Kalabhavan Mani
Mani in 2010
Born	(1971-01-01)1 January 1971 Chalakudy,Kerala, India
Died	6 March 2016(2016-03-06) (aged 45) Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupations	Film actor singer
Years active	1995–2016
Spouse	Nimmi Mani ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	1
Relatives	RLV Ramakrishnan (Brother)

Kunnisseri Veettil Raman Mani (1 January 1971 – 6 March 2016), better known by his stage nameKalabhavan Mani, was an Indian actor and singer. Mani started his career as amimic with theKalabhavancomedy troupe. He had starred in over 250 films, includingMalayalam,Tamil,Kannada, andTelugu films, and was renowned for his humorous characters and villain roles.

Mani wonNational Film Award – Special Jury Award andKerala State Film Awards for his performance as Ramu inVasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999).^[1][2] He was the first actor from kerala who won theNational Film Award - Special Jury Award in the history of Malayalam film industry.

Kalabhavan Mani was born as Kunnisseri Veettil Raman Mani inKerala^[3] to Chenathunad Kunnisseri Veettil Raman and Ammini atChalakudy,Thrissur district on New Year's Day in 1971. He had an elder brother, Velayudan (deceased),^[4] younger brother, R. L. V. Ramakrishnan (dancer) and four sisters, Thankamani, Leela, Santha and Ammini Jr. He studied at GLPS East School Chalakudy till 4th grade and Government Boys School, Chalakudy till 10th grade.^[5]

Mani married Nimmy on 22 September 1999 and has a daughter named Sreelakshmi, born in 2000. He was once anautorickshaw driver fromChalakudy.^[6] His brother, R. L. V. Ramakrishnan acted inBamboo Boys in a cameo role, starring alongsideCochin Haneefa,Harisree Ashokan andSalim Kumar.^[7]

He started his career as amimic with the drama groupKalabhavan.^[8] His film debut was as a junior artist inVijayakanthCaptain Prabhakaran. He started his acting career in theMalayalam filmAksharam as anauto rickshaw driver. He got his first major breakthrough with theLohithadas movieSallapam (1996), which was a hit.^[9] After this, he acted in several movies in the comedy roles. He did some notable roles in movies such asDilliwala Rajakumaran,Manthra Mothiram, Gajaraja Manthram,Katha Nayakan,Mayaponman andKottappurathe Koottukudumbam. Mani'scomic role asMonayi in the 1998 movieSummer in Bethlehem was appreciated among the audience. After portraying several comic characters, his true potential to do thecharacter roles was revealed in the filmVasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. He did the role of a blind singer in it which earned him theSpecial Jury Award at bothNational Film Awards andKerala State Film Awards.^[10] These awards helped Mani to do the character roles and villain roles in several movies while also doing comedy roles in numerous films. InVakkalathu Narayanankutty (2001), he played the villain role. However his performance as villain was first noted in the movieRakshasa Rajavu (2001), where he played the role of a crooked corrupt politician calledGunasekharan.The Guard is unique film as it has only Mani as a star cast in it. His performance as a poor eccentric person calledKuttan inKarumadikuttan received high appreciation.^[11] Mani returned to his unique comical role with theJayaram starrerOne man show. Mani was praised for his performance inValkannadi (2002). The revenge drama had Mani in the role ofAppunni, a blacksmith with the history of mental illness. He was also noted for his performance in the character role inMalayali Mamanu Vanakkam. After the comedy moviesKuberan andBamboo Boys, both of them released in 2002, Mani almost shifted his complete focus on doing character and villain roles. Mani's notable movies in 2003 includeVellithira,Balettan,Pattalam andWar and Love.^[12] He once again returned to do the comedy role with the 2004Priyadarshanscrewball comedy movieVettam, which is probabily his last notable movie in a complete comic role. He also had a small appearance inMagic Lamp. Mani's performance asChemban Gurukkal, the blind master martial artist, inAnanthabhadram (2005) received high appreciation. InBen Johnson, he played the role of an action hero for the first time. It was one of the highest-grossing movies in 2005.His villain Role as komalan in the movie pouran(2005) also noted.^[13] The success of Ben Johnson saw Mani playing the similar hero roles in movies such asLokanathan IAS,Chacko Randaaman,Kisan,Payum Puli,Red Salute etc. He got a lot of praise for his performance as the villain inChotta Mumbai (2007). In the movie, Mani played the character calledNateshan, which is considered one of the biggest villain characters in Malayalam.^[14][15] Mani played the lead role in the family dramaAayirathil Oruvan (2009), which was critically acclaimed In 2010, Mani acted in several films in the lead roles such asOrange,Pulliman,Black Stallion andCanvas. However, most of these were a huge failure at box office. In 2012, he acted in the multi-starrer crime drama filmBachelor Party. His performance asLooyi Papan inAmen (2013) was acclaimed by both the critics and audience.^[16] Mani's last Malayalam movie isPoyi Maranju Parayathe, which was released in 2016 after his death.

He grabbed everyone's attention in theTamil film industry as the villain in the movieGemini (2002), which featuredVikram in the lead role.^[17] He acted in more than 30 Tamil films along with numerousKannada andTelugu films. His last Tamil film isPudhusa Naan Poranthen released in 2016.

Along with his acting career, Mani established a parallel industry ofNadan Pattu (folk songs), by selling a record number of releases. His first music album wasKannimanga Prayathil. Most of his songs were written and composed byArumugan Venkidangu.^[18] He also released several religious songs andMappila Pattukal.

Mani is well known for providing humanitarian assistance to people in need.^[19] He was approached and was offered a seat in the2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election byLDF. He had openly told that he was a Leftist and used to Campaign for CPI(M) and left parties during elections.^[20] Mani is known for doing a lot of charity work for the poor people. Reportedly, on an average day, around 20 people from less privileged backgrounds used to come to visit him at his residence. As a fund-raiser and performer, he also had contributed money to the local festivals of the religious organisations and provided funds to the schools in his village.^[21][22]

Kalabhavan Mani died at 7:15 pm on 6 March 2016, aged 45. The day before, he was admitted toAmrita Hospital, Kochi, withhaematemesis (vomiting of blood) and was in theICU.^[23][24] The police registered a case asManner of death due to the presence of excessiveMethanol (a toxic chemical found in illicitliquor,Arrack) withParacetamol in Kalabhavan Mani's body.^[25]

On 8 March 2016, based on the initialautopsy report and statements of witnesses, the police said that seriousalcoholic fatty liver illness along withalcohol consumption may have caused his death and it might have been a suicide attempt. Four months prior to his death, doctors had categorically warned him against drinking alcohol and he was counselled forsevere depression. However, Mani in his phase of depression and informed of severe liver damage conditions, ignored the doctors' warnings and continued with alcoholism. Even on the day before he died, he was allegedly reported consuming alcohol (beer) with friends in theouthouse of his house.^[26][27]

His unexpected death led to a case by his friends and family which has been filed for investigation throughKochi City Police.^[28] On 18 March 2016, based on theforensic test from the Regional Chemical Examiner's Laboratory, death cause was identified with high probability a highly poisonous chemical,Chlorpyrifos—usually used ininsecticides, which is banned in many countries for residential use, it is considered a hazardous substance for general ecology. Presence of chlorpyrifos along with methyl and ethyl alcohol contents were found excessively in the test samples. The report suggests that Mani might have consumed the poison knowingly or unknowingly over the days before his death. Therefore, theGovernment of Kerala has ordered a comprehensive probe in the death of Mani. The police is rounding the case through whom Mani could have accessed this poisonous concoction for substance abuse. Under RLV Ramakrishnan's suspicion Mani's three close friends have been taken into custody for questioning to rule out activities of vested interest.^{[29][30][31][32]} On 11 June 2016, based on the recommendation of the state DGP, the Government of Kerala has decided the case to be investigated byCBI.^[33] In May 2017 CBI took over the case and submitted FIR in which it was stated that the death of Kalabhavan Mani was due to unusual reasons.^[34]

His sudden demise led to emotional reactions from his fans and many of his co-stars in theMalayalam Film Industry along with the rest of theSouth Indian Film Industry. The Malayalam film fraternity and thousands of fans of late actor Kalabhavan Mani paid homage to the versatile artiste during a memorial service on 13 March 2016, at Carmel Higher Secondary School in Chalakudy organised by well-wishers. Tributes were celebrated through the media with 2–3 hours programme special. Mani was cremated with full state honours at his home premises on 7 March. The shopkeepers of Chalakudy paid homage to Mani by closing their shops on the same day.

Chalakkudikkaran Changathi is a 2018 Malayalam biopic film directed byVinayan based on the life of Kalabhavan Mani.^[35]

In an interview with journalistJohn Brittas, Mani stated that the State Government Award could easily have been bought off.^[36]

On 14 May 2013, Mani has been accused ofassaulting two forest officials during a routine inspection atAthirappilly. However, those who had claimed to be travelling with Mani in the same car, had filed a complaint against the forest officials for abusing them. The police have registered cases against both Mani and the injured forest officials.^[37][38] Later, Mani was arrested and charged when he surrendered to the police. He was granted bail by theHigh Court of Kerala with conditions on it.^[39] Mani and his friends had been on a trip to the tourist place when forest officials intervened and said they wanted to search his vehicle. It was alleged that the officials started having an argument with Mani, allegedly hit the actor, verbally assaulted his Other Backward Class caste and stated Kalabhavan Mani was a "Dalit" and misbehaved with his friends' wives on the car.T. P. Senkumar of then Kerala Police ADGP had said that Mani was unnecessarily harassed by the officials and the actual reason behind the assault case against Mani was that he belonged to a lower caste and that discrimination against the ordinary and lower class exists in theKerala Police force.^[40] However, the High Court criticised ADGP regarding the statement.^[41] On the other hand, the officials had alleged that Mani was in adrunk condition and also a main accused in two other assault cases.^[42] During an interview at Kairali channel, Mani said thatjealousy had caused the officials registering the false case against him and the police officer who beat him had a criminal background of four charges.^[43]

National Film Awards

• 1999 –Special Jury Award –Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1999 –Special Jury Award –Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum

Filmfare Awards

• 2002 –Best Villain (Tamil) –Gemini

Asianet Film Awards

• 1999 –Best Actor Award –Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum
• 2007 –Best Actor in a Villain Role –Chotta Mumbai

Vanitha awards

• 2008 – Vanitha Chandrika Award for Best Actor in Villain Role–Chotta Mumbai

Jaihind TV awards

• 2010 – Special Jury Award

Other awards

• 2014 Bharat Gopi Foundation Award^[44]

• Sammanam (1995)
• Kottaram Veettile Apputtan (1998)
• Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999)
• Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum (1999)
• O Priye (2000)
• Achaneyanishttam (2001)
• Akasthile Paravakal (2001)
• The Guard (2001)
• Karumadikkuttan (2001)
• Bamboo Boys (2002)
• Kanmashi (2002)
• Vaalkannadi (2002)
• Kusruthy Kannan (2003)
• Kanninum Kannadiykkum (2004)
• Kazhcha (2004)
• Malsaram (2004)
• Ananthabhadram (2005)
• Ben Johnson (2005)
• Chacko Randaaman (2006)
• Kissan (2006)
• Red Salute (2006)
• Abraham Lincoln (2007)
• Evan (2007)
• Chakorandaman (2006)
• Indrajith (2006)
• Aandavan (2007)
• Paayum Puli (2007)
• Kabadi Kabadi (2008)
• Twenty Twenty (2010)

• MLA Mani Pathaam Classum Gusthiyum (2012)

• Manimelam as host (Kairali TV)
• GajarajanGuruvayur Keshavan (Surya TV)
• Meera (Asianet)
• Vinodsala (Doordarshan)
• Chiri Arangu (Doordarshan)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toKalabhavan Mani.

• Kalabhavan Mani atIMDb
• http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Kalabhavan%20Mani&limit=186

• 1971 births
• 2016 deaths
• Indian male film actors
• Male actors from Thrissur
• People from Chalakudy
• Actors from Thrissur district
• Kerala State Film Award winners
• Male actors in Malayalam cinema
• International Tamil Film Award winners
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Malayalam playback singers
• Singers from Thrissur
• 20th-century Indian singers
• 21st-century Indian singers
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award winners
• Film musicians from Kerala
• 20th-century Indian male singers
• 21st-century Indian male singers
• Male actors from Kerala
• Male actors in Malayalam television
• Artists from Kerala

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