Nedumudi Venu (born Kesavan Venugopal; 22 May 1948 – 11 October 2021) was an Indian actor and screenwriter who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he appeared in more than 500 films, also taking on occasional roles in Tamil cinema. He was widely regarded as one of the most versatile character actors of Malayalam cinema and was honoured with multiple national and state awards for his performances.
| Birth name | Kesavan Venugopal |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Nedumudi Venu |
| Born | 22 May 1948 |
| Died | 11 October 2021 |
| Origin | Kerala, India |
| Occupations | Actor, screenwriter, director |
| Primary industry | Malayalam cinema |
| Other industries | Tamil cinema |
| Films | More than 500 |
| Career span | Nearly five decades |
| National Film Awards | 3 |
| Filmfare Awards South | 3 |
| Kerala State Film Awards | 6 |
Nedumudi Venu hailed from Kerala and adopted his stage name from his native locality. He built his reputation in the Malayalam film industry, becoming a frequent collaborator of leading Malayalam filmmakers and a familiar presence in both art-house and mainstream productions.
Venu acted in over 500 feature films, working chiefly in Malayalam and additionally in Tamil. He was known for his ability to portray a wide range of characters, from rural everymen to historical figures and comic roles. Beyond acting, he wrote screenplays for several films and directed one film during his career.
With a body of work exceeding 500 films and recognition at the national, regional and industry levels, Nedumudi Venu is considered one of the defining character actors of Malayalam cinema. His longevity and the breadth of his roles made him an integral part of the industry's evolution from the late 1970s into the twenty-first century.