Giving up was never an option for me: Actor Maniyanpilla Raju
His next-door-neighbourly charm has been alluring to Malayali audiences for the past 50 years. His stint as a producer too was equally successful with many hit films including Aye Auto and Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu to his credit.
In an interaction with TNIE, Maniyanpilla Raju opens up about his journey filled with ups and downs, close ties with the 'Big Ms' of Mollywood, how the industry has changed over the years, how he happened to identify talents like Rahman and Prithviraj, and how he survived cancer. Excerpts:
How do you reflect on your 50-year-long film career?
I hail from a non-artistic background, but my passion has always driven me. After being rejected by the Pune Film Institute, I went to the Adyar Film Institute where I was selected as the first Malayali acting student. K Balachander and M N Rajam chose me for the screen test, marking the true beginning of my journey. I graduated in 1975 and started off with Mohiniyattom, directed by Sreekumaran Thampi. I was never ready to give up and that has made me what I am today.
At the time, few pursued acting as a formal study. Did your family support your decision?
I have been passionate about acting since school and viewed it as my path forward. My father used to tell me that I wasn't good at studies, so I should enrol for LLB (laughs out). During my time at the film institute, I managed with Rs 100 a month. Initially, I stayed in a good hostel in Madras, then moved to Uma Lodge in Kodambakkam. I shared a small, sweltering top-storey room with another person for Rs 45. Mallika, my classmate from Model School, introduced me to Sreekumaran Thampi. When I met him with my portfolio, he bluntly said I wouldn't make it in an industry dominated by Adoor Bhasi and Prem Nazir. 'Have you ever checked your face in the mirror?' he asked. He even advised me to return home by the evening train. But soon after, he called to offer me a small role in Mohiniyattom... and that became my cinema entry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
T20 Mumbai League 2025: Kapil Dev unveils jersey of SoBo Mumbai Falcons
Mumbai (Maharashtra)[India], June 3 (ANI): Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, best known for putting India on the global motorsport map, has officially announced its entry into cricket with the launch of its new franchise, SoBo Mumbai Falcons in the T20 Mumbai League, hosted by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The launch event also featured the unveiling of the team's official jersey, team anthem, and a new cricket-focused talent development initiative called 'Agla Star - One in a Billion Hunt', a first-of-its-kind national programme aimed at identifying and nurturing the next generation of world-class Indian athletes - on track and field, according to the MCA press release. Bringing in the support to this vision, India's first World Cup-winning cricket captain, legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has joined the SoBo Mumbai Falcons in an advisory and ambassadorial role--bringing his leadership and experience to inspire the next generation. The Rs 82 crore acquisition of the SoBo franchise marks the group's strategic expansion into cricket and the next phase of its vision to build a multi-sport performance ecosystem. The team aims to set a new benchmark in Indian cricket where data, science, and preparation are as central to performance as instinct and skill. This launch is more than the reveal of a jersey or a team anthem, it's the unveiling of a new kind of Indian sports institution, one where motorsport precision meets cricketing passion. The SoBo Mumbai Falcons represent a new generation of athletes, guided not just by flair and aggression, but also by science, data, and relentless preparation. The anthem, the jersey, and the squad are designed to echo this spirit, a symbol of performance rooted in purpose. 'We're not here to be just another cricket team. We're here to build something deeper, something more future-focused. The same dedication that built champions in racing is now being brought into cricket,' said the Mumbai Falcons leadership team. Founded in 2019, Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited became the first Indian team to win an FIA-accredited international racing championship. With a strong focus on youth development and performance science, the team has supported future global racing stars including Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Arthur Leclerc, Rafael Camara, and Freddie Slater. In 2024, Mumbai Falcons won the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and finished runners-up in the Formula 4 Middle East Championship, reinforcing its position on the international stage. Having earned its stripes on international racing circuits, Mumbai Falcons now brings that same pursuit of excellence to cricket. With SoBo Mumbai Falcons, the team is set to redefine how talent is nurtured through science, discipline, and an unshakeable belief that India's next big sporting icon is already among us, waiting to be shaped.(ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
IPL 2025: How much prize money did RCB win after their maiden title win? What did runners-up PBKS get?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title by beating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final on Tuesday. Here's the full list of IPL 2025 award winners and their prize money, including team and individual awards. read more Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally won their first-ever IPL title on Tuesday as they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Krunal Pandya was named the Player of the Match as RCB successfully defended a 191-run target in front of a jam-packed crowd. Earlier, Virat Kohli helped RCB lay down the foundation stone with his 43-run knock after PBKS won the toss and elected to bowl first. PBKS got off to a flying start in their chase with Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Josh Inglis providing some firepower, but Krunal Pandya's bowling pulled things back for RCB. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As RCB won the match, players and support staff stormed onto the field to celebrate the historic moment. Kohli was seen breaking down in tears as the final balls were being bowled. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar dedicated the win to Kohli and fans, who waited for 18 long years. List of all award winners and their prize money With the trophy came a big cash prize for RCB. They were awarded Rs. 20 crore as the winners of IPL 2025. PBKS received Rs. 12.5 crore for finishing as runners-up. Mumbai Indians, who ended third after losing Qualifier 2, got Rs. 7 crore in prize money. Gujarat Titans, who lost the Eliminator, earned Rs. 6.5 crore for finishing fourth. Apart from the team prizes, several players also received individual awards, including the Orange Cap, Purple Cap, and Emerging Player of the Season. Most Valuable Player of the Season: Suryakumar Yadav of MI got Rs. 10 lakh. Orange Cap (highest run-scorer): Sai Sudharsan of GT got Rs. 10 lakh. Purple Cap (highest wicket-taker): Prasidh Krishna of GT got Rs. 10 lakh. Best Catch of the Season: Kamindu Mendis of RCB got Rs. 10 lakh. Emerging Player of the Season: Sai Sudharsan got Rs. 10 lakh. Super Striker of the Season (most sixes): Vaibhav Suryavanshi of RR got Rs. 10 lakh. Fantasy Player of the Season: Sai Sudharsan got Rs. 10 lakh.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
After IPL 2025 win, Krunal Pandya reveals telephone chat with brother Hardik Pandya
Krunal Pandya (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: Krunal Pandya delivered a Player of the Match performance to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. Picked up by RCB for Rs 5.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Krunal brought out his full arsenal, refusing to let Punjab Kings gain control during their chase. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! His spell of 2 for 17, which included the crucial wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis, proved to be a game-changer and played a key role in RCB's six-run victory. Krunal later revealed that he had set his intentions clearly with the franchise during his very first conversation — he was there to win trophies — and he made good on that promise with a match-defining performance. — IPL (@IPL) 'When we batted, we realised the slower you bowl, the better it is. In this format, you need guts to do it. I just backed myself and thought I'd vary my pace and keep it on the slower side more often. My biggest strength has been to learn what the situation requires. I knew I had to be brave to get wickets tonight. Thought I'd do that by bowling slow. If you'd have bowled quick, it'd have been a good wicket. But if you mixed it up, it was tougher. Pitch actually got easier in the second innings,' said Krunal while collecting the POTM trophy. 'Have enjoyed my time with RCB so far. I told them on day one that I like to win trophies. I told Hardik too that the Pandya household will have nine trophies in 11 years,' he added. Krunal now has four IPL titles to his name — three with Mumbai Indians — and Tuesday's performance marked the second time he has won the Player of the Match award in an IPL final. The first came in 2017, when he scored 47 off 38 balls to help Mumbai Indians defeat the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.
