Renji Panicker
Born (1960-09-23) September 23, 1960
Nedumudi, Kerala, India
Other namesRenji
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • singer
  • lyricist
  • actor
  • film producer
  • poet
  • journalist
Years active1990–present
SpouseAneeta Marium Thomas
Children2
Websiterenjipanicker.in

Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960[1]) is an Indian 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.[2]

Early life

He did his bachelor's degree 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.[3]

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. Renji scripted several 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 Njaan (2014), Premam (2015), Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016), Thoppil Joppan (2016), Alamara (2017), Godha (2017) and Bhayanakam (2018).

Personal life

Renji Panicker was married to Aneeta Mariam Thomas, his classmate at Kerala University. Aneeta died on 10 March 2019, suffering from a kidney ailment. They have twin sons, Nithin and Nikhil, and were living in Alappuzha before moving to Kochi.[4]

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 until 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 Malayalam film.[5]

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.[6]

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 box-office success.[7] 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.,[8] it becomes a blockbuster and commercial success.

Plots and style

Panicker's dialogue in Lelam is based on a real-life character while the jingoistic and valorised protagonists in Commissioner (1994) and The King (1995) are considered timeless classics for Malayalam cinema.[9]

Filmography

As an actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992ThalastaanamPolitician
1993Sthalathe Pradhana PayyansPolitician
EkalavyanAirport passenger
MafiaExcise/Home Minister Venkidappa
1994CommissionerJournalist
2014PakidaNandakumar
Ohm Shanthi OshaanaDr. Mathew Devasya
Money RatnamIsaac
MunnariyippuMohan Das
NjaanKuttysankaran
CousinsDoctorCameo
2015Picket 43C.O Vinay Chandran
AaduThomas Paappan & Varkey Pappan
Ennum EppozhumCEO of GM Builders
Ayal NjanallaK.P.K. Menon
HaramIsha's Father
LohamAlbert Alex
PremamDavid Kalapparambath, George's fatherCameo
Acha DhinHome minister Thomas Chacko
Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumJury committee member
Jamna PyariSridharan
Rajamma @ YahooMayor Abraham Pothen
Punchirikku ParasparamPerson reading newspapershort film
AnarkaliPappan
CharliePanicker DoctorGuest appearance
2016PavadaPaul Scaria
Jacobinte SwargarajyamJacob
Valleem Thetti Pulleem ThettiMadhavan
Pa VaThampuran Johnny
Mohavalayam
Angane Thanne Nethave Anchettannam PinnaleZachariya
Welcome to Central JailGopinath
Oru Muthassi GadhaDr. Mathew / Mathai
OppamPadmakumar P, IPS officer
Thoppil JoppanFr. James Anakattil
AanandamDiya's fatherCameo
Campus DiaryKoya Saahib
Ore MukhamPrakashan
2017Georgettan's PooramFr. Mathews Vadakkan
KadamkathaSreekumar
Samarpanam
GeminiDr. Gokul
AlamaraPavithran
1971: Beyond BordersJanardanan
SakhavuKuriyachanCameo
GodhaCaptain
ClintWriter V K Nambiar
Puthan PanamIqbal RowtherCameo
RamaleelaV. G. Madhavan
Viswasapoorvam MansoorKalathil Haji
Oru CinemakkaranFr. Mathew
Role ModelsGautham's father
VillainCommissioner Sreenivasan
SoloThomas ZachariahSegment: World of Trilok
MasterpieceEdward LivingstoneCameo
2018Kadha Paranja Kadha
CaptainCoach Jafer
AamiS. K. Nair
KrishnamDr. Sunil
Vallikkudilile VellakkaranChief Guest
Kinar
Abrahaminte SanthathikalSP Shahul Hameed
Kuttanadan MarpappaJohn's fatherPhoto presence
NaamFr. James Kottayil
BhayanakamPostman – disabled in World War I
DramaKunjachan
Ente Ummante PeruMohammed Hydarali MehfilPhoto appearance and voice
2019Vijay Superum PournamiyumVenugopal
Kodathi Samaksham Balan VakeelDGP K. E. Eappan
MargamkaliUrmila's father
Sakalakalashala
ThelivuRamesh Kumar
Roudram 2018Narayanan
Kalikoottukkar
PengalilaKoshy Mathew
AthiranJayanarayana Varma
Oru Yamandan PremakadhaAdvocate John Kombanayil
Ningal Camera Nireekshanathinlannu
Aniyan Kunjinum Thannalayathu
Mohabbathin KunjabdullaThangal
SachinRamachandran
Love Action DramaSwathi's father
Ulta
ThakkolClement
2020Kalamandalam HyderaliKalamandalam Hyderali
ForensicRetd. SP Abdul Wahab IPS
2021BackpackersRawther
MuddyMaster of Hero[10]
KaavalAntony
2022NaaradanGovinda Menon
CBI 5: The BrainBalagopal, DYSP, C.B.I.
KoomanSomasekharan, CI
GoldOther bride's father
2023KolaambiAbdul Kader[11]
Iru[12]
Section 306 IPC[13]
Otta[14]
Thaal[15]
Bullet Diaries [16]
Hunt †TBA[17]

Other works

Year Title Director Writer Notes
1990Dr. PasupathyYes
1991Aakasha Kottayile SultanYes
1992ThalastaanamYes
1993Sthalathe Pradhana PayyansYes
EkalavyanYes
MafiaYes
1994CommissionerYes
1995The KingYes
1997LelamYes
1999PathramYes
2001PrajaYes
DubaiYes
2005Bharatchandran IPSYesYes
2008RoudramYesYes
2012The King & the CommissionerYes
TBALelam 2Yes[18]
TBAUntitled Jeethu Joseph filmYes[19]

Distribution

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

Television

Year Title Channel Role Notes
2017–2018AniyaraSurya TVHost
2019Nammal Thammil 2AsianetHost
2019–2020JananayakanAmrita TVJudge
2020Crime PatrolKairali TVHost
2020-2021IndulekhaSurya TVRamanadha MenonTV Serial
2021VotographyKairali TVCo-Host with John Brittas
2022NaatupakshamSurya TVHost
2023MasterpeaceDisney+ HotstarChandichanWeb series

Awards and nominations

Won
Nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Renji Panicker: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Renji Panicker's next flick". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008.
  3. ↑ "Fire Brand @25" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Archived 1 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Renji Panicker busy scripting two mammoth projects". 2 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Renji Panicker – Movies, biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Day of the action heroes. The Hindu (22 March 2012). Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Fire Brand @25 – Page 3. mangalam.com.
  10. ↑ "Malayalam action thriller Muddy to release on December 10". The New Indian Express. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Nithya Menen-starrer Kolaambi's trailer is here". Cinema Express. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Othello adaptation Iru is a tale of caste politics". Cinema Express. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Renji Panicker and Shanthi Krishna to play lead roles in 'Section 306 IPC'". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Otta trailer: Resul Pookutty's star-studded directorial debut promises some intense drama". Cinema Express. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Anson Paul's 'Thaal' trailer unveils gripping psychological thriller inspired by real events". The Times of India. 7 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Dhyan Sreenivasan and Prayaga Martin join Santosh Mandoor-directed Bullet Diaries". The New Indian Express. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Bhavana Menon teams up with Kaapa director Shaji Kailas for a thriller titled Hunt". India Today. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ↑ George, Anjana. "Suresh Gopi to play 'Chackochi' and Gokul Suresh 'Kochu Chackochi' in Lelam 2". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Renji Panicker to team up with Jeethu Joseph for his next film". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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