Lal

Biography:

M. P. Michael, known by his stage name Lal, is an accomplished Indian actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and distributor, primarily active in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries, with some appearances in Telugu films. Lal has received numerous awards throughout his career, including a National Film Award – Special Mention for his acting in 2012. He’s also won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor (in 2008 and 2013) and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam in 2008. Additionally, he is the owner of Lal Media Arts, a post-production studio.

Lal was born as Michael to M. A. Paul and Philomina and attended St. Augustine’s High School in Ernakulam. His brother, Alex Paul, is a well-known music composer in the Malayalam film industry, and his son, Jean, is a director in the same field. Lal’s younger sister, Neena’s son, Balu Varghese, is an actor in Malayalam films. His career started as a mimicry artist at Kalabhavan, where he teamed up with his childhood friend Siddique, forming the Siddique-Lal duo, known for making several successful films.

Initially, Siddique-Lal’s productions didn’t rely on big stars like Mohanlal or Mammootty, but they later changed their approach and produced hits like “Vietnam Colony” (1992) with Mohanlal. They collaborated again for “Kabooliwala” (1994). Subsequently, Lal transitioned into producing films, starting with Siddique-directed “Hitler,” starring Mammootty. Lal’s acting debut was as a villain in “Kaliyattam,” a Jayaraj-directed film inspired by Othello.

In 2009, Lal returned to directing with the successful sequel “2 Harihar Nagar,” following his acting career resurgence. He earned a National Film Award – Special Mention for his performance in “Ozhimuri” in 2012. He also won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor for his roles in “Thalappavu” (2008), “Ayaal” (2013), and “Zachariayude Garbhinikal” (2013).

In recent years, Lal has appeared in notable films such as “Sulthan” (2021) and expressed admiration for Mari Selvaraj’s work in “Karnan” (2021). Despite having a somewhat one-dimensional role in “Taanakkaran” (2022), his performance left a significant impact.

Lal is married to Nancy and has two children, a son named Jean Paul Lal, who is also a film director, and a daughter named Monica Lal.