T. G. Ravi

T. G. Ravindranathan (born 16 May 1944), popularly known as T. G. Ravi, is an Indian actor, mainly noted for his roles as a villain in Malayalam cinema. He along with Balan K. Nair played most of the negative roles in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s and 1980s. Known for his body language and style of dialogue delivery, he played some of the biggest villain roles in Malayalam cinema during that period.

Early life and family
T.G. Ravi was born on 16 May 1944, in an, Ezhuthachan family in Moorkanikkara village, Thrissur, in present-day Kerala, India. After completion of pre-degree from St. Thomas College, Thrissur, he chose to pursue a career in engineering and undertook his degree course through University of Kerala in Government Engineering College, Thrissur. He graduated in mechanical engineering in 1969. Apart from involving in theatre arts, he also represented the University of Kerala in Football and Hockey. He was an artist at The All India Radio where he met Thikkodiyan, who was instrumental in introducing him to the silver screen.

Acting career
Ravi began acting in the plays put up by the young men in his village, Moorkkanikkara, in Thrissur district. He also started acting in professional drama. Radio plays were popular in those days. Thikkodiyan introduced Ravi to Aravindan, a highly acclaimed Malayalam Director, which fetched him his first role in Uttarayanam.

But he didn't get any offers to act after that, so he produced a film himself, Paadasaram, in which he was, predictably, the hero. It flopped at the box office, but the next two films he produced, Chora Chuvanna Chora and Chakara, did better. The role of Shaji in Chakara opposite Jayan established him as a villain.

Among those who noticed him was director Bharathan. He cast Ravi in the role of Kunjippalu in Parankimala. The villain who spoke in the Thrissur dialect proved to be the turning point in his career. After Parankimala, as Ravi starred in many hits, including Ee Nadu, Iniyenkilum, Pathamudayam, 1921, NH 47, and Pavam Krooran.

He quit acting when he was at his peak, as one of the dreaded villains of Malayalam cinema in the late 1980s. T. G. Ravi is now active again as an actor, after a break. He restarted his career with Sibi Malayil's venture Amrutham in 2005, and then made noted performances in Pakal, Cycle, Romans, Jacobinte Swargarajyam, Georgettans Pooram, Red Wine, and The Priest.

Personal life
He is a noted industrialist and has been instrumental in developing Thrissur as a major base for the rubber industries. He is the Managing Director of Suntec Tyres Limited. He has also served as the president of The Cochin Devaswom Board which controls the affairs of over 400 temples in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts.

He was married to (late) Dr. V. K. Subhadra, a retired government servant. He has two children: Ranjith, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and London Business School and Sreejith Ravi, Malayalm film actor. Seema and Sajitha are his daughters-in-law. Milit, Rijrashwa, Mitul and Ritunjay are his grandsons and Minal is his granddaughter.

T. G. Ravi was the president of All Kerala Ezhuthachan Samajam.

As producer

 * 1) Padasaram (1979)
 * 2) Chora Chuvanna Chora (1980)
 * 3) Chaakara (1980)

Accolades

 * 2007 : Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention (Films - Adayalangal, Ottakkayyan)
 * Kerala State Government Television Award 2006 - Best Actor - Nizhalroopam
 * 2013 : Kerala Film Critics Association Awards - Chalachitra Prathiba Puraskar