angadi (1980), Paalattu Kunjikkannan (1980), Manushya Mrugam (1980)
Sreenivasan Manimuzhakkam Aram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985), Kaalapani (1996), Traffic (2011), Aravindante Athidhikal (2018)

1980s

Mohanlal
Mammootty
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1980 Shankar Manjil Virinja Pookkal Kadathu (1981), Oothikachiya Ponnu (1981), Ente Mohangal Poovaninju (1982), Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram (1984).
Mohanlal Thiranottam Chithram (1998),Kireedam (1989), No.20 Madras Mail (1990), Kilukkam (1991), Manichitrathazhu (1994), Spadikam (1995), Kaalapani (1996), Narasimham (2000), Raavanaprabhu (2001), Thanmathra(2005), Chotta Mumbai(2007),Drishyam(2013),Pulimurugan (2016), Lucifer (2019).
1981 Mammootty Ahimsa New Delhi (1987), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Rajamanikyam (2005), Big B(2007) Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009), Bheeshma Parvam (2022).
1982 Mukesh Balloon Ramji Rao Speaking (1989).,[3] Vandanam (1989), Aakasha Ganga (1999), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Philip's (2023)
1986 Suresh Gopi Niramulla Raavukal Thalastaanam (1992), Mafia (1993), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005).
1989 Jayaram Innale One Man Show (2001), Winter (2009), China Town (2011), Abraham Ozler (2024)
Saikumar Ramji Rao Speaking In Harihar Nagar (1990), Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1990), Chotta Mumbai (2007)

1990s

Dileep
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1994 Dileep[4] Manathe Kottaram Punjabi House (1998), Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001), Meesa Madhavan (2002), C.I.D. Moosa (2003), Chanthupottu (2005), My Boss (2012), Two Countries (2015)
Lal Manathe Kottaram Thenkasipattanam (2000), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Salt N' Pepper (2011), 2018 (2023)
1995 Kalabhavan Mani Aksharam Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999), James Bond (1999), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007)
Joju George Mazhavilkoodaram Action Hero Biju (2016), IDI (2016), Joseph (2018), Iratta (2023), Antony (2023)
Vinayakan Maanthrikam Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007), Kammatipaadam (2016), Jailer (2023)
1997 Kunchacko Boban[5] Aniyathipraavu Nakshatratharattu (1998), Niram (1999), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)

2000s

Jayasurya
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
2001 Suraj Venjaramoodu Ladies & Gentleman Chattambinadu (2009), Teja Bhai & Family (2011), Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019), Jana Gana Mana (2022)
2002 Jishnu Raghavan Nammal Nerariyan CBI (2005), Chakkaramuthu (2006), Ordinary (2012), Ustad Hotel (2012), Annum Innum Ennum (2013)
Prithviraj Sukumaran Nandanam Indian Rupee (2011), Celluloid (2013), Memories, Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), Jana Gana Mana (2022), The Goat Life (2024)
Indrajith Sukumaran Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Chanthupottu (2005), Amen (2013), Lucifer (2019)
2002 Jayasurya Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chocolate (2007), Classmates (2006), Aadu (2015)
Fahadh Faasil Kaiyethum Doorath Amen (2013), Bangalore Days (2014), Njan Prakashan(2018), Joji (2021), Aavesham (2024)
2005 Saiju Kurup Mayookham Aadu (2015), Antakshari (2022), Pappachan Olivilanu (2023)
2008 Vineeth Sreenivasan Cycle Traffic (2011), Kunjiramayanam (2015), Aravindante Athidhikal (2018), Mukundan Unni Associates (2022), 2018 (2023)
2009 Asif Ali Ritu Salt N' Pepper (2011), Honey Bee (2013), Kooman (2022)

2010s

Fahadh Faasil
Dulquer Salmaan
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
2010 Nivin Pauly[6] Malarvaadi Arts Club Thattathin Marayathu (2012), Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Premam (2015), Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018)
Chemban Vinod Jose Nayakan Aadu (2015), Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018), Porinju Mariam Jose (2019)
2011 Sreenath Bhasi Pranayam Da Thadiya (2012), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Manjummel Boys (2024)
2012 Dulquer Salmaan Second Show Ustad Hotel (2012), ABCD (2013), Charlie (2015), Kurup (2021)
Sunny Wayne Aadu (2015), Anugraheethan Antony (2021), Kasargold (2023)
Arjun Ashokan Orkut Oru Ormakoot B.Tech (2018), Jan. E. Man (2021), Romancham (2023)
2013 Soubin Shahir Annayum Rasoolum Sudani from Nigeria (2018), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Manjummel Boys (2024)
Neeraj Madhav Buddy Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2013), Lavakusha (2017), Gauthamante Radham (2020), RDX (2023)
Sharafudheen Neram Pretham (2016), Role Models (2017), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)
Dhyan Sreenivasan Thira Kunjiramayanam (2015), Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), Udal (2022)
Basil Joseph Up & Down: Mukalil Oralundu Jan. E. Man (2021), Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022), Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (2024)
2016 Vishnu Unnikrishnan Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2019), Krishnankutty Pani Thudangi (2021), Vedikettu (2023)
Shane Nigam Kismath Parava (2017), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Bhoothakaalam (2022), RDX (2023)
2017 Tovino Thomas Oru Mexican Aparatha Minnal Murali (2021), Thallumaala (2022), 2018 (2023)
Antony Varghese Angamaly Diaries Jallikattu (2019), Ajagajantharam (2021), RDX (2023)
2018 Pranav Mohanlal Aadhi Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu (2019), Marakkar (2021), Hridayam (2022), Varshangalkku Shesham (2024)
2019 Naslen[7] Thanneer Mathan Dinangal Premalu (2024), I Am Kathalan (2024), Alappuzha Gymkhana (2025)

See also

References

  1. ^ Vn, Aswin (2017-04-06). "Everlasting aura". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  2. ^ Venkiteswaran, C. S. (2012-11-08). "The indomitable Sathyan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  3. ^ ജ്യോതിഷ്, വി.ആര്‍. (21 October 2016). "ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ". Vanitha. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  4. ^ "The 'Being Human' Salmanification of 'Janapriya Nayakan' Dileep". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Four decades of Kunchacko Boban". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  6. ^ Srinivasan, Latha (16 May 2017). "Nivin Pauly's unstoppable rise: How he went from guy-next-door to bonafide superstar". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  7. ^ Srinivasan, Latha (16 May 2017). "Nivin Pauly's unstoppable rise: How he went from guy-next-door to bonafide superstar". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.