Vinayakan is an Indian actor, former dancer, and composer who predominantly works in Malayalam films as well as some Tamil language films. He started his career with a un-credited appearance in the 1995 film Maanthrikam.
Vinayakan won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in the year 2016 for his role of Ganga in Rajiv Ravi's Kammatipaadam. His recognized roles include Edakochi "Dude" in Aadu - Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu and its successor film Aadu 2, and as Ayyappan in Lijo Jose Pellissery's Ee.Ma.Yau.
He gained wider attention by playing the antagonist Varman in Nelson Dilipkumar's Tamil-language action film Jailer (2023) starring Rajinikanth.
Career
Acting Vinayakan began his career as a dancer and had a dance troupe named Black Mercury with Fire dance being his forte. Director Thampi Kannanthanam introduced him in Maanthrikam and later in Onnaman. He was noticed for his performances in Stop Violence, Vellithira, Chathikkatha Chanthu, Chotta Mumbai and Thottappan. Also, he appeared in a couple of Bollywood movies.
Vinayakan was appreciated for his performance as Ganga in Rajeev Ravi's 2016 film Kammatipaadam, and nominated for a national award. It also brought him the Best Actor Award of the Kerala State Film Awards, The North American Film Award for Outstanding performance in a film and Best Actor Award (2016) of the Cinema Paradiso Club Cine Awards. In the same film, he made his debut as a music director.
Ee.Ma.Yau. was included in The Hindu's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade and is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the New Wave Movement.
His upcoming projects include Gautham Vasudev Menon's Dhruva Natchathiram:Chapter One - Yuddha Kaandam.
Music Vinayakan composed the song "Puzhu Pulikal" for the movie Kammatipaadam. He has also composed the music for the title track of Trance (2020). He has also sung songs for Rafi's film Role Models and another one for Ordinary, Sugeeth's movie.
Controversies On 24 October 2023, he was arrested for creating a ruckus at the Ernakulam Town North police station in Kochi. The incident was from a family dispute and he was later released on bail after a medical examination. MLA of Thrikkakara, Uma Thomas, publicly criticized the quick release, suggesting it was related to Vinayakan's political associations
On 7 September 2024, Vinayakan was taken into custody by Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Police in Hyderabad following an altercation with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) gate staff. He was reportedly under the influence of alcohol during the incident. Security officials affirmed he arrived in Hyderabad in a visibly drunken state on an Indigo flight from Kochi and was to travel to Goa, before his arrest.
On 9 May 2025, Vinayakan was taken into custody for drunk and disorderly behaviour at a hotel in Kollam, where he was staying from May 2 for a movie shoot.
Filmography
Malayalam Year Title Role Notes 1995 Maanthrikam Michael Jackson dupe Debut 2001 Onnaman Patrick 2002 Stop Violence Montha 2003 Vellithira Padavan Ivar Vinayakan 2004Chathikkatha ChanthuRomy GreetingsHariQuotation Maya2005By the People PorterMakalkku Mental Patient Junior SeniorSivanUdayon Thoma's helper 2006Thanthra MayanChinthamani KolacaseUchandiJayamSaheer2007 Chotta Mumbai Satheeshan Big B Pandi Asi2008PachamarathanalilMad Man2009Nammal ThammilTonyDaddy Cool Shelvam Sagar alias Jacky Reloaded Style2010 Best Actor Pottan2011The Train Githu 2012Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty AlexBachelor Party Fakeer2013Police Maman Manu 5 Sundarikal Chandran Segment - Aami Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus Sayippu 2014 Masala Republic Bengali BabuNjan Steve Lopez Prathaapan Iyobinte Pustakam ChembanSecondsThampi2015Aadu - Oru Bheegara Jeevi AanuDamodaran Unnimakan Delmen Edakochi "Dude" Chandrettan Evideya Rajaraja CholanExtended cameoAny Time Money2016 Kali JohnettanKammattipaadam Gangadharan (Ganga) Best Actor - Kerala State Film Award2017Role Models Jyothish NarayananAadu 2 Damodaran Unnimakan Delmen Edakochi "Dude"2018Diwanjimoola Grand Prix VareedhSwathandriam ArdharathriyilSimonEe.Ma.Yau Ayyappan 2019ThottappanIthaqPranaya Meenukalude KadalHyderValiyaperunnal Himself Cameo2020TranceThomasAlso composed title track 2021 Operation Java Ramanathan 2022 Pada Balu Oruthee Sub Inspector Antony Panthrandu Andhro 2023 Kasargold Alex 2024 Thekku Vadakku Madhavan 2025 The Pet Detective Yaqat Ali Kalamkaval Jayakrishnan 2026 Aadu 3 Damodaran Unnimakan Delmen Edakochi "Dude" and Sulthan Azam Khan Dual roleTitansRejimon
Tamil YearTitleRoleNotes2006Thimiru Maayi credited as Vinayagam 2008 Singakutty Gumban UncreditedKaalai Mokkaicredited as Vinayagam Ellam Avan Seyal Pichandi Silambattam Tamizh’s best friend 2009 Madurai Sambavam Anand aka MandaiyanUncredited 2011Siruthai Bavuji's henchmancredited as Vinayagam 2013 Maryan Theekkurissi 2023 JailerVarman2026Jailer 2VarmanAwaiting release
Other languages YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes2005James Shanti Narayan's henchman Hindi2006Asadhyudu Thambu Telugu2008 Ekaloveyudu Bhakta's brother
Awards Year Award Category Film(s) Result 2016 Kerala State Film Award Best Actor Kammatipaadam 2016 Movie Munshi Cine Awards 2017 Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor CPC Cine Awards Best Actor 2018 Best Character Actor Ee.Ma.Yau. 2019 Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor
References
Notes
External links