Acted with Rajni and Kamal in Tamil, co-starred with Prem Nazir, even Jayan; what happened to Ravikumar's stardom?

Actor Ravikumar passed away this morning at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of nearly five decades in the acting field. He began his career in 1968 with the Malayalam film Lakshaprabhu, starring Prem Nazir and directed by P. Bhaskaran. Ravikumar gained popularity as a young actor in the 1970s and 1980s, with notable performances in films like Anupallavi, where the song "En Swaram Poovidum" became a major hit. During his peak years, he acted in numerous films annually, including Ullasayatra (1975) and Surabhi Yamangal (1984). In 1980 alone, he appeared in 18 films.

Ravikumar, born in Thiruvananthapuram, came from a family deeply rooted in the film industry. His father, KMK Menon, was a renowned film producer, while his mother, Bharathi Menon, made her mark as an actor. Ravikumar started his acting journey with the Malayalam film Lakshaprabhu in 1968. Later, he entered the Tamil cinema scene with K. Balachander’s Avargal in 1977, where he shared the screen with legends like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Sujatha.

At a time when Malayalam cinema thrived with stars like Prem Nazir and Madhu, Ravikumar stood out as both a co-star and lead actor. His remarkable performances graced hit films such as Avalude Raavukal, Thacholi Ambu, Padakkuthira, Lisa, Aalmaraattam, Neelathamara, Sarpam, Shakti, and Angadi. Despite his success, Ravikumar later stepped back from acting following his father’s death in 1982 to manage family business responsibilities. He explained in an interview that he shifted focus to Tamil cinema upon returning to acting, as he was living in Chennai at the time.

Ravikumar also made significant contributions to Tamil television, appearing in popular serials for many years. His recent film appearances included Aarattu and CBI 5: The Brain, released three years ago. Over his career, he acted in more than 100 films across Malayalam and Tamil industries.

He passed away at a hospital in Velachery, Chennai at around 9 am today due to lung cancer. His son confirmed the news.