Kunchan

Kunchan is a popular actor of Malayalam films who plays comedy roles mostly and he is active in this field for the last 45 years.
He was born as ‘Mohan Das’ at Fort Kochi on 14th November 1952 and had his schooling at Mattancherry.He was humorous from childhood itself and amused his friends with pranks always.

He tried for roles in films from late 60’s and appeared in one or two films in the late 60’s  which were not noticed.He became a known actor with the film ‘Rest House’which was released in the year 1970.His name Mohan Das was changed to ‘Kunchan’by the great doyen Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair.Thikkurissi being impressed by Mohan Das’s comedy acting  skill gave him the name of ‘Kunchan Nambiar’ the great humorous satirist  poet of Kerala.

In the early years of his career he had to struggle in  Chennai wandering without enough money and at that period he was staying there with his close friends  actor Sudheer and director Bharathan.Director Bharathan was art director at that period.Soon Sudheer rose to stardom and became a hero actor and Bharathan became a well known film director.Kunchan received more roles and his situaton also improved.Kunchan never asked help from  Sudheer or Bharathan for roles.In fact Bharathan did not give Kunchan any role in his films when he became a popular director.This has been told by Kunchan himself in an interview with a Malayalam magazine.

Another incident he said was that about director Kunchacko.Kunchan was given a role in an  Udaya Studio’s film and many of the actors were staying at the Studio Complex itself.In the evenings to entertain others Kunchan used to  perform  comedy and sometimes used to imitate others.One day he imitated Producer/director Kunchackoand however the news reached his ears.Kunchacko did not take that mimicry  as silly and was not ready to tolerate it but  removed Kunchan from that film and never gave him role again.

During the early 70’s Kunchan had a thin figure and his body structure along with the mannerisms were quite enough to make people laugh.He acted in many black and white comedy hits of those period mostly along with Adoor Bhasi and Bahadur.He was a noted presence in hits like ‘Lanka Dahanam,Sambhavami Yuge Yuge,Anjathavasam,Panchavadi,Panchathanthram’ etc.
In the comedy entertainer ‘Chattambi Kalyani’ he acted as ‘Chotta Sulthan’.This was the debut film of Jagathy Sreekumar and he acted as  the main comedy character.
In the film ‘Aaranya Kantam‘ he acted as the assistant of an Ayurvedic Physician (Sankaradi) and follows him always shaking a pot of medicine  which aroused much laughter.

In the film ‘Air Hostess‘ as an Airline passenger returning from Gulf he creates comedy scene with  an automatic umbrella  causing nuisance to others on board.
In the super hit film ‘Angadi’ which boosted the image of Jayan he acted in it along with Kuthiravattam Pappu and others.
He  acted in the film ‘Mandanmar Londanil’ directed by Sathyan Anthikkad as the postman Prabhakaran.
In the film ‘Ramji Rao Speaking‘ he creates nice comedy scenes as the male servant of Urumees Thampan (Devan).Kunchan clearing some doubts to the servant maid about the kidnapping of the daughter of Urumees Yjampan  created roaring laughter in cinema houses.
In the film ‘His Highness Abdulla‘ he acted as the character Balaraman.

In the film ‘Aye Auto‘ directed by Venu Nagavally he acted along with Mohanlal,Rekha,Sreenivasan,Maniyan Pillai Raju,Ganesh Kumar etc as the character Ramanan who slips himself into trouble by  teasing the Police Inspector (Sreenivasan).

In the film ‘Kottayam Kunjachan‘ he acted along with Mammootty,K.P.A.C.Lalitha,Ranjini,Innocent etc as the stylish freak who is coming with a marriage proposal but was getting  insulted by Kunjachan (Mammootty).
In the Mohanlal film ‘Gandharvam’ he portrayed the role as  ‘Mammunju’.
Kunchan acted in the role as ‘Thommichan’ in the super hit comedy film ‘Punjabi House’ along with Dileep,Harisree Asokan,Cochin Haneefa etc.
In the comedy film ‘Ee Parakkum Thalika‘  also he  acted along with Dileep,Harisree Asokan,Cochin Haneefa etc.
In the action thriller film ‘Christian Brothers‘ (2012) Kunchan portrayed Minister’s driver.
In the film ‘How Old Are You‘ he acted as Narayanan who is Rajeev’s(Kunchacko Boban) father.
In 2010 Kunchan acted in Kamal Hassan’s Tamil film ‘Manmadhan Ambu’.
Kunchan married Sobha who runs a beauty parlor at Ernakulam and the couple have two daughters.
Selected Filmography
Rest House

Lanka Dahanam
Sambhavami Yuge Yuge
Anjathavasam
Chenda
Panchavadi
PanchathanthramKalyana Pantha;
Prayanam
Criminals
Kottaram Vikkanundu
Aranya Kantam
Cheenavala
Amma
Ajayanum Vijayanum
ShankupushpamAnugraham
Ormakal Marikkumo
Aadyapatam
Padmatheertham
Kathirunna Nimisham
Karimbana
Ivar
AngadiAir Hostess
Kolilakkam
Thusharam
Thadavara
Ayudham
Kakka
Rugma
Bhookambam
Engane Nee Marakkum
Sreekrishna Parunthu
Pavam Poornima
NayakanYathra
Avanazhi
Ithile Iniyum Varoo
Tajavinte Makan
Vellanakalude Nadu
Nair Saab
Kottayam Kunjachan
Ramji Rao Speaking
His Highness Abdulla
Aye Auto
Dr.Pasupathi
Ganamela
Ulladakkam
Inspector Balram
Kamaladalam
Anaswaram
Vietnam Colony
Valsalyam
Gandharvam
The KingLelam
Punjabi House
The Truth
Ee Parakkum Thalika
Pothen Vava
Twenty 20
Da Thadiya
Ustad Hotel
Christian Brothers
Gangster