Veteran Malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu has passed away. He was 73.

Born Keshavan Venugopal, the versatile performer came to be known later after his birthplace Nedumudi, Alappuzha. Before making his acting debut in G Aravindan's Thambu (1978), he worked briefly as a journalist. His involvement in theatre gradually paved the path for his entry into films.

Nedumudi Venu has appeared in over 500 films. He is best known for his fruitful collaboration with filmmakers Aravindan, Padmarajan, and Bharathan, having delivered some of his most memorable characters in films such as Kallan Pavithran, Oridathoru Phayalvan, and Chamaram.

Some of his strongest work came in the 90s, in films such as Perunthachan, His Highness Abdullah, Thenmavin Kombath, and Vandanam. His performance in His Highness Abdullah fetched him his first National award while he got his first Kerala State award for Chamaram.

Among the most notable of his recent films are North 24 Kaatham, Munnariyippu, Best Actor, Oru Second Class Yathra, and Passenger.

Nedumudi Venu was last seen in Aashiq Abu's segment of the anthology Aanum Pennum, in which his performance alongside Kaviyoor Ponnamma was one of the film's standout moments.