Kochuvelu Surendran (born 16 March 1956), better known by his stage name Indrans, is an Indian actor and former costume designer, who appears in Malayalam films. He started his film career as a costume designer and actor in 1981 and got a breakthrough in 1994 with the comedy movie CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Indrans was popular for his comedy roles in the 1990s and 2000s.
He found success in playing character roles in his later career and won the National Film Awards-Special Mention for his performance in Home in 2023 and the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for Apothecary in 2014. In 2018, Indrans won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Aalorukkam. His performance in Veyilmarangal won him the Best Actor Award at the 2019 Singapore International Film Festival. As of November 2021, he had starred in over 550 films.
Early life Indrans was born on 16 March 1956. He is third among the seven children of Palavila Kochuvelu and Gomathi at Kumarapuram, Thiruvananthapuram. He has four sisters and two brothers.
Indrans faced financial problems at his house and had to join his uncle to learn tailoring. Later, he joined amateur arts clubs and began acting in dramas. He started his acting career in television serial Kaliveedu in Doordarshan. Along with his brother, K. Jayakumar, he opened a tailoring shop named Indran's Brothers Tailors in Kumarapuram, Thiruvananthapuram.
Acting career Indrans made his debut in the 1981 film Choothattam both as a costume designer and as an actor. The producer, TMN Charley, offered him a chance to assist him in costume designing and he worked with designing costumes for several years, acting in various small roles. He got noticed for playing a small role of a marriage broker in the 1993 film Meleparambil Anveedu. Indrans got his breakthrough with his role in CID Unnikrishnan B.A., BEd (1994). This led to him being cast in various comedic roles in the films of the 1990s. Indrans’ lean figure and peculiar way of delivering his dialogue and mannerisms made him a popular comedian in Malayalam cinema during these period. Some of his memorable roles came with the movies such as Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji, Manathe Kottaram, Vadhu Doctoranu, Aadyathe Kanmani, Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava etc. He played the character "Uthaman" in the 1998 cult hit Punjabi House. Indrans' combination with Harishree Ashokan resulted in some of the successful films.
In the early 2000s he also started playing some minor character roles. Subsequently, his role of a thief in the 2004 film Kathavasheshan got him noticed as a character actor. In Rahasya Police (2009), Indrans was revealed to be the villain of the movie at the end. He played another villain role in Pottas Bomb (2013). Indrans won the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for his performance in the 2014 film Apothecary.
In 2016, Indrans got noticed for his portrayal of a serious role, in the film Mundrothuruth, directed by Manu. After this movie, he played several serious character roles. He appeared in serious avatars in Kaadu Pookunna Neram (2016) and God Say (2017). Indrans played several notable roles in films such as Makkana, Lonam, Paathi and Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu. In 2018, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2017 film Aalorukkam. In 2019, he was awarded Singapore South Asian International Film Best actor award for his performance in Veyilmarangal. Veyil Marangal also won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai International film festival. Indrans played the lead role in the movie Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla (2019). His brief cameo as the serial killer Ripper Ravi in the crime thriller Anjaam Pathiraa (2020) was critically acclaimed.
In 2021, he played the lead role of Oliver Twist in Home. The movie was well acclaimed by the critics and audience especially praising Indrans' performance.
Personal life Indrans married Santhakumari on 23 February 1985. They have a daughter Mahitha and a son Mahendran.
Indrans' autobiography, titled Indradhanussu, was serialised in Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly and published as a book in 2024 by Mathrubhumi Books."Mathrubhumi Books to publish actor Indrans’ autobiography". Mathrubhumi. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2024. The work earned him the Cherukad Award for the year 2024."കണ്ണീർക്കണങ്ങളിൽ മഴവില്ല് വിരിയിയ്ക്കുന്ന ഇന്ദ്രജാലം; ചെറുകാട് പുരസ്കാരം ഇന്ദ്രൻസിന്റെ ഇന്ദ്രധനുസിന്". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). 11 October 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
Awards
2014 - Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for the film Apothecary 2016 - CPC Cine Awards – Special Honorary Award 2018 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for the film Aalorukkam 2019 - Singapore South Asian International Film Festival Best actor award for Veyilmarangal 2019 - Shanghai International Film Festival Award for Best Film N.N. Pillai Smaraka Puraskaram (N.N. Pillai Memorial Award) 2023 - National Film Awards-Special Mention for the film Home 2023 - 68th Filmfare Awards South - Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam for the film Udal 2024 - Cherukad Award - Indradhanussu (Autobiography)
Filmography
Actor Malayalam
1980s Year Title Role Notes 1981 Choothaattam Also costume designer 1985 Jwalanam Sammelanam Man at toddy shop Principal Olivil 1987 Sarvakalasala Nombarathi Poovu 1988 Moonnam Pakkam Aparan Postman 1989 Innale Hospital Attendant Aazhikkoru Muthu Ice cream Seller Jaathakam Card Player
1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 His Highness Abdullah Rajavazhcha Maala Yogam Kochu Raman 1991 Ezhunnallathu Watch shop owner Dhanam Sasidharan 1992 Aadharam Divakaran Ayalathe Addeham Abu Kaazhchakkppuram Tea Shop Worker Utsavamelam Gopalan 1993 Aagneyam Rajappan Janam Party Member Aparna Ponnuchami Velappan Akashadoothu Driver Ithu Manjukaalam Kavadiyattam Tea Shop Employee Meleparambil Anveedu Marriage Broker Paramasivam 1994 CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Kunju Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji Sankaran Moonnam Loka Pattalam Prashna Kumaran Manathe Kottaram Appu Pavam I. A. Ivachan Varaphalam Auto Driver Vadhu Doctoranu Natheli Vardhakya Puranam Kattanam Kuttikrishnan Santhanagopalam Vendor Daniel State Licency Sundaran 1995 Aadyathe Kanmani Narayanankutty Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava Balan Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman Mangalan Mankombu Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Palarivattam Philipose Mangalyasootram Lorry Bhaskar Parvathy Parinayam Blackbelt Kumaran Thumboli Kadappuram Pushpangathan Tom & Jerry Radholsavam Kalyanji Anandji Maniyan Kusruthikaatu Arogya Swami Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta Dasan Mannar Mathai Speaking Ponnappan Mazhavilkoodaram Sundareshan Punnaram Spadikam Gafoor Prayikkara Pappan Vettukili Chaithanyam Thovalapookkal Three Men Army 'Basha' Surendran Alancheri Thamprakkal Thirumanassu Peter Scott Sheru Kokkarakko Street Kakkakum Poochakkum Kalyanam Balakrishnan Manassasthrajnante Diary 1996 Dilliwala Rajakumaran Parameswaran Hitlist Devandarji Mayooranritham The Porter Prashna Kumaran Excuse Me Ethu Collegila Kaathil Oru Kinnaram Rameshan/Rajappan Kalyana Sowgandhikam Krishnankutty Kinnam Katha Kallan Pallivaathukkal Thommichan Kanjirapally Kariyachan Mandrika Kuthira Man of the Match 'Neerkoli' Narayanan Sathyabhamakkoru Premalekhanam Purushothaman Kudumbakodathi Adv. Punjapadam Pushpangathan King Solomon Dominic Presentation Velayudan April 19 Chandran Pilla Sugavaasam Sulthan Hyderali Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran Kunjunni Anjarakalyanam 1997 The Car Idiyan Vikraman Ekkareyanente Manasam Bhargavan Rishyasringan Driver Shobhanam My Dear Kuttichathan Kilukil Pambaram Sakshi Sadananthan Fashion Parade Irattakuttikalude Achan Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam Balan Guru Sishyan Junior Mandrake Driver Gopalan Aattuvela Nee Varuvolam Hitler Brothers Balaraman Katha Nayakan Sreedharan Kalyana Unnikal Manthramothiram Sundareshan Vaachalam Vasu 1998 Alibabayum Arara Kallanmarum E. T. Lukose Gramapanchayath Bhaskaran Manthri Kochamma Kottaram Veettile Apputtan Ramankutty Malabaril Ninnoru Manimaaran Punjabi House Uthaman Kusruthi Kuruppu Suppan Harthaal 1999 Gaandhiyan Udumbumchola Narayanan Auto Brothers Induchoodan Swastham Grihabharanam Vilakkoothi Vasu James Bond Shankarankutty American Ammayi Kuttapan Friends Indulekha Pattabhishekam Kuttishankaran Jananayakan Thottapilli Thoma Onnaamvattam Kandappol Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Chandrappan Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum Unni Balan
2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 High Range Darling Darling Achu Ente Priyappetta Muthuvinu Shayanam Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Sashankan Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam Pilots The Warrant Narayanan Summer Palace Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan Peon Kuttappan Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum Ganeshan Aanamuttathe Aangalamar Manmadan Neelakashathe Nizhal Pakshikal Mark Antony Antony's friend Priyam Unni's Assistant 2001 Agrahaaram Raajapattam Vezhambal Onnam Raagam Jackson Korappan The Great Kakkakuyil Jwalanam Akashathe Paravakal Kuttappan Ennum Sambhavami Yuge Yuge Nalacharitham Nalaam Divasam One Man Show Achuthan Fort Kochi Bharthavudyogam Madhavan Uthaman Abdulla Haji Megasandesam Thommy Nagaravadhu Rakshasa Rajavu Kochukuttan 2002 Nizhalkkuthu Barber Serviteur de Kali, Le (France) Shadow Kill (International: English title) Jagathy Jagadeesh in Town Moosa Suvarna Mohangal Ee Bhargavi Nilayam Adheena Kayamkulam Kanaaran Pakalppooram Manikyan's friend Kattuchembakam Aandi Kakke Kakke Koodevide Kuberan Abdu Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Madhavan Snehithan Studio Owner Valkannadi Kanaran Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair Kochu Preman 2003 The Fire Kalavarkey Moosakka Achante Kochumolu Lucko Varum Varunnu Vannu Echappan Pattalam Velayudhan Balettan Koya Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum Chandran C.I.D. Moosa Theekkanal Varkey Vellithira Iyamkutty Saudaamini 2004 Priyam Priyankaram Govindankutty Thirakkilanu Arumukham Kadhavaseshan Thief Thorappan Vasu Chathikkatha Chanthu Pappan Kanninum Kannadikkum M. A. Chengamangalam Vellinakshatram Palace Manager Kochunni C.I. Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 Inchu Narayanan Kusruthi Champion Bhaskaran Thalamelam Nakulan 2005 Kalyana Kurimanam OK Chacko Cochin Mumbai Kumbalam Sasi Seelabathi Vasu/Basu Finger Print Hai Bus Conductor Vacation Kalyana Kurimanam Balan Mayookham Nerariyan CBI Devaswam Ponmudipuzhayorathu Supran Pandippada Veeramani Kochi Rajavu Canteen Manager Athbhutha Dweepu Chandrappan Iruvattam Manavaatti Chandrappan Udayananu Tharam Vijayan Varkala Kadha Dr. Aravindaksha Kaimal 2006 Drishtantham Mouryan Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Bakkar Vrindaavanam Narakasuran Bheeman Mahasamudram Kapyar Pachakuthira Abraham Lincoln Madhuchandralekha Lukose 2007 Indrajith Radhakrishnan Panthaya Kozhi Rajappan Nanma Naanu Kangaroo Chellappan Black Cat Washington Veeralipattu Ramu Athisayan Swami 2008 Novel Crazy Gopalan Sugunan Kabadi Kabadi Basheer Magic Lamp Sankaranunni Bullet Premasulal Vilapangalkkappuram Bheeran De Ingottu Nokkiye Vettikkadu Sugunan Kovalam Sivapuram Oru Pennum Randaanum Mathai Segment: Kallante Makan Robo Vijayan Mayakazhcha Ramakrishnan Twenty:20 Govindan 2009 Venalmaram Chinkaram Colours Kuttiraman Rahasya Police Raveendran Patham Nilayile Theevandi Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu Moidheen Kancheepurathe Kalyanam Kancheenadhan Patham Adhyayam Paribhavam Swapnamaalika Utharaswayamvaram Chellappan Dalamarmarangal Noolan Damu Shudharil Shudhan Ramankunju
2010s