Thomas James, (born 2 March 1986) better known by his stage name Manikuttan, is an Indian actor who works primarily in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for his role as Kayamkulam Kochunni in the 2004 television serial of the same title. He was the part of the Kerala Strikers team in Celebrity Cricket League for several years.[1] He is the title winner of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 3 in 2021.

Manikuttan
Manikuttan in 2019
Born
Thomas James

(1986-03-02) 2 March 1986 (age 38)
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Alma materMahatma Gandhi College
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present

Early life

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Thomas James was born to James and Eliyamma in Nalumukku a locality near Kudappanakunnu and Peroorkada in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.[2] He attended St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, Trivandrum and studied B.Com at Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram.[citation needed]

Career

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Acting debut

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Manikuttan's acting debut was in the television series Kayamkulam Kochunni, which was aired on Surya TV.[3]

Debut in Malayalam cinema

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Manikuttan's debut film was Varnachirakukal. He was the main lead in the campus film Oru Peelekanenta Oormakke taken by Mahatma College, Thiruvananthapuram in 2004. His first film appearance was in the Malayalam film Boyy Friennd (2005), directed by Vinayan.[4] He acted in major movies like Mamangam (2019), Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021).

Big Boss Malayalam (Season 3 2021)

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In February 2021, Manikuttan entered the third iteration of reality game show Bigg Boss Malayalam hosted by Mohanlal on Asianet channel. He gained wide acceptance among viewers for his performance in the show. The show had been stopped due to the pandemic from its 96th episode, but a winner was selected through voting. On 24 July 2021, Manikkuttan was declared the winner of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 3 at the Grand Finale conducted at EVP Film City, Chennai.[5] He won the award for being the "Entertainer of the Season".[citation needed]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
  • All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

Film

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Manikuttan film credits
Year Title Role Note
1999 Varnachirakukal Balu Lead Role
2005 Boyy Friennd Ramesh Prasad Lead Role
2006 Bada Dosth Nandu
Kalabham Parthasarathy
2007 Mayavi Satheesh
Black Cat Himself Cameo
Chotta Mumbai Sainu
Heart Beats Manu
Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan Alex
Flash
2008 Twenty:20 Dancer at the bar Special Appearance in the song
Minnaminnikoottam Harasser in bus
Kurukshetra Prakash
Positive Udayan
2009 Passenger Sudhi
Dr. Patient Rafique
Meghatheertham Young Balunarayanan
Swantham Lekhakan Reporter
2010 Valiyangadi Ananthu
Thathwamasi Lord Rama
Chaverpada Ameer Sulthan
Elsamma Enna Aankutty Jerry
Four Friends Vishnu
2011 Doctor Love Venkidi
Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar Cadet Rajesh
Ponnu Kondoru Aalroopam
2012 Kunjaliyan Vinayan
Grandmaster Eby Kuriakose
Karmayogi
Thattathin Marayathu Najaf
Simhasanam Arjunan's Friend
Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu Rafique
2013 Hotel California Sharath
Crocodile Love Story Sreeraj
2014 God's Own Country Zakir
Snehamulloral Koodeyullappol Sabarinath
2015 Loham Boy at the wedding
Howarah Bridge Shayam Malayalam Short Film
2016 Pavada S.I. Suresh
Karinkunnam 6'S Vishnu
Oppam Devayani's brother
2017 1971: Beyond Borders Soldier
Swapnangalil Haisal Mary Joy
Masterpiece Cameo Role
2018 Nimir Shenbaghavalli's Husband Tamil Film
Kammara Sambhavam Thilakan Purushothamman / himself
2019 Mamangam Moyin
Thrissur Pooram Ali
An International Local Story Special appearance in the song
B Nilavarayum Sharjahpalliyum Ali
2021 Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea Mayinkutty
Navarasa Shanmugham Master Tamil web series; In the segment Summer of '92[6]
2024 Nadikar David's co-actor in a film [7]
Sree Muthappan [8]
Secret [9]

Television

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Serials

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Manikuttan television serial credits
Year Title Channel Role
2004 Black and White Asianet
2004–2007 Kayamkulam Kochunni Surya TV Kayamkulam Kochunni
2008 Devi Mahathmyam Asianet

Other television shows

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Manikuttan other television credits
Year Title Channel Role
2009 Idea Star Singer Season 4 Asianet Guest – supporting contestant Shikha
2016 Asianet Comedy Awards Curtain Raiser Asianet Host
2018 Super Jodi Surya TV Host[10]
Rani Maharani Surya TV Host[11]
2021 Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 3 Asianet Contestant-Winner
Onamamankam Asianet Contestant
Comedy Stars Season 3 Asianet Celebrity Judge
2023 Katturumbu 2 Flowers TV Judge

References

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  1. ^ "Manikuttan is a part of the Kerala Strikers Team in CCL". 22 January 2016.
  2. ^ Onnum Onnum Moonnu-Manikuttan. Mazhavil Manorama. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Nair, Radhika (16 April 2020). "People still remembers me as Kayamkulam Kochunni says Manikkuttan". The Times of India.
  4. ^ C, Sharika (21 July 2013). "This love story crawls". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ "Bigg Boss Malayalam 3: Here's a List of Participants in the Reality Show". News18. 15 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Manikkuttan about his character in Navarasa Anthology Film".
  7. ^ "'Nadikar,' starring Tovino Thomas and Soubin Shahir, gets a release date". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Jamalinte Punjiri To Sree Muthappan, 3 Malayalam Films Releasing This Week". News18. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ Features, C. E. (10 July 2024). "SN Swamy's directorial debut Secret gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Manikuttan is the host of the new reality show, Super Jodi".
  11. ^ "Manikuttan to host the show, Rani Maharani".
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