Madhupal

His father ran a theatre in Palakkad, and Madhupal grew up around cinema there. The actor, director, screenwriter and short story writer from Kozhikode holds a postgraduate degree in commerce, and he began as an assistant director to Bharat Gopy and Rajiv Anchal on films such as Kashmeeram, Guru and Yamanam. Kashmeeram (1994) also gave him his acting debut, in a negative role that won a critics' award for best debut actor and brought more character parts in Malayalam films. He wrote the screenplay and dialogue for Bharatheeyam (1997). For Kairali TV he directed the series Akashathile Paravakal. His first feature, Thalappavu (2008), drew on the life of Arikkad Varghese and won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director. Ozhimuri, his second, was screened in the Indian Panorama and at the International Film Festival of Kerala, and won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film. Kaligandaki brought him the Kerala State Television Award for Best Director in 2018. He has published seven short story collections and served on bodies including the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy and the board of KSFDC. On the acting side, he is in the ensemble of Bouma, Rejin S. Babu's mystery thriller led by Vineeth and Dileesh Pothan, due on 12 November, and he also appears in the upcoming Padayaatra.