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Shankar Panicker, is an Indian film actor and director, popularly known as Shankar in Malayalam films and Oru Thalai Raagam Shankar in Tamil films. A superstar of the early eighties, he was the most prominent romantic lead actor of Malayalam cinema after Prem Nazir. Galatta Cinema magazine described him as the True romantic hero of Mollywood in their special edition on 100 years of Indian cinema.

Shankar was born in Thrissur, Kerala and his family later moved to Chennai when he was 4 years old. He completed the schooling from St.Beeds High School and college from Gadwarl University, Rishikesh, respectively. Later he joined South India Film Chambers of acting completing 2 years of acting course.


Shankar was one among hundreds of newcomers done audition for Oru Thalai Ragam, but he was selected as the lead actor. Oru Thalai Ragam not only completed 365 days run in theatres but also became the cult romantic film of Tamil film history. Meantime Navodaya banner signed Shankar for their romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal alongwith newcomers Mohanlal and Poornima Jayaram directed by debutant Fazil. The success of Manjil Virinja Pookal made Shankar the leading young star of Malayalam films. Overnight Shankar became a hot property in both Tamil and Malayalam film industry and almost all his films doing good business. He was the second super star of Malayalam films of 80s after late action star \"Jayan\". He never experimented with his roles, still he had a very large fan base in kerala. Most of his ordinary films were hits just because of his presence.


His next Malayalam outing was in Guha as a psychopath, but the film flopped, but his later films Kadathu opposite Roja Ramani, Oothikachiya Ponnu with Poornima Jayaram and the super successful Ente Mohangal Poovaninju cemented Shankar as the romantic hero of Malayalam films. Simulateously his Tamil films Sujatha, Koyil Puraa, Mouna Yuddham and Raagam Thedum Pallavi also done good business. He also tried a change in his appearnce with Udhayamahirathu by shaving off his moustache. Success continued in Malayalam with Padayottam, Anuragakodathy, Kaliyamardanam, Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Engane Nee Marakkum, so he decided to concentrate in Malayalam films only. His other successful films of 1983 are Mortuary, Hello Madras Girl and Himam. In 1984, Shankar had hits like Ente Kalithozan, Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla and Muthodu Muthu. He also gave break to new directors Priyadarsan and T.S.Suresh Babu with Poochakkoru Mookkuthi and Itha Innu Muthal respectively as both films were major hits of 1984. Next year he was a part of successful films Archana Aradhana, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Ambada Njaane!, Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil and Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki, but in Priyadarsan\'s successful thriller, Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya, his performance was widely accepted as an action hero. In 1986, Shankar became a producer and turned Sibi Malayil into a family director with Chekkaeran Oru Chilla. His other major films of 86 are Naale Njangalude Vivahum, Oppam Oppathinoppam and Sughamo Devi along with Mohanlal.