Sunil Kumar, known by his stage name Narain, is an Indian actor, who works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. He debuted as an actor in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Nizhalkuthu (2002), followed by the Malayalam films 4 the People (2004), Achuvinte Amma (2005), and Classmates (2006). Narain's Tamil and Telugu debuts were in Mysskin's Chithiram Pesuthadi (2006) and Jayaraj's Yuvasena (2004).

Career

Narain's first film was Nizhalkuthu. His first commercial film, 4 The People, was dubbed in Tamil and Telugu. He portrayed a struggling lawyer, Emmanuel John, in Achuvinte Amma and also played a doctor, Jeevan, in Sheelabathi. He also played roles in Annorikal and Classmates. His debut Tamil movie was Chithiram Pesuthadi, alongside Mollywood actress Bhavana, who too made her Tamil debut through this film. Through Panthaya Kozhi, produced by director Lal, he has been re-launched as an independent action hero in the Malayalam film industry. In 2008, he did another youth-oriented Malayalam movie Minnaminnikoottam. He has acted in more than 20 Malayalam movies.

Narain worked with director Sathyan Anthikkad in the 2005 movie Achuvinte Amma and again in 2009 in Bhagyadevatha.

Narain played the lead role in P. T. Kunju Muhammed's Veeraputhran (2011). He collaborated with director Mysskin on the 2008 film Anjaathe and the 2012 superhero film Mugamoodi where he portrayed a villain. However his career high came through the 2019, Lokesh Kanagaraj directed venture Kaithi (2019), co starring with Karthi. In 2022, Vikram who bridges two films occurring in the same universe starring Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil.

Early and personal life

Narain completed his pre-degree from St. Thomas College, Thrissur and graduated from Sree Kerala Varma College. He did his diploma in cinematography at the MGR Government Film And Television Institute. He joined cinematographer Rajiv Menon and later resigned to try for chances in acting. On 26 August 2007, he married Malayalam television host Manju Haridas. Manju had hosted shows like Superstar Junior and sang in Chithiram Pesuthadi, a Tamil film in which Narain acted. The couple has two children, a daughter born in 2008 and a son born in 2022.

Filmography

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2002NizhalkuthuMuthuMalayalamCredited as Sunil Kumar
20044 the PeopleRajan Mathew IPS
YuvasenaSharat ChandraTeluguCredited as Suresh Menon
2005Achuvinte AmmaAdv. Emmanuel JohnMalayalamCredited as Sunil Kumar
AnnorikalBenny
By the PeopleRajan Mathew IPS
SheelabathiDr. Jeevan
2006Chithiram PesuthadiThiruTamil
ClassmatesMuraliMalayalam
Nenjirukkum VaraiGanesanTamil
2007Panthaya KozhiNandagopalMalayalam
PallikoodamVetrivel IASTamil
2008AnjatheSI SathyavanNominated — Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
Ore KadalJayakumarMalayalam
MinnaminnikoottamAbhilash
2009BhagyadevathaSajan Joseph
Robin HoodCID Alexander Felix
2011ThambikottaiAzhagiri SundaramTamil
KoHimselfSpecial appearance
VeeraputhranMohammed Abdul RahimanMalayalam
2012GrandmasterKishore IPS
MugamoodiAnguchamy / DragonTamilNominated — SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role Nominated — Vijay Award for Best Villain
Ayalum Njanum ThammilDr. VivekMalayalam
The HitlistDr. LewisCameo appearance
2013Proprietors: Kammath & KammathIRS officer Suresh
3 DotsDr. Isaac Samuel
Aaru Sundarimaarude KathaSreekumar
Red RainJay
2014Njangalude Veettile AthidhikalRaj Menon
2015KaththukkuttiArivazhaganTamil
2016HallelooyaDr. RoyMalayalam
Angane Thanne Nethave Anchettennam PinnaleKarthika Perumal
Kavi Uddheshichathu..?Vattathil Bosco
2017RumInspector Praveen ThomasTamil
Adam JoanCyriacMalayalam
2018Police JuniorSai Ram
U TurnRiteshTamil Telugu
OdiyanPrakashanMalayalam
2019PengalilaVinod
Madhura RajaSI BalachandranCameo appearance
Marconi MathaiCI Eesho Tharakan
KaithiInspector Bejoy
ChampionSantha
2022VikramInspector Bejoy
Ente MazhaUnknownMalayalam
YugiNandakumarTamilBilingual film
AdrishyamMalayalam
20232018Winston
Gandeevadhari ArjunaAjit ChandraTelugu
800MasterTamil
IraivanACP Andrew
Queen ElizabethAlexMalayalam
2024Devara: Part 1IrfanTelugu
ManorathangalPrabhakaranMalayalamAnthology series; segment: Kazhcha
2025EkoNavykkaran
PharmaDr. VIjayJioHotstar series
AghoshamSooraj Samuel
2026Jana NayaganKaaliTamilPost-production
TBAKuralTBATamil
Nodikku NodiTBATamil

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
2007Filmfare Awards SouthBest Supporting ActorClassmatesNominated
2010Fimfare Awards SouthBest Supporting ActorRobin HoodNominated
2012Vijay AwardsBest VillainMugamoodiNominated
2021South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Supporting ActorKaithiNominated

External links