Maniyan Pilla Raju is a much loved popular Malayalam film actor who has acted in large number of films in protagonist roles,Supporting roles and Character roles for the last four decades.He is also a successful film producer.
Maniyan Pilla Raju is well noted for his ability to portray comedy characters effectively well and has created unforgettable hilarious sequences in several films along with actors like Mohan Lal,Mukesh,Innocent,Jagathy Sreekumar,Harishree Ashokan,Nedumudi Venu,Pritviraj Sukumaran and many more.He has acted in many films along with Mohan Lal and the comedy films directed by Priyadarshan in the 80’s were all having excellent comedy scenes of Maniyan Pilla Raju.Films like ‘Boeing Boeing,Aram+Aram =Kinnaram,Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu,Akkare Ninnoru Maran,Dhim Tharikida Thom’ etc are some of the films which contained nice comedy scenes of Maniyan Pilla Raju and others which aroused roaring laughter in Cinema halls.
Maniyan Pilla Raju acted in almost all films of director Priyadarshan and director Venu Nagavally in well noted roles.He is well efficient to handle serious roles also with equal ease and has a special talent to portray roles such as an advocate.
Raju was born in 1955 at Thiruvananthapuram to parents Shekharan Nair and Saraswathi Amma.He had his schooling at Govt.Model Higher Secondary School,Thiruvananthapuram.After completing Pre-Degree course he joined Adayar Film Institute,Chennai in 1973 for a two year Diploma Course in acting because he loved acting profession very much.While as a student at School itself he was very much involved in all sorts of cultural activities including acting in dramas.After obtaining the diploma from the Institute he debuted in the film ‘Mohiniyattam‘ directed by Sreekumaran Thampi in the year 1976.He appeared in small roles of films like ‘Aaravam,Cham
aram’ etc in that period.He became very popular in 1981 by portraying the protagonist role ‘Maniyan Pilla’ of the film ‘Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla’ written and directed by Balachandra Menon.The film became a big success in which his role was as an innocent young man from a remote village whose only pleasure in life was seeing movies and collecting cinema notices and film song books.He used to respect rich and educated people but they all misbehaved to him and teased him.Later he transforms into a brave man capable of facing harsh realities of life.Raju acted that character precisely beautiful and earned the title ‘Maniyan Pilla’ from then on and became ‘Maniyan Pilla Raju‘.
Maniyan Pilla Raju is a successful film Producer also who produced hits and super hits like ‘Vellanakalude Nadu,Aey Auto,Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu,Ananthabhadram,Chotta Mumbai,Oru Naal Varum,Black Butterfly,Pavada’ and so on.
He has acted in some popular TV serials also.
Selected Filmography
Mohiniyattam
Aaravam
Chamaram
Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla
Ithu Njangalude Kadha
Bheeman
Chiriyo Chiri
Pin Nilavu
Koodevide
April 18
Itha Innu Muthal
Adiyozhukkukal
Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu
Boeing Boeing
Akkare Ninnoru Maran
Yuva Janolsavam
T.P.Balagopalan M.A.
Hello My Dear Wrong Number
Thalavattam
Dhemm Tharikida Thom
Sarvakalasala
Vellanakalude Nadu
Mukendetta Sumithra Vilikkunnu
Ayitham
Chithram
Aryan
Kireedam
Adhipan
Vandanam
Season
Aey Auto
His Highness Abdullah
Akashakottayile Sulthan
Aham
Thalasthanam
Ayalathe Adheham
Chenkol
Butterflies
Devasuram
Commissioner
CID Unnikrishnan B.A.B.Ed.
Sphadikam
Agnidevan
Kalapani
Lelam
Janadhipathyam
Harikrishnans
Narasimham
Pilots
Nariman
Leader
Rajamanikyam
Chotta Mumbai
Nasrani
One Way Ticket
Twenty 20
Red Chillies
Kerala Cafe
Elsamma Enna Aankutty
Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty
Diamond Necklace
Usthad Hotel
Black Butterfly
Bangalore Days
Premam
Acha Din
Pavada
