Renji Panicker

Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960) is an Indian film actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005.[1]

Renji Panicker
Born (1960-09-23) September 23, 1960
Nedumudi, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesRenji
Occupation
  • Film director
  • Screenwriter
  • Singer
  • Lyricist
  • Actor
  • Film producer
Years active1989 – present
Spouse(s)Aneeta Marium Thomas
ChildrenNithin Renji Panicker
Nikhil Renji Panicker

Early life

He was the youngest son among three children born to Kesava Panicker and Leelamani Amma at Nedumudi, Alleppey. He did his bachelors in commerce from Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha and certificate in Journalism from Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram. He earned a master's degree in Journalism from Kerala University, Karyavattom[2]

Career

Panicker began his career as a journalist. He started off as a reporter for magazines and publications. During an interview, while working for Chithrabhumi, a film magazine, he met director Shaji Kailas, who led him into the world of cinema and within a short time became one of the most wanted scriptwriters of Malayalam cinema. Renji scripted several commercially successful films for Shaji Kailas, including Dr. Pasupathy (1990), Thalastaanam (1992), Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993), Ekalavyan (1993), Mafia (1993), Commissioner (1994), and The King (1995). The Renji Panicker-Shaji Kailas team elevated Suresh Gopi into a bankable lead actor during the early 1990s. He is known for his collaboration with director Joshiy, which included the films Lelam (1997) and Pathram (1999). He became a film director and directed two films. He is one of the managing directors of the Malayalam newspaper Metrovaartha.

Renji has taken several cameo roles in his own films. However, he gained popularity as an actor for his role in Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014). He acted in numerous films, with notable roles in Njaan (2014), Premam (2015), Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016), Thoppil Joppan (2016), Alamara (2017), Godha (2017) and Bhayanakam (2018).

Personal life

Renji Panicker was married to Anitha Mariam Thomas, his classmate at Kerala University. Anitha died on 10 March 2019 suffering from Kidney ailment. They have twin sons, Nithin and Nikhil, and lived in Alappuzha before shifting to Kochi.[3]

Film career

While interviewing director Shaji Kailas, for a film magazine in 1990, he was impressed by Renji's language and asked him to do a script for him. Renji, who was an active politician since his college days tried out a political satire, Dr. Pasupathy, that turned out to be a hit. But the success of his debut film failed to bring recognition. His next venture Akashakottayile Sulthan, in 1991, directed by Jayaraj, with Sreenivasan in the main role, bombed. This made Renji to rethink film as a career. Upon Kailas' insistence, Renji made another attempt in 1992. Thalastaanam, revolving around campus politics was a hit and marked the beginning of the Shaji-Renji combination.

In the year 1993, Renji penned Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans. Directed by Kailas, this film was a turning point in the life of Jagadish, who was till then slotted into comic roles. Jagadish played the role of a common man who overnight becomes the home minister of the state. Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans completed 150 days in theatres, establishing Renji Panicker as one of the leading script writers in Malayalam cinema. Next was Ekalavyan, released in May 1993. Directed by Kailas, Ekalavyan was an action thriller revolving around the unholy nexus of drug mafia-godmen and politicians. Appearing in the lead role of a police officer, Suresh Gopi established himself as the next star of Malayalam cinema. Ekalavyan completed 150 days in most theatres. Mafia then revolved around Bangalore underworld. Directed by Kailas with Gopi as hero, it was released in 1993, making Renji the most expensive script-writer in Malyalam film.[4]

In 1994, Kailas/Panicker created Commissioner, a police film, which completed a run of 200 days in theatres. Gopi appeared in the title role and the film became the biggest grosser of the year. Shaji/Renji rejoined in 1995, casting Mammootty as the hero of The King, which was released in the end of 1995 was successful. Thereafter the duo parted ways.[5]

Renji, after a long time wrote a script for director Joshi in 1997. Lelam, another action thriller with Gopi as the hero was again a hit. The same team brought out Pathram the next year. Revolving around print media and the politics surrounding it, this flick is best remembered for dialog. The continuous run of hits came to an end in 2001. Renji's combination with Joshi, Dubai bombed. This was followed by Praja,the first time Mohanlal appeared in a Renji film and it completed 100 days in theatres. The back to back set backs forced Renji to take a break for three years. In 2005, he followed with Bharatchandran IPS the sequel of Commissioner, released in 1994. Bharatchandran IPS was his directorial debut. He also co-produced this film. This film crossed 100-day run in all major centres and gave a rebirth to Gopi. Renji's second directorial attempt was Roudram, released in 2008, with Mammootty in the main role, Another police story, this film was a success.[6] Renji's next project was The King & the Commissioner in which Mammootty and Gopi played the lead roles, Joseph Alex I.A.S. and Bharathchandran I.P.S., taken from the films The King and Commissioner. It was directed by Kailas. This film had many expectations, as Mammootty and Gopi were reuniting after many years as were Kailas and Panicker.[7] Unfortunately, it also bombed.

Plots and style

In Panicker's films, valorised heroes have a political viewpoint and are opinionated. They rebuke corrupt higher officials, hegemonic structures and societal perversions. Dialogues are presented for making an impact, often with lengthy and spirited ones to carry the character through the plot conterminously. Panicker uses stuffy English words to deliver the impact with emphasis. Except Dr. Pasupathi and Aakasha Kottayile Sultan all of his films are done with a political backdrop. Political problems and events were always added and magnified in his scripts, which evoked controversies and threats to his life. Panicker's dialogue in Lelam based on a real-life character and jingoistic characters from Commissioner are considered timeless for Mollywood.[8]

Filmography

As an actor
No. Year Title Role Notes
1 2020 KaavalTBAFilming
2 Muddy Master of Hero Post Production
3 Kalamandalam HyderaliKalamandalam Hyderalireleasing on 2020 jan
4KolaambiPost production
5Aanenkilum AllenkilumFilming
6 2019 Thakkol
7Ulta
8 Love Action Drama Swathi's father
9SachinRamachandran
10Mohabbathin Kunjabdullah
11Aniyan Kunjinum Thannalayathu
12Ningal Camera Nireekshanathinlannu
13Oru Yamandan PremakadhaAdvocate John Kombanayil
14AthiranJayanarayana Varma
15PengalilaKoshy Mathew
16Kalikoottukkar
17Roudram 2018Narayanan
18ThelivuRamesh Kumar
19Sakalakalashala
20MargamkaliUrmila's father
21Kodathi Samaksham Balan VakeelDGP K. E. Eappan
22Vijay Superum PournamiyumVenugopal
23 2018Ente Ummante PeruMohammed Hydarali MehfilPhoto appearance and voice
24DramaKunjachan
25Bhayanakampostman – handicapped in World War I.
26NaamFr. James Kottayil
27Kuttanadan MarpappaJohn's fatherPhoto presence
28Abrahaminte SanthathikalSP Shahul Hameed
29Kinar
30Vallikkudilile VellakkaranChief Guest
31KrishnamDr. Sunil
32AamiS. K. Nair
33CaptainCoach Jafer
34Kadha Paranja Kadha
35 2017MasterpieceEdward Livingstonecameo appearance
36SoloThomas Zachariahin the segment world of Trilok
37VillainCommissioner Sreenivasan
38Role ModelsGautham's father
39Oru CinemakkaranFr. Mathew
40Viswasapoorvam MansoorKalathil Haji
41RamaleelaV. G. Madhavan
42Puthan PanamIqbal RowtherCameo appearance
43ClintWriter V K Nambiar
44GodhaCaptain
45SakhavuKuriyachanCameo
461971: Beyond BordersJanardanan
47AlamaraPavithran
48GeminiDr. Gokul
49Samarpanam
50KadamkathaSreekumar
51Georgettan's PooramFr. Mathews Vadakkan
52 2016Ore MukhamPrakashan
53Campus Diary
54AanandamDiya's fatherCameo appearance
55Thoppil JoppanFr. James Anakattil
56OppamPadmakumar P, IPS officer
57Oru Muthassi GadhaDr. Mathew / Mathai
58Welcome to Central JailGopinath
59Angane Thanne Nethave Anchettannam PinnaleZachariya
60Mohavalayam
61Pa VaThampuran Johnny
62Valleem Thetti Pulleem ThettiMadhavan
63Jacobinte SwargarajyamJacob
64PavadaPaul Scaria
65 2015CharliePanicker Doctorguest appearance
66AnarkaliPappan
67Punchirikku Parasparamperson reading newspapershort film
68Rajamma @ YahooMayor Abraham Pothen
69Jamna PyariSridharan
70Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumJury ccommittee member
71Acha DhinHome minister Thomas Chacko
72PremamDavid Kalapparambath, George's fathercameo appearance
73LohamAlbert Alex
74Haram
75Ayal NjanallaK.P.K. Menon
76Ennum EppozhumCEO of GM Builders
77Aadu – Oru Bheegara Jeevi AanuThomas Paappan & Varkey Pappan
78Picket 43C.O Vinay Chandran
79 2014CousinsDoctorcameo appearance
80NjaanKuttysankaran
81MunnariyippuMohan Das
82Money RatnamIsaac
83Om Shanthi OshaanaDr. Mathew Devasya
84PakidaNandakumar
85 1994CommissionerJournalist
86 1993MafiaExcise/Home Minister Venkidappa
87EkalavyanAirport passenger
88Sthalathe Pradhana PayyansPolitician
89 1992ThalastaanamPolitician

Other works
Year Title Director Writer Notes
TBA Untitled Jeethu Joseph film Yes
TBA Lelam 2 Yes
2012The King & the CommissionerYes
2008RoudramYesYes
2005Bharatchandran IPSYesYes
2001PrajaYes
2001DubaiYes
1999PathramYes
1997LelamYes
1995The KingYes
1994CommissionerYes
1993MafiaYes
1993EkalavyanYes
1993Sthalathe Pradhana PayyansYes
1992ThalastaanamYes
1991Aakasha Kottayile SultanYes
1990Dr. PasupathyYes

Renji Panicker Distribution
Year Title language Notes
TBALelam 2MalayalamPre production
2017Orayiram KinakkalalMalayalam
2017Adam JoanMalayalam
2017KaabilHindiIn Kerala
2017RaeesHindiIn Kerala

Television
Year Title Channel Role
2017–2018AniyaraSurya TVHost
2019–presentJananayakanAmrita TVJudge
2019Nammal Thammil 2AsianetHost
2020-PresentCrime PatrolKairali TVHost

Awards and Nominations
Won
Nomination
gollark: Georgism fairly good, yes.
gollark: Really? Oh dear.
gollark: No.
gollark: Not just occasional "team building days" or something.
gollark: I think the "random facts about taxes and whatever" life skills should be learned independently and the vague general stuff like "working in teams" would be best learned through actually doing it seriously.

References
  1. "Renji Panicker's next flick". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Archived 1 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Renji Panicker busy scripting two mammoth projects".
  5. "Renji Panicker – Movies, biography, News, Age & Photos – BookMyShow". BookMyShow.
  6. BizHat.com – Roudram Review. Mammootty, Manju, Lalu Alex, Saikumar, Vijayaraghavan, Rajan.P.Dev, Janardhanan, Shammi Thilakan, Subair, T.P.Madhavan, Jayakrishnan, Spadikam George, Maya Moushmi, Urmila Unni. Movies.bizhat.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. Day of the action heroes. The Hindu (22 March 2012). Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  8. Fire Brand @25 – Page 3. mangalam.com.
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