Legendary Malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu passed away on Monday. He was 73. The veteran actor had recently recovered from COVID-19, but was admitted to a hospital once again after he began experiencing uneasiness in his health. Venu, who has made appearances in more than 500 films, is a three-time National Award winner and won the Kerala State Film Awards on six occasions. 

Nedumudi Venu started his career as a journalist with the reputed Malayalam illustrated weekly news magazine Kalakaumudi before making a transition to acting through theatre. The talented performer made his acting debut in Malayalam films in ace filmmaker G. Aravindan’s Thambu in 1978. He is also a screenwriter and penned the stories for films like Ambada Njaane!Angane Oru AvadhikkalathuKatha Oru NunnakkathaOru Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Theertham, Sruthiand Savidham to name a notable few, while also turning a director with Pooram

Having won his first National Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Mohanlal-starrer His Highness Abdullah in 1990, Nedumudi Venu was also a Mridangam player and showed his skills in several Malayalam films, including Bharatham. Venu has also acted in a few television shows and won the Best Actor Award at the Kerala State Television Awards for his performance in the serial Avasthantharangal in 2001. The celebrated actor was seen on the big screen most recently in the anthology film, Aanum Pennum, in the 'Rani' segment directed by Aashiq Abu. Venu has collaborated with many reputed names over the years in the Malayalam film industry and his next appearance will be in the upcoming Mohanlal films, Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham and Aarattu. He had also filmed a few key portions for director Shankar and 'Ulaganayagan' Kamal Haasan's Indian 2 in Tamil, in which he would be reprising his role as Krishnasamy from the 1996 original Indian