Veteran actor Ravikumar Menon, known for his work in several Malayalam and Tamil films, passed away on Friday, April 4, at a private hospital in Chennai. The 71-year-old actor was undergoing treatment for lung cancer. According to reports, his mortal remains will be taken to his residence in Valasaravakkam of Chennai, following which his funeral will be held on April 5.
Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Ravikumar hailed from a film family. His father, KMK Menon, was a film producer, and his mother, Bharathi Menon, was an actor. Ravikumar began his acting career with the Malayalam film Lakshyaprabhu (1968). He made his Tamil debut with K Balachander’s Avargal (1977) alongside Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Sujatha.
Over the years, Ravikumar acted in several films in both Tamil and Malayalam. His most recent film appearances were in Aarattu and CBI 5: The Brain—both released in 2022.
In Tamil, he also made a dent in the television industry. His first stint in television acting was in 1997 through a crime thriller series titled Iyandhira Paravai within the Tamil franchise Marmadesam. He then starred in K Balachander’s Jannal: Marabu Kavithaigal, which was telecasted in Sun TV.
His most famous roles were in Chithi (2000), Selvi (2005), Arasi (2007), Vani Rani (2013), En Iniya Thozhiye (2014), and Chellammay (2009).