Janardhanan (actor)
Introduction '''Janardhanan''' '''Pillai''' (born 5 May 1946), also known as '''Janardhanan''' '''Nair''', is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Air Force personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He acted in his first feature film ''Adyathe Kadha'', directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1971, he acted in more than 700 films. He started his career when Malayalam films were made in black and white. He is known for his style of handling humour and his iconic voice. He started his career playing brusque villains and sub hero roles in the 1970s and early 1980s, acting along with Prem Nazir and Jayan, but later established himself as a highly sought-after comedian.The turning point of his career was his role in the 1988 film ''Oru CBI Diary Kurippu'', which brought out his comic skills. However, he was typecast as a comedian only after the 1993 film ''Meleparambil Aanveedu''. Mimicry artists perform with his noted role of Garvasis Aashan in ''Mannar Mathai Speaking'' (1995). But along with comic roles, he had done serious roles like D.I.G Marar in ''Dhruvam'' and Jayashankar in ''Mafia''. Apart from stereotyped Hindu/Muslim/Christian characters, he has the distinction of portraying a Sikh and a Jewish character.
Personal life Janardhanan Pillai was born in the village of Ullala near Vaikom on May 5, 1946, to Kollarakkattu Veettil Paravoor K. Gopala Pillai and Gouri Amma, as their youngest son. He has four brothers and three sisters. He had his primary education from NSS High School, Vechoor and pre-university from NSS Hindu College, Changanassery. Later, he joined the Indian Air force for a short period. After two years  in 1967, he joined Velu Thampi Memorial N.S.S. College, Dhanuvachapuram for B.Com.He debuted in a Family Planning documentary ''Prathisanthi'', directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, recommended by lecturer Sreevaraham Balakrishnan. He turned down the offer of bank employment and became Production Manager for ''Chemparathi'', produced by S. K. Nair and directed by P. N. Menon. After that, he worked with Kakkanadan and V. B. C. Nair for ''Malayalanadu'' weekly. Then S. K. Nair sent him to Madras (now called Chennai) to take charge in his Madras office. While working there, he got an opportunity to act in ''Aadhyathe Katha'' in 1972.He is married to Vijayalaksmi and they have two daughters: Rema Ranjini and Laxmi.
Filmography === As actor ======= 1970s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 1972  ''Aadhyathe Katha''  Mohan  ''Chemparathy''  Vinayan  1973  ''Gayathri''   ''Mazhakaaru''  Soman  ''Chukku''   1974  ''Udayam Kizhakku Thanne''   ''Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu''  Gopi  ''Moham''   1975  Swami Ayyappan   ''Utsavam''  Ouseppu  ''Pennpada''  Panicker  ''Chalanum''   ''Priyamulla Sophia''   ''Njan Ninne Premikkunnu''   ''Sathyathinte Nizhalil''   ''Omanakkunju''   ''Odakkuzhal''   ''Love Letter''   ''Cheenavala''  Rowdy Pachan  1976  ''Abhinandanam''  Police Inspector  ''Mallanum Mathevanum''   ''Ponni''  Sub-collector ''Prasaadam''  Sukumaran  ''Ozhikkinethire''   ''Chennai Valarthiya Kutty''   ''Anaavaranam''   ''Missi''   ''Ayalkkaari''  Mathew  1977  ''Anjali''   ''Kannappanunni''  Pachan  ''Muttathe Mulla''  Ramesh  ''Agninakshathram''   ''Harshabashpam''   ''Makam Piranna Manka''   ''Saritha''   ''Ivanente Priyaputhran''   ''Veedu Oru Swargam''   ''Innale Innu''  Chadran  ''Aanandham Paramaanandham''  Inspector Raghavan  ''Acharam Ammini Osaram Omana''  Ravikumar  1978  ''Snehikkan Samayamilla''   ''Aarum Anyaralla''  Baby  ''Avalku Maranamilla''   ''Velluvili''  Sreedharan  ''Yagaswam''  Vijayan  ''Vadakakku Oru Hridayam''   ''Snehathinte Mukhangal''   ''Iniyum Puzhayozhukum''  Sukumaran  ''Randu Penkuttikal''   ''Avalude Ravukal''   ''Kadathanaattu Maakkam''  Kunjikannan  ''Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham''  Lopez  ''Bandham''   ''Kanyaka''  Raghavan  ''Vyaamoham''   ''Aaravam''  Anthony  ''Vayanadan Thamban''   ''Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil''  Venugopal  ''Eeta''  Kurup  1979  ''Vijayam Nammude Senani''   ''Ezhu Nirangal''  Radhakrishnan  ''Hridayathil Nee Matram''   ''Iniyathra''   ''Indradhanussu''  Sub Inspector Babu  ''Prabhaathasandhya''  Kutty Sankaran  ''Vijayanum Veeranum''  Prakash  ''Lillypookkal''   ''Jimmy''  Babu Paul  ''Simhasanam''   ''Itha Oru Theeram''  Chandran  ''Vaaleduthaven Vaalaal''   ''Vellayani Paramu''  Kottaram Sarvadhikari Swami  ''Yakshi Paaru''  Shekharan  ''Sandhyaragam''   ''Jeevitham Oru Gaanam''  Varghese  ''Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi''  Raghu  Tamil film ''Ezhamkadalinakkare''  Raghu ==== 1980s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 1980  ''Ashwaradham''  Rajagopal  ''Sathyam''  Balraj  ''Theenalangal''  Madhavan/Rajasekharan  ''Aagamanam''  Murali  ''Saraswathi Yaamam''  Madhu  ''Dwik Vijayam''  Pankajakshan  ''Idi Muzhakkam''   ''Paalattu Kunjikannan''  Thampikutti  ''Chandrahasam''  Balan  ''Raagam Thaanam Pallavi''   ''Avan Oru Ahankaari''   ''Kadalkkaattu''  Gopalan  ''Manushya Mrugam''  Chandran  1981  ''Ellaam Ninakku Vendi''  Somarajan  ''Aambal Poovu''   ''Tharattu''   ''Ithihasam''   ''Itha Oru Dhikkari''  Koyikkal Kuruppu  ''Nizhal Yudham''   ''Ariyappedatha Rahasyam''  Pappan  1982  ''Snehapoorvam Meera''  Baby  ''Marupacha''  Janardhanan  ''Njan Ekananu''  Raghu  ''Keni''  Madhusoodanan  ''Post Mortem''  Unni  ''Ethiraalikal''  Hamsa  ''Sharam''   ''Aayudham''   ''Mylanji''  Moideen  ''Aarambham''  Lazar  ''Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam''  Shekharan  1983  ''Samrambham''   ''Pourasham''  Lawrence  ''Angam''   ''Nanayam''  Vasu  ''Ee Yugam''   ''Bandham''   ''Arabikkadal''   ''Iniyengilum''  Kariyachan  1984  ''Unaroo''   ''Oru Kochu Swapnam''  Co-operative bank manager  ''Uyarangalil''  A. K. Menon  ''Lakshmana Rekha''  Balachandra Menon  ''Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha''  Paul  ''Kadamattathachan''  Aliyar  ''Aksharangal''  Theatre Artist Babujose  ''Ivide Thudangunnu''  S. P.  ''Adiyozhukkukal''  Hamsa  ''Aalkkoottathil Thaniye''  Balachandran  1985  ''Uyirthezhunnelppu''  Anand  ''Pournami Raavil 3D''   ''Idanilangal''   ''Mukhyamanthri''  Pappachan  ''Mulamoottil Adima''  Ibrahim  ''Janakeeya Kodathi''  Janardanan  ''Anubandham''  Police Officer  ''Kathodu Kathoram''  Lazar  ''Kattukulle Thiruvizha''   Tamil film 1986  ''Sukhamo Devi''  Ouseppachan  ''Koodanayum Kattu''   ''Abhayam Thedi''  C. S. Nair  ''Gandhinagar 2nd Street''  Professor  ''Niramulla Ravulkal''  Kumaran  ''Yuvajanotsavam''  Unnithan  ''Cabaret Dancer''   ''Pournami Rathriyil''   ''Nimishangal''  S.P. Damodharan Pillai  ''Aavanazhi''  Vincent  ''Ee Kaikalil''  Madhava Menon  1987  ''Amme Bhagavathi''  Swami Siddhan  ''Vrutham''  Avarachan  ''Nadodikkattu''  Kovai Venkatesan  ''Irupatham Noottandu''  IG Thomas IPS  ''Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam''  Police Inspector  ''Kaala Rathri''   ''Mangalya Charthu''  Kuruppu  ''Thoranam''   ''Itha Samayamayi''  MLA Vattappara  ''Sreedharante Onnam Thirumurivu''  Ramachandran  ''Adimakal Udamakal''  Ramachandran  ''Aankiliyude Tharattu''  Stanley  1988  ''Moonnam Mura''  IG Mathews ''Oru CBI Diary Kurippu''  K. A. Ouseppachan  ''Abkari''  Karthikeyan  ''August 1''  K. Divakara Kaimal  ''Karate Girls''   ''Evidence''  D I G  ''1921''  Appunni Nair  ''Thanthram''  Adv. Rajasekharan  ''Mukthi''  Shekharan Nair  1989  ''Aksharathettu''  Regional Manager  ''Varavelpu''  Kumaran  ''Vandanam''  MP Ramachandran  ''Pradeshika Varthakal''   ''The News''  Radhakrishnan  ''Naduvazhikal''  Aasan  ''Prabhatham Chuvanna Theruvil''   ''Adhipan''  Kaimal  ''Charithram''  Cherian  ''Adikkurippu''  William  ''Jagratha''  Ouseppachan ==== 1990s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 1990  ''Crime Branch''  Charukeshan  ''Randam Varavu''  Police Officer  ''Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam''  Rambo Chackochan  ''Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom''  Beena's Uncle  ''Kadathanadan Ambadi''   ''May Dinam''  Chachappan  ''Lal Salam''  Kannan Muthalali  ''Nammude Naadu''  CI Joseph  ''Arhatha''  Krishnakumar  ''Appu''  Janardhana Kaimal  ''No.20 Madras Mail''  Adv. Thomas Mathew  1991  ''Nattuvishesham''  Kattumooppan  ''Kilukkampetti''  Managing Director  ''Godfather''  Gopi  ''Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty''   ''Advaitham''  Krishnan Kutty Menon  ''Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu''  Chackochan  ''Adayalam''  Adv. Haridas 1992  ''Mayaunna Manasukal''   ''Soorya Gayathri''  Babu Karunakaran  ''Poochakkaru Mani Kettum''  Menon  ''Adhwaytham''  Krishnankutty Menon  ''Sathyaprathinja''   ''Kizhakkan Pathrose''  Ponjikkara Appa  ''Apaaratha''  Phalgunan  ''Sadayam''  Police Officer  ''Oottyppattanam''  Menon  ''My Dear Muthachan''  Adv. Ananthan  ''Ennodishtam Koodamo''  Arathi's Uncle  ''Adharam''  Krishna Menon  ''Thalastaanam''  C.M Krishnankutty  1993  ''Sarovaram''   ''Porutham''   ''Aacharyan''  Raveendranath  ''Varam''   ''Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans''  CM Govinda Menon  ''Mithunam''  Sivasankaran  ''Meleparambil Anveedu''  Kannappan  ''Maya Mayooram''  Mohan Tharakan  ''Janam''  K. Divakaran  ''Ekalavyan''  Krishnan  ''Devaasuram''  Kunjikrishnan Nambiar  ''Dhruvam''  D.I.G. Marar  ''Vatsalyam''  Ramankutty Menon  ''Mafia''  DYSP Jayashankar  ''Paalayam''  Lawrence  1994  ''Kabooliwala''  'Minnal' Thomachan  ''Vardhakya Puranam''  Cherian Thomas  ''Vadhu Doctoranu''  Sankaran  ''Poochakkaru Mani Kettum''  Menon  ''Pingami''  Koshy Varghese  ''Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu''  Dr. Vishnu Narayanan Potty  ''Varanamaalyam''  Thomas  ''Rajadhani''   ''Kinnaripuzhayoram''  Sivashankaran Nair  ''CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed.'' Rishikeshan Nair  ''Bheesmacharya''  Madhavan Nair  ''Vishnu''  Divakaran  1995  ''Highway''  DYSP George Alexander  ''No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North''  Kunjukkuttychayan  ''Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum''   ''Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu''  Madhavan Thampi  ''Parvathy Parinayam''  Narayanankutty  ''Minnaminuginum Minnukettu''  Unnithan  ''Tom & Jerry''  Chachan  ''Three Men Army''  K. R. G. Menon  ''Thacholi Varghese Chekavar''  Mathukutty  ''Sindoora Rekha''  Narayanan Nair  ''Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan''  Palathara Palunni  ''Pai Brothers''  Kesavan  ''Mannar Mathai Speaking''  Garvasees Ashan  ''Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta''  Achuthankutty  ''Kidilol Kidilam''  Karunakara Kuruppu  ''Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam''  Kalamassery Krishnan Nair  ''Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana''  Alexander  ''Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman''  Phalgunan  ''Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava''  Kottaram Veedan  ''Aadyathe Kanmani''  Unnithan  1996  ''Mimics Super 1000''  Easwara Kurup  ''Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran''  Sadashivan  ''Parasala Pachan Payannur Paramu''   ''Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu''   ''Manthrika Kuthira''  Kunjukutty  ''Kanjirapally Kariachan''   1997  ''The Good Boys''  Mohanachandran  ''Superman''  Nithya's Valyachan  ''Kilikurussiyile Kudumbamela''   ''Poonilamazha''  Abhimana Varma  ''Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam''  Bharathan Pillai  ''Oru Mutham Manimutham''  Sreedharan  ''Poomarathanalil''  Fernandez  ''Vamsam''   ''Anjarakalyanam''   ''Junior Mandrake''   ''The Car'' Kumarettan  ''Kilukil Pambaram''   ''Karunyam''  K. K. Nair  ''Kadhanayakan''  Sathrughnan Pillai  ''Hitler Brothers''  Thrivikraman  ''Aniyathi Pravu''  Dr. Kuttappayi  ''Varnapakittu''  Ramaswamy Iyer  1998  ''Summer in Bethlehem''  Colonel C.R. Menon  ''Punjabi House''  Manninder Singh  ''Meenathil Thalikettu''  Kunjiraman  ''Mayilpeelikkavu''  Narayanan Kutty  ''Gloria Fernandez From USA''   ''Ormacheppu''   1999  ''Vazhunnor''  Thevakattu Avarachan  ''Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum''  Krishnan Nair  ''Ustaad''  Swamy  ''Pathram''  Kuruvithadam Baby  ''Njangal Santhushtaranu''  Idikkula Ittoopp  ''Parashala Pachan Payannur Paramu''   ''American Ammayi''  Menon  ''James Bond''  Kunnamkulam Rappai  ''Friends''  Madhava Varma  ''F.I.R''  Chief Minister  ''Crime File''  Kaliyar Pathrose Vaidyan  ''Chandamama''  Thampy ==== 2000s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 2000  ''Sathyam Shivam Sundaram''  Sambhavana Warrier  ''Pilots''  Shekharan  ''Mr. Butler''  Ramakrishnan  ''Swayamvara Panthal''  Radhakrishnan  ''Dreams''  Thottathil Mathen  ''Mark Antony''  Parel Pappu  ''Devadoothan''  Principal  ''Darling Darling''  Unnithan  ''Daivathinte Makan''  Fr. Gabriel  2001  ''Saivar Thirumeni''  Fr. Kuruvithadam  ''Randam Bhavam''  D. I. G. of Police  ''Naranathu Thampuran''  Police officer Chandradas  ''Ee Ravil''   ''Rakshasa Rajavu''  Chief Minister  ''Nagaravadhu''  Kesari Govinda Pillai  ''Dubai''  K. J. Nair  ''Karumadikkuttan''  Govindan Nair  ''Andolanam''   ''Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka''  Balakrishnan Nambiar  ''Nariman''  Chief Minister Shekharan  ''One Man Show''  Raveendran  2002  ''Kattuchembakam''  A.D.G.P Narendra Thampi  ''Kadha''   ''Thandavam''  Menon  ''Snehithan''  Vivek's father  ''Kuberan''  Vasan  ''Kayamkulam Kanaran''   ''Kaiyethum Doorath''  Passenger in the boat  ''Chirikkudukka''  Prahaladhan Pillai  ''Bamboo Boys''  Mula Swamy  2003  ''Gramophone''  Gregory  ''Chronic Bachelor''  Parameswaran Pillai  ''Sadanandante Samayam''  Menon  ''Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam''  Madhavan Thampi  ''Melvilasam Sariyanu''  Menon  ''Mizhi Randilum''  Thampi  ''Ivar''  S. K. Nair  ''Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu''  Ajith's uncle  2004  ''Thalamelam''  Kochousepp  ''Kottaram Vaidyan''  Marthandan  ''Vamanapuram Bus Route''  Bahuleyan  ''Sethurama Iyer CBI''  Ouseppachan  ''Udayam''  Krishna Menon  ''Njan Salperu Ramankutty''  Narayanan  ''Kanninum Kannadikkum''  Narayanan  ''Chathikkatha Chanthu''  Thampuran  ''Vettam''  Fernandes  ''Natturajavu''  Father Pappy  ''Black''  Aasan  ''Kadhavaseshan''  Veerabhadran Nair/Kuttammavan  2005  ''Five Fingers''  Fr. Nedumbaran  ''Udayananu Tharam''  Madhumathi's father  ''Immini Nalloraal''  Bhaskara Pillai  ''Thommanum Makkalum''  Panikkar  ''Alice in Wonderland''  Mani Kuruvilla  ''Rappakal''  Sankaran Kuttiyar  ''The Tiger''  Ahamed Sahib  2006  ''Jayam''   ''Madhuchandralekha''   ''Rashtram''  Keshava Menon  ''Kilukkam Kilukilukkam''  Sankaran Potty  ''Thuruppu Gulan''  Peethambaran  ''Chess''  Easwara Varma  ''Nottam''  Menon  ''Red Salute''  Medayil Ittichan  ''Pathaaka''  Muhammed Mash  ''Kanaka Simhasanam''  Upendra Varma  2007  ''Inspector Garud''  Krishnan Namboothiri  ''Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal''  Raghavan Nair  ''Panthaya Kozhi''  Sankaran Nair  ''Khaki''  Bahuleyan  ''July 4''  Lokanathan  ''Hallo''  M. N. Nambiar  ''Nazrani''  Thampi  2008  ''Magic Lamp''  Anandan  ''De Ingottu Nokkiye''   ''Raudram''  Chief Minister  ''College Kumaran''  V Narendranath  ''Malabar Wedding''  Paappan  ''Annan Thambi''  Ravunni  ''Mayabazar''  Kuriayachan  '' Twenty:20''  Ramakrishnapilla  ''Crazy Gopalan''  Narayana Kurup  2009  ''Kadha, Samvidhanam Kunchakko''  Chief Minister  ''Aayirathil Oruvan''  Eenasu  ''Sanmanasullavan Appukuttan''  Lambodharan Pilla  ''Samastha Keralam PO''  Valiya Ammavan  ''Oru Black and White Kudumbam''  Madhava Varma  ''Utharaswayamvaram''  Vasu  ''Moz & Cat''  Avutha  ''Seetha Kalyanam''  Thiruvattar Thankavelu  ''Makante Achan''  Kurup  ''Love In Singapore''   ''2 Harihar Nagar''  Fr. Stephen Varghese  ''Ee Pattanathil Bhootham''  Philipose  ''Loudspeaker''  Grandpa  ''Chattambinadu''  Vadival Vasu ==== 2010s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 2010  ''Bodyguard''  Balakrishna Menon  ''Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu''  Muthupandi Chettiar  ''Bombay Mittayi''   ''Kaaryasthan''   ''Malarvaadi Arts Club''  Nelloor Gopalan  ''Mummy & Me''  Fr. Felix  ''Pramani''  Castro Vareeth  ''Best of Luck''  Kuzhithura Ponnappan  ''Chekavar''  P.M.V. ''Elsamma Enna Aankutty''  Balan Pillai  ''Kudumbasree Travels''  Mullasery Raveendra Chakyar  2011  ''Lavender''   ''Makeup Man''  Paul, Film producer  ''Payyans''  Brittas's father  ''Violin''   ''Ulakam Chuttum Valiban''  Jayashankar's uncle  ''Maharaja Talkies''   ''Lucky Jokers''  Madhava Varma Thampuran  ''Nadakame Ulakam''  Aanni Kurup  ''Venicile Vyapari''  Raghuramavarma  2012  ''Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O.'' ''The King & the Commissioner''  Central Minister G. K  ''Trivandrum Lodge''  Arthur Gopal Relton  ''Madirasi''  Kurup  ''Karmayodha''  Narayana Menon  ''Naughty Professor''   ''Ee Thirakkinidayil''   ''Theevram''  S.P Varma  ''Namukku Parkkan''  Krishnan Ammavan  ''Thiruvambadi Thamban''  Kunjachan  2013  ''Nadodimannan''  Damodharan  ''Maad Dad''  Mamachan  ''Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath''  Thirumeni  ''Black Butterfly''  Lazer  ''Careebeyans''  Chief Minister  ''Vallatha Pahayan''   ''KQ''   2014  ''Mannar Mathai Speaking 2''  Garvasees Aasan  ''Salalah Mobiles''  Kodaangi  Guest appearance ''Ettekaal Second''   ''Konthayum Poonoolum''  Baby  2015  ''Bhaskar the Rascal''  Sankara Narayanan Pillai  ''Utopiayile Rajavu''  Vasavan Pillai  2016  ''Savam''   ''Marupadi''   2017  ''Fukri''  Venkatesh Iyer  ''Georgettan's Pooram''   ''Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu''  Narayanan  ''Lavakusha''  Sathyan, film producer  ''Masterpiece''  Chief Minister  2018  ''Captain''  K. Karunakaran  ''Panchavarnathatha''  Bride's Father  ''Abrahaminte Santhathikal''  Priest  ''Aanakkallan''   2019  ''Kalikoottukkar''   ''Oru Yamandan Premakadha''  Davis's Grandfather  Cameo ''Kuttymama''   ''Vishudha Pusthakam''   ''Pattabhiraman''  Varma  ''Jack & Daniel''  Kerala CM ==== 2020s ==== Year  Title  Role  Notes 2020  ''Big Brother''  Valliyammavan  2022  ''Kaduva''  Chief Minister Ananthanathan  ''Paappan''  Dr. Pattabhiraman  ''Autorickshawkarante Bharya''  French Vasu  2023  ''Christopher''  Chief Minister  ''2018''  Chief Minister  ''Voice of Sathyanathan''  Vaidyar === As dubbing artist === Year  Film  For Whom  Character2003 ''Magic Magic 3D'' Al Dioro Thief in wheelchair
Television *''Mahathma Gandhi Colony'' (Asianet)*''Ashtapadi'' (Surya TV)*''Kanthari''*''Badai Bungalow'' (Asianet)*''Adutha Bellodu Koodi'' (Zee Keralam)*''Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum''(Flowers TV)
References
External links * *  Janardhanan at MSI