Shankar (actor)

Shanker Panicker is an Indian film actor, TV actor, film director, producer, businessman and social worker who has worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in nearly 200 films and was a leading actor in Malayalam cinema and a lead youth hero in Tamil cinema in the 1980s. Shankar's debut Tamil film, Oru Thalai Ragam, and Malayalam debut, Manjil Virinja Pookkal, completed theatrical runs of 365 and 250 days respectively. He was the most successful romantic hero in Malayalam movies along with Prem Nazir. He starred in nearly 100 films from 1980-1990 as a hero. Later, he became a director and producer, while continuing to act, from 1990 to 2024.

Shankar produced the film "Ezhuthola", which won 4 international film festival awards in 2023 including London International film festival awards, British film festival awards and Tagore international film festival. He also won many awards as an actor and director including a Kerala State film critics award.

Shankar also worked as an international businessman & social worker. He ran a dance academy with his wife in London before 2024. Now he is more active in various social media channels.

Early life
Shankar was born to Thekkeveettil N. K. Panicker and Sulochana in Kechery, Thrissur, Kerala in 1960. His family later moved to Chennai when he was four years old. His father was a senior manager at Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. He has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Indra. He completed the schooling from St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He pursued a Bachelors in History from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Rishikesh. Later, he completed 2 years of acting course at South Indian Film Chamber School of Acting, Chennai.

As an actor
Shankar's first film was with superstar Jayan starred Sharapanjaram in 1979. Shankar auditioned for and was the lead actor of Oru Thalai Ragam. Oru Thalai Ragam not only completed 365 days run in theatres but also became a cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Then Navodaya Studio signed Shankar for their romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal along with newcomers Mohanlal and Poornima Jayaram, directed by Fazil. The success of Manjil Virinja Pookal and films like Kadathu opposite Roja Ramani, Oothikachiya Ponnu with Poornima Jayaram and Ente Mohangal Poovaninju cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films. Simultaneously his Tamil films Sujatha, Koyil Puraa, Mouna Yuddham and Raagam Thedum Pallavi also done okay business.

Success continued in Malayalam with Shanker getting a chance in movies of hit directors like P.G. Viswambharan, Joshiy and I.V. Sasi with movies like Padayottam, Anuragakodathy, Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram, Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Engane Nee Marakkum. Following this success, he decided to concentrate on Malayalam films. His other successful films of 1983 are Mortuary, Hello Madras Girl and Himam. In 1984, Shankar appeared in Ente Kalithozhan, Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla, Muthodumuthu, Poochakkoru Mookkuthi and Itha Innu Muthal. Next year, he was a part of the films Archana Aaradhana, Ambada Njaane!, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram and Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki.

In mid-1980's Shankar began losing his market for doing repetitive roles, so he became a producer to save his career. He directed Sibi Malayil's Chekkaeran Oru Chilla, but the film flopped. His other major films of that year were Naale Njangalude Vivahum, Oppam Oppathinoppam and Sughamo Devi along with Mohanlal. Shankar had fewer Malayalam releases in the late 1980s and his attempt to become a director with Suresh Gopi starrer Rakshakan also did not materialize, so he decided to take a break from films to concentrate on business, although he did guest roles in the films Manathe Kottaram, Gandharvam and Guru.

Shankar staged a comeback as lead hero in the films Sooryavanam (1998), Bhadra, Sundarippravu and The Fire. He also acted in Stalin Sivadas with Mammootty, but all these films failed at the box office. So he moved to television with a successful serial Ithu Manju Pole and continued to perform in serials Swara Raagam and Parasparam. He also won the 2006 Film Critics Television Best Actor Award for his performance in TV serial Chithrashalabham. His last serial Ammakkayi (aired on Surya TV) was a success. As he wanted to concentrate on films, he stopped doing serials and made his debut as a director with Virus, a film on HIV/AIDS, which was censored in 2007.

Shankar later appeared in films like Ividam Swargamanu, Casanovva alongside Mohanlal, Rhythm, Koottukar, Banking Hours 10 to 4, Hide N' Seek, Father's Day, Oomakkuyil Padumbol and Bhoomiyude Avakashikal. In 2013, he was appreciated for his good performance in a comic role in Anoop Menon scripted film Hotel California. His other releases were Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu and Cleopatra, Naku Penda Naku Taka and in 2015, Shankar played the lead role in Vishwasam... Athallae Ellaam along with Shine Tom Chacko directed by Jayaraj Vijay, but the film flopped. In 2018, he starred in Niranjana Pookkal as the hero. He also starred in Bhramam along with Prithviraj Sukumaran in 2021.

As a director
Shankar directed a video film Kaatti in 2006 based on child labour, which won him the best director award from Malayalam Television viewers DRISHYA awards for video film. He made his feature film debut with Virus, an Indo-American co-production urging society not to shun HIV/AIDS-affected people. His first commercial Malayalam directorial venture Keralotsavam 2009 starred Kalabhavan Mani and Vinu Mohan dealt with how three youngsters falling prey to terrorist links. In 2015, he directed Sand City, a Tamil film based at U.A.E. to good review.

Personal life
Shankar's first marriage was with Radhika in December 1992, which ended in a divorce. After the failure of his first marriage, he married Rooparekha, but this marriage also ended in divorce. The couple has a son named Gokul. In 2013, he married Chitra Lekshmi, a dance teacher, and settled in the U.K.