Madhavan Nair (born 23 September 1933), known by his stage name Madhu, is an Indian actor, director and producer who works primarily in Malayalam cinema, with credits in a smaller number of Hindi and Tamil films. He is also a former college lecturer and former film studio owner. A prominent lead actor through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, he has appeared in more than 400 films.
| Birth name | Madhavan Nair |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Madhu |
| Date of birth | 23 September 1933 |
| Primary industry | Malayalam cinema |
| Other industries | Hindi cinema, Tamil cinema |
| Occupations | Actor, director, producer; former college lecturer; former film studio owner |
| Films acted in | More than 400 |
| Films directed | 12 |
| Films produced | 15 |
| Studio | Uma Film Studio (formerly owned) |
| Notable honours | Padma Shri (2013); J. C. Daniel Award (2004) |
Before establishing himself in cinema, Madhu worked as a college lecturer. He went on to become one of the leading actors of Malayalam cinema, while also working as a director and producer, and at one stage owning the Uma Film Studio.
Madhu rose to prominence as a lead actor in Malayalam films during the 1960s and remained a major presence on screen through the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in Chemmeen, which won the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film in 1965, becoming the first Malayalam film to receive the honour. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam, for his performance in Swayamvaram (1972).
Madhu has directed 12 films and produced 15 films. Mini, a children's film produced by him, won the Indira Gandhi National Award for Best Film on Family Welfare at the 43rd National Film Awards in 1995.
He serves as the president of the Kerala unit of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
Madhu's career spans several decades of Malayalam cinema's most formative period. His performance in Chemmeen contributed to the film becoming the first Malayalam production to win the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film, while his lead role in Swayamvaram marked the inception of the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam. His combined work as actor, director, producer and studio proprietor places him among the senior figures of the Malayalam film industry.