T. G. Ravi

T. G. Ravi
ടി.ജി. രവി
Born
Ravindranathan

(1944-05-16) 16 May 1944 (age 80)
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1970–present
Spouse
Dr. V. K. Subhadra
(m. 1972; died 2011)
Children2 (incl. Sreejith Ravi)
Parents
  • T. R. Govindan Ezhuthachan
  • Kalyani
AwardsKerala State Film Awards

T. G. Ravindranathan (born 16 May 1944), popularly known as T. G. Ravi, is an Indian actor, mainly noted for his roles as a villain in Malayalam cinema.[1] He along with Balan K. Nair played most of the negative roles in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s and 1980s. Known for his body language and style of dialogue delivery, he played some of the biggest villain roles in Malayalam cinema during that period.[2]

Early life and family

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T.G. Ravi was born on 16 May 1944, in an, Ezhuthachan family in Moorkanikkara village, Thrissur, in present-day Kerala, India. After completion of pre-degree from St. Thomas College, Thrissur, he chose to pursue a career in engineering and undertook his degree course through University of Kerala in Government Engineering College, Thrissur. He graduated in mechanical engineering in 1969. Apart from involving in theatre arts, he also represented the University of Kerala in Football and Hockey. He was an artist at The All India Radio where he met Thikkodiyan, who was instrumental in introducing him to the silver screen.

Acting career

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Ravi

Ravi began acting in the plays put up by the young men in his village, Moorkkanikkara, in Thrissur district. He also started acting in professional drama. Radio plays were popular in those days. Thikkodiyan introduced Ravi to Aravindan, a highly acclaimed Malayalam Director, which fetched him his first role in Uttarayanam.

But he didn't get any offers to act after that, so he produced a film himself, Paadasaram, in which he was, predictably, the hero. It flopped at the box office, but the next two films he produced, Chora Chuvanna Chora and Chakara, did better. The role of Shaji in Chakara opposite Jayan established him as a villain.

Among those who noticed him was director Bharathan. He cast Ravi in the role of Kunjippalu in Parankimala. The villain who spoke in the Thrissur dialect proved to be the turning point in his career. After Parankimala, as Ravi starred in many hits, including Ee Nadu, Iniyenkilum, Pathamudayam, 1921, NH 47, and Pavam Krooran.

He quit acting when he was at his peak, as one of the dreaded villains of Malayalam cinema in the late 1980s. T. G. Ravi is now active again as an actor, after a break. He restarted his career with Sibi Malayil's venture Amrutham in 2005, and then made noted performances in Pakal, Cycle, Romans, Jacobinte Swargarajyam, Georgettans Pooram, Red Wine, and The Priest.[3]

Personal life

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He is a noted industrialist and has been instrumental in developing Thrissur as a major base for the rubber industries. He is the Managing Director of Suntec Tyres Limited. He has also served as the president of The Cochin Devaswom Board which controls the affairs of over 400 temples in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts.[4]

He was married to (late) Dr. V. K. Subhadra, a retired government servant. He has two children: Ranjith, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and London Business School and Sreejith Ravi, Malayalm film actor. Seema and Sajitha are his daughters-in-law. Milit, Rijrashwa, Mitul and Ritunjay are his grandsons and Minal is his granddaughter.[5]

T. G. Ravi was the president of All Kerala Ezhuthachan Samajam.[6]

Filmography

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As an actor

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1970s

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 Uttarayanam Govindan
1978 Paadasaram Ravi
Bhrashtu

1980s

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Chaakara Shaji
Chora Chuvanna Chora Kumaran
1981 Parankimala Kunjippalu
Vayal Vaasu
Arayannam Captain Rajan
Kodumudikal Das
Chatta Manikyan
Kadathu Kala Dhamodharan
Ahimsa
Attimari Ram Singh/Venu
Greeshma Jwala Kariyachan
1982 Idiyum Minnalum
Ee Nadu Karunakaran
Koritharicha Naal Ravi
Mattuvin Chattangale
Innallenkil Naale Adv. Mathew Abraham
Jambulingam Pazhani
Amrutha Geetham Gopalan
Aakrosham Bhadran
Balloon
Post Mortem Chackochan
1983 Kolakomban Velu
Aadhipathyam Rajendran
Deepaaradhana Menon
Iniyengilum Madhavan
Passport Raghavan
Oru Mukham Pala Mukham
Rugma Chacko
Aattakkalaasham Rappayi
Sandhya Mayangum Neram Ramu
Mortuary Public Prosecutor
Mahaabali
1984 Vikatakavi Krishnankutty/ K. K. Nair
Thirakkil Alppa Samayam
Makale Mappu Tharu
Vetta
Karimbu
Oru Thettinde Kadha
Kurishuyudham Issac John
Aagraham
NH47 Sudhakara Kurup
Unaroo
Ivide Ingane Chandrasekharan
Paavam Krooran Dhamodharan
Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha Katha Shanku
Poomadhathe Pennu Kochaniyan
Raajavembaala
Nethavu
Kodathi Divakaran
Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol
1985 Nerariyum Nerathu Keshavankutty
Oru Kochu Karyam
Choodatha Pookal Warrier
Sannaham Kaimal
Uyirthezhunnelppu
Akkacheyude Kunjuvava
Scene No. 7 Sankaran
Saandham Bheekaram
Angadikkappurathu Alex
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Nerum
Ee Lokam Evide Kure Manushyar Keshavan
Ithu Nalla Thamasha Ouseph Muthalali
Nulli Novikkathe
Jeevante Jeevan Police officer
Snehicha Kuttathinu Kuttan Nair
Ezhu Muthal Onpathu Vare
Nayakan Murugan
Pathamudayam Lion C. Menon
Uyarum Njan Nadake Kunjan
Manya Mahajanangale Raghavan
Makan Ente Makan Madhavan Nair
1986 Ardha Raathri
Shobhraj Raheem
Onnu Randu Moonnu
Atham Chithira Chothy Fernandez
Ente Shabdham Maheshwaran Thampi
Annoru Ravil
Ente Sonia
Padayani Vikraman Nair
Karinagam
Vartha Manikyam Kumar
Chilambu Shankunni
1987 Vamban Dominic
Theekattu Ramadas
Kottum Kuravayum
Naalkavala Hussain Sahib
Neeyallengil Njan Das Mavunkal
Jungle Boy Forest Officer
P.C. 369 H.C. Cheenkanni Vasu Kurup
Kurukkan Rajavayi
Ithrayum Kaalam Paili
1988 Rahsyam Parama Rahasyam Sudhakaran
Bheekaran Vishwam
Agnichirakulla Thumbi
Onnum Onnum Pathinonnu
Anuragi Samu's Appachan
Abkari Sreekandan
1921 Variam Kunnath Kunhammad Haji
1989 Aval Oru Sindhu
Prabhaatham Chuvanna Theruvil
Kodungallur Bhagavathy

1990s

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Niyamam Enthucheyyum Sathyapal
1992 Sadayam Kanaran
1993 Bhoomi Geetham
Dhruvam Kasi
1994 Avan Ananthapadmanaabhan
1997 V. I. P. Shivadasan

2000s

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Amrutham Divakaran
2005 Lokanathan IAS Pappan
2006 Vaasthavam Gopinathan Unnithan
Rasathanthram Retd Colonel Santhosh Kumar
Achanurangatha Veedu
Oruvan Vilagannnur Ashan
Karutha Pakshikal Muthuvannan
Pakal Joseph
Chandranilekkoru Vazhi
Ashwaroodan Kanara Panikkar
Prajapathi Velappan Mooshari
2007 Paradesi
Ali Bhai Narayanan
Abraham & Lincoln Minister Kottara Mathen
Ottakkayyan Kallathokku Kanaran
Sketch
2008 Anamika
Cycle
Mayabazar Jose
Atayalangal Raman Namboothiri
Chandranilekkoru Vazhi Naxalite Vijayan
Positive
2009 Jaanaki
Chattambinadu
Winter Stalin
Shudharil Shudhan Patta Krishnan

2010s

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Pranchiyettan & the Saint Uthuppu
Valiyangadi Divakaran
2011 Pakida Pakida Panthrandu
Cocoon
Naale
Maharaja Talkies
2012 Akasathinte Niram
Thiruvambadi Thamban Xavier
22 Female Kottayam Ravi
2013 Aattakatha
Isaac Newton S/O Philipose Kochouseph
Romans Pappichayan
Lucky Star Bhaskaran
Celluloid Older Sundararaj
Lokpal Sathyanweshi Mukundan Menon
Red Wine Narayanan
Buddy Chandikunju
Punyalan Agarbattis Achuthan Maash
2014 Gangster Hajikka
Varsha Manavaalan Peter
Iyobinte Pusthakam Narrator/An Old Comrade
2015 Utopiayile Rajavu
Ayal Njanalla Chandrammama
Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam Sudhi's father
2016 Jacobinte Swargarajyam Jacob's car driver
2017 Georgettan's Pooram Joseph "Josephettan"
Thrissivaperoor Kliptham Kozhikkaran Cheru
2018 Janaki
2019 Porinju Mariam Jose Anthony
Thrissur Pooram Vettoly Balan

2020s

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Kalamandalam Hyderali Moidooty [7]
Changampuzha Park Devassikutty Mash Short film
2021 Mohan Kumar Fans Ravi
The Priest Dr. Mathews
2022 Bheeshma Parvam Simon Pappan
Pada Adv. Jayapalan
Kooman Forest Ranger (Rtd.)
Malikappuram Pattada
Aanaparambile World Cup
2023 Thrishanku Sethu's grandfather
Jaladhara Pumpset Since 1962 Adv. Ravi [8]
Theeppori Benny Pappettan
Bhagavan Dasante Ramrajyam [9]
Avakasikal
2024 Raastha

As producer

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  1. Padasaram (1979)
  2. Chora Chuvanna Chora (1980)
  3. Chaakara (1980)

Accolades

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References

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  1. ^ "ക്രൂരനല്ല, ഒരു പാവം കലാകാരന്‍, Interview - Mathrubhumi Movies". www.mathrubhumi.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  2. ^ "5 Evergreen Villians of Malayalam Cinema". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Unknown".[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "The Hindu". Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Bollywood Cinema News | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Bollywood Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Bollywood". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Ezhuthachan opposed social evils: Vysakhan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 3 January 2005. Archived from the original on 17 January 2005.
  7. ^ Shrijith, Sajin (7 January 2020). "An unexpected debut: Renji Panickar's son essays role of Kalamandalam Hyderali". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  8. ^ "'Jaladhara Pump Set Since 1962' director Ashish Chinnappa: Movie buffs will get to see Urvashi and Indrans in a throughout comedy entertainer - EXCLUSIVE - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  9. ^ Features, C. E. (22 September 2022). "TG Ravi headlines Bhagavan Dasante Ramarajyam". Cinema Express. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Kerala TV awards announced". The Hindu. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ "'Drishyam' Bags Kerala Film Critics Association Awards". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.
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