Lal (actor)


M. P. Michael, better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director, producer, and distributor, who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in Tamil and Telugu films. Lal has won one National Film Award – Special Mention for acting, two Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam.

Early life

Lal was born as Michael to late M. A. Paul and late Philomina, as their eldest son. He is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Latin Rite Archdiocese of Verapoly, Ernakulam. His father M. A. Paul was a famous tabla player. His brother Alex Paul is a famous music composer in the Malayalam film industry and his son Jean is a movie director in the same industry.

Career

He started his career as a mimicry artist in Kalabhavan, along with his childhood friend Siddique, who would later team up as Siddique-Lal to make many films. Lal and Siddique began their film career working as assistant directors to Fazil in Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu.
After that, both decided to part ways as a director pair and Lal turned producer with the Siddique-directed Mammootty-starrer Hitler. Lal debuted in acting with a villain role as Paniyan in Suresh Gopi-starrer Kaliyattam, directed by Jayaraj. Kaliyattam was a new take on Othello, where Lal played Paniyan, the character standing for Iago. He runs a film post-production company named as Lal Media Arts, Kochi. For his performance in the 2012 film Ozhimuri, he won the National Film Award – Special Mention.

Personal life

Lal is married to Nancy and they have two children—Jean Paul Lal and Monica Lal. Jean Paul is a film director.

Awards

;National Film Awards
;Kerala State Film Awards
;Filmfare Awards South
;Asianet Film Awards

Actor

YearTitleLanguageRoleNotes
2004Engal AnnaTamilSundaralingam / Veerapandi
2005SandakozhiTamilKasi
2006KhatarnakTeluguSmuggler
2006AnnavaramTeluguPuranapool Ganga
2007Before the RainsEnglishRajat
2007MarudhamalaiTamilMaasi
2007Oram PoTamilBigil
2007AalwarTamilPunniyamoorthy
2007Madurai VeeranTamilMayandi
2007DeepavaliTamilChidambaram
2007RameswaramTamilVasanthi's father
2008KaalaiTamilJeevanandham IPS
2009ThoranaiTamilChennai Police Commissioner
2009PisthaTeluguVizag Police Commissioner
2009Anthony Yaar?TamilMichael
2009Azhagar MalaiTamilRathnavelu
2010PorkkalamTamilAslam Bhai
2013Kutti PuliTamilArjunan
2015Chandi VeeranTamilThamarai's father
2018AntonyTamilGeorge
2018Seema RajaTamilKarikkada / Kaathadi Kannan
2018Sandakozhi 2TamilKasiSpecial appearance
2019SaahoHindi
Tamil
Telugu		IbrahimMultilingual film
2020God FatherTamilMarudhu Singam

Director, writer

Producer, distributor

Other crew credits