Description:
CHANGARAMKANDITHAZHAKUNI, Changaram Kanditha Zacharia Kunnu, (born March 2, 1938, Changaram, Kerala, India), Indian film and stage actor, who is noted for his versatility and for his expressive, naturalistic performances. Changaram Kanditha Zacharia Kunnu was born on March 2, 1938, in Changaram, a small village in the southern state of Kerala. He was the eldest of five children of Zacharia Kunnu and Parvathy Amma. He attended a local school and then joined the Kerala State Theatre Department, where he studied acting under the guidance of K. G. George. Kunnu made his acting debut in the early 1960s in Malayalam films. He quickly gained a reputation for his naturalistic and expressive performances, and he soon became one of the most popular actors in Kerala. In 1967 he made his first appearance in a Tamil film, and he subsequently appeared in several Tamil and Telugu films. He also appeared in a few Hindi films, and he has appeared in several plays and television dramas in both Hindi and Malayalam. Kunnu made his first appearance on the Indian stage in 1967. He has since appeared in many plays and television dramas, both in Hindi and Malayalam. He has also appeared in several films, most notably the Tamil film Thalapathi (1981), the Telugu film Nuvvu Naaku Nachavu (1984), and the Hindi film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Kunnu was awarded the Padma Shri (honorific civilian award) in 2003.
