Vinayakan

Vinayakan is an Indian actor, former dancer, and composer who predominantly works in Malayalam films apart from some Tamil language films. He started his career with a cameo appearance in the 1995 film '' Maanthrikam''.

Vinayakan won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in the year 2016 for his leading role of ''Ganga'' in Rajiv Ravi's ''Kammatipaadam.'' His recognized roles include Edakochi Dude in ''Aadu - Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu'' and its successor film ''Aadu 2'', and as Ayyappan in Lijo Jose Pellissery's '' Ee.Ma.Yau.''

He achieved wider attention by playing the antagonist Varman in Nelson Dilipkumar's Tamil-language action film ''Jailer'' (2023) starring Rajinikanth.

Career

Acting

Vinayakan began his career as a dancer and had a dance troupe named ''Black Mercury'' with Fire dance being his forte. Director Thampi Kannanthanam introduced him in '' Maanthrikam'' and later in '' Onnaman''. He was noticed for his performances in '' Stop Violence'', '' Vellithira'', '' Chathikkatha Chanthu'', '' Chotta Mumbai'' and '' Thottappan''. Also, he appeared in a couple of Bollywood movies.

Vinayakan was appreciated for his performance as Ganga in Rajeev Ravi' s 2016 film ''Kammatipaadam'', and nominated for a national award. It also brought him the Best Actor Award of the Kerala State Film Awards, The North American Film Award for Outstanding performance in a film and Best Actor Award (2016) of the Cinema Paradiso Club Cine Awards. In the same film, he made his debut as a music director.

'' Ee.Ma.Yau.'' was included in The Hindu's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade and is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the New Wave Movement.

His upcoming projects include Gautham Vasudev Menon's ''Dhruva Natchathiram:Chapter One - Yuddha Kaandam''.

Music

Vinayakan composed the song "Puzhu Pulikal" for the movie ''Kammatipaadam.'' He has also composed the music for the title track of ''Trance'' (2020). He has also sung songs for Rafi's film '' Role Models'' and another one for ''Ordinary'', Sugeeth's movie''.''

Controversies

*On July 2023, Vinayakan publicly shamed late Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy through Facebook live. Actor faced public criticism and death threats for this rude behaviour.

*On 24 October 2023, he was arrested for creating a ruckus at the Ernakulam Town North police station in Kochi. The incident was from a family dispute and he was later released on bail after a medical examination. MLA of Thrikkakara, Uma Thomas, publicly criticized the quick release, suggesting it was related to Vinayakan's political associations

*On 7 September 2024, Vinayakan was taken into custody by Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Police in Hyderabad following an altercation with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) gate staff. He was reportedly under the influence of alcohol during the incident. Security officials affirmed he arrived in Hyderabad in a visibly drunken state on an Indigo flight from Kochi and was to travel to Goa, before his arrest.

*On 9 May 2025, Vinayakan was taken into custody for drunk and disorderly behaviour at a Hotel in Kollam, where he was staying from May 2 for a movie shoot.

Filmography

Malayalam

Tamil

Other languages

Awards

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vinayakan
Living people
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Indian male film actors
Indian male dancers
Dancers from Kerala
Male actors in Tamil cinema
Male actors from Kochi
Kerala State Film Award winners
21st-century Indian male actors
20th-century Indian male actors
Year of birth missing (living people)
IIFA Utsavam winners