Shankar Panicker, better known as Shankar, is an Indian film and television actor, film director and producer, known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in nearly 200 films in lead and supporting roles in Malayalam and Tamil cinema in the 1980s and early 90s. Shankar’s Tamil debut Oru Thalai Ragam and Malayalam debut Manjil Virinja Pookkal enjoyed theatrical runs of 365 and 250 days respectively, catapulting him to overnight stardom. The immense success of these films established him as a bankable lead and earned him a huge fan base among audiences in the 1980s. Celebrated for his handsome, chocolate-boy looks, he became a youth sensation in the 1980s, which helped him quickly rise to the status of a superstar. From the late 1990s onward, he has also worked as a director and producer while continuing his acting career.

Shankar produced the film Ezhuthola (2024), which won four awards at London Independent Film Award, Sundarban International Film Festival, and Tagore International Film Festival. Beyond his acting career, Shankar is involved in business and social welfare activities. He is widely considered as one of the romantic heroes in Malayalam cinema history.

Early life Shankar was born to Thekkeveettil N. K. Panicker and Sulochana in Kechery, Thrissur, Kerala in 1960. His family later moved to Chennai when he was four years old. His father was a senior manager at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. He has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Indra. He completed the schooling from St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He pursued a Bachelors in History from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Rishikesh. Later, he completed 2 years of acting course at South Indian Film Chamber School of Acting, Chennai.

Career

As an actor Shankar's first film was with superstar Jayan starred Sharapanjaram in 1979. Shankar auditioned for and was the lead actor of Oru Thalai Ragam. Oru Thalai Ragam not only completed 365 days run in theatres but also became a cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Then Navodaya Studio signed Shankar for their romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal along with newcomers Mohanlal and Poornima Jayaram, directed by Fazil. The success of Manjil Virinja Pookal and films like Kadathu opposite Roja Ramani, Oothikachiya Ponnu with Poornima Jayaram and Ente Mohangal Poovaninju cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films. Simultaneously his Tamil films Sujatha, Koyil Puraa, Mouna Yuddham and Raagam Thedum Pallavi also done okay business.

Success continued in Malayalam with Shanker getting a chance in movies of hit directors like P.G. Viswambharan, Joshiy and I.V. Sasi with movies like Padayottam, Anuragakodathy, Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram, Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Engane Nee Marakkum. Following this success, he decided to concentrate on Malayalam films. His other successful films of 1983 are Mortuary, Hello Madras Girl and Himam. In 1984, Shankar appeared in Ente Kalithozhan, Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla, Muthodumuthu, Poochakkoru Mookkuthi and Itha Innu Muthal. Next year, he was a part of the films Archana Aaradhana, Ambada Njaane!, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram and Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki.

In mid-1980's Shankar began losing his market for doing repetitive roles, so he became a producer to save his career. He directed Sibi Malayil's Chekkaeran Oru Chilla, but the film flopped. His other major films of that year were Naale Njangalude Vivahum, Oppam Oppathinoppam and Sughamo Devi along with Mohanlal. Shankar had fewer Malayalam releases in the late 1980s and his attempt to become a director with Suresh Gopi starrer Rakshakan also did not materialize, so he decided to take a break from films to concentrate on business, although he did guest roles in the films Manathe Kottaram, Gandharvam and Guru.

Shankar staged a comeback as lead hero in the films Sooryavanam (1998), Bhadra, Sundarippravu and The Fire. He also acted in Stalin Sivadas with Mammootty, but all these films failed at the box office. So he moved to television with a successful serial Ithu Manju Pole and continued to perform in serials Swara Raagam and Parasparam. He also won the 2006 Film Critics Television Best Actor Award for his performance in TV serial Chithrashalabham. His last serial Ammakkayi (aired on Surya TV) was a success. As he wanted to concentrate on films, he stopped doing serials and made his debut as a director with Virus, a film on HIV/AIDS, which was censored in 2007.

Shankar later appeared in films like Ividam Swargamanu, Casanovva alongside Mohanlal, Rhythm, Koottukar, Banking Hours 10 to 4, Hide N' Seek, Father's Day, Oomakkuyil Padumbol and Bhoomiyude Avakashikal. In 2013, he was appreciated for his good performance in a comic role in Anoop Menon scripted film Hotel California. His other releases were Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu and Cleopatra, Naku Penda Naku Taka and in 2015, Shankar played the lead role in Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam along with Shine Tom Chacko directed by Jayaraj Vijay, but the film flopped. In 2018, he starred in Niranjana Pookkal as the hero. He also starred in Bhramam along with Prithviraj Sukumaran in 2021.

As a director Shankar directed a video film Kaatti in 2006 based on child labour, which won him the best director award from Malayalam Television viewers DRISHYA awards for video film. He made his feature film debut with Virus, an Indo-American co-production urging society not to shun HIV/AIDS-affected people. His first commercial Malayalam directorial venture Keralotsavam 2009 starred Kalabhavan Mani and Vinu Mohan dealt with how three youngsters falling prey to terrorist links. In 2015, he directed Manal Naharam, a Tamil film based on NRI Indians in the U.A.E., which released to above average reviews.

Personal life Shankar's first marriage was with Radhika in December 1992, which ended in a divorce. After the failure of his first marriage, he married Rooparekha, but this marriage also ended in divorce. The couple has a son named Gokul. In 2013, he married Chitra Lekshmi, a dance teacher, and settled in the U.K.

Filmography As an actor Malayalam films Year Title Role Notes 1979 Sarapanjaram Baby's friend 1980 Manjil Virinja Pookkal Prem Kishan 1981 Palangal Ravi/Rails Kadathu Rajappan Guha Das Oothikachiya Ponnu Vishwanathan 1982 Pooviriyum Pulari Balan Aranjaanam Madhu Kayam Kaaliya Mardhanam Ramu Padayottam Chandrootty Ente Mohangal Poovaninju Prasanth Velicham Vitharunna Penkutty Prasad Anuraagakkodathi Shivadas 1983 Eettappuli Kabeer Ee Vazhi Mathram Babu Engane Nee Marakkum Prem Coolie Sethu Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu Thilakan Samrambham Kodungattu Rajan Hello Madras Girl Marakkillorikkalum Pradeep Mortuary Venu Angam Johny Thimingalam Vijayan Himam Vijay Mouna Raagam Shankaran 1984 Krishna Guruvaayoorappa Unni Anthichuvappu Ente Kalithozhan Poochakkoru Mookkuthi Shyam Athirathram Abu Aarorumariyathe Raju Ethirppukal Ravi Itha Innu Muthal 'Vaikuntam' Shankar Vanitha Police Shankar Muthodumuthu Anil Odaruthammava Aalariyam Anil Amme Narayana Oru Thettinte Katha Paavam Krooran Madhusoodanan Piriyilla Naam Babu Thirakkil Alppa Samayam Rahim Umaanilayam Vinod Jeevitham Narayanankutty Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla Omanakuttan Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram Vinayan 1985 Punnaram Cholli Cholli Ambada Njaane! Kuttikrishnan Aram + Aram = Kinnaram Balan Archana Aradhana Vimal Kumar Aarodum Parayaruthu Gopi Choodatha Pookal Ravi Mounanombaram Venu Mukhyamanthri Venu Nerariyum Nerathu Rajeev Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil Anand Onningu Vannengil Baby Oru Kudakeezhil Ravi Oru Naal Innoru Naal Sukumaran Oru Sandesam Koodi Gopi Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya T. G. Raveendran Sammelanam Ramu Saandham Bheekaram Boeing Boeing Man at Restaurant Cameo Pachavelicham Mukundan Scene No. 7 Soundaryappinakkam Anil Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki Dr. Ravi Vasantha Sena Mahesh Varma 1986 Adukkan Entheluppam Satheeshan Ashtabandham Abdu Chekkaeran Oru Chilla Unni Dheem Tharikida Thom Suresh Menon Ilanjippookkal Satheesh Naale Njangalude Vivaham Haridas Nimishangal Ravi Oppam Oppathinoppam Gopinath Ithramathram Guest at the wedding Oru Yugasandhya Babu Ponnum Kudathinum Pottu Gopan Sughamo Devi Nandan Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi Balu Viswasichalum Illenkilum 1987 Amme Bhagavathi Unni Ithrayum Kalam Sulaiman Aalippazhangal Sudheer Ithente Neethi Ravi Ajantha Onnaam Maanam Poomaanam Ravi 1988 Evidence Prince 1989 Bhadrachitta Madhu 1990 Niyamam Enthucheyyum 1991 Master Plan S. I. Vijay Varma Abhimanyu Shekhar Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Gopi Krishnan 1993 Gandharvam Chandran Cameo 1994 Manathe Kottaram Himself 1995 Thakshashila Rajeevan 1996 Ente Soniya 1997 Guru Singer Cameo Sneha Sindooram Krishnanunni 1998 Sooryavanam Ajith 1999 Stalin Sivadas Jayachandran 2001 Bhadra Rocky 2002 Sravu Marakkar Sundarippravu Dennis Madhuram Hari 2003 The Fire Sidharthan 2007 Virus Also director Twenty:20 Guest appearance in the title song Cycle Jayadevan Cameo 2008 Robo Venu 2009 Evidam Swargamanu Sudheer Keralotsavam 2009 Dancer Also director; special appearance 2010 Koottukar Masthan Bhai 2011 China Town Jayakrishnan Cameo 2012 Casanovva Ajoy Oomakkuyil Padumbol Doctor Father's Day Ram Menon Banking Hours 10 to 4 Fernandez Bhoomiyude Avakashikal Hide N' Seek Niranjan 2013 Hotel California Aby Mathew Cleopatra Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu Dr. Balasubramanyiam 2014 Naku Penda Naku Taka Iyer 2015 Akashangalil Devadathan Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam A. S. A. Luca Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum 150th Film 2017 Neeranjana Pookal Kiranlal 2018 Drama Cameo 2020 Oru Vathil Kottai Suresh Nair 2021 Bhramam Actor Uday Kumar 2022 Ormakalil DIG 2024 Ezhuthola As producer; credited as Shankar T. Bad Boyz Prem Menon

Tamil films Year Title Role Notes 1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Raja Sujatha 1981 Mouna Yuddham Koyil Puraa 1982 Nadamaadum Silaigal Udhayamakirathu Kanalukku Karaiyethu Raagam Thedum Pallavi Madhu Punitha Malar Prasad 1989 Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile Prem Kumar 1991 Thayamma Rangarajan MGR Nagaril Victor 2007 Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen 2015 Manal Nagaram Ibrahim Rabbani Also director

As director Year Title Langage Notes 2007 Virus Malayalam 2009 Keralotsavam 2009 2015 Manal Naharam Tamil Dubbed in Malayalam as Sand City 2026 Eric Malayalam

Television Serials Ithu Manju Pole Swara Raagam (Asianet) Parasparam (Surya TV) Chithrashalabham (Amrita TV) Ammakkayi (Surya TV) Thulabharam (Surya TV) Ammathottil (Asianet) Monuttante Onam - telefilm

References

External links