Unnikrishnan Mukundan Nair (born 22 September 1987) is an Indian actor, producer, singer, lyricist and social issues responder who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, along with few Telugu and Tamil films. In 2021, he won his first national award as a producer for his production debut film, Meppadiyan, which won the national award for the best film of a debut director.Unni Mukundan made his acting debut with the Tamil film Seedan (2011), a remake of Nandanam (2002). At the age of 23, after playing several small roles, Unni got his breakthrough with his lead role in Vysakh's action comedy Mallu Singh (2012). Later, he went on to star in several Malayalam films including commercially successful films like Vikramadithyan (2014), KL 10 Patthu (2015), Style (2016), Oru Murai Vanthu Parthaya (2016), Achayans (2017) and Malikappuram (2022). He made his Telugu film debut with the 2016 film Janatha Garage.Unni Mukundan made his debut as a lyricist and singer with Achayans. He has also sponsored road safety measures by appearing in the motor vehicle department's advertisements.

Early life

Unni Mukundan was born in Thrissur, Kerala on 22 September 1987 to Malayali parents Madathiparambil Mukundan Nair and Roji Mukundan. He completed his school from Pragati Higher Secondary School at Ahmedabad. He is graduated in English Literature and Journalism from Prajyoti Niketan College, Pudukad (Thrissur). He was brought up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In his early days, he used to work with Motif, now known as TTEC. His ambition was to join the Indian Army before coming to the film industry.

Career

In 2011, Unni made his film debut in Tamil film ''Seedan'', a remake of the Malayalam film ''Nandanam''. Unni entered the Malayalam film industry through ''Bombay March 12'' alongside Mammootty, directed by Babu Janardhanan. For his performance in ''Bombay March 12'', he was earned awards as best newcomer from SIIMA, Asianet Film Awards, Asiavision, Jaihind TV, Amrita TV and Vanitha Film Awards. He played a supporting role in ''Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty'', directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar.Unni got his turning point from the movie ''Mallu Singh'' (2012) directed by Vyshakh. The movie became a huge hit and ran over 100 days. He did cameo appearances in movies ''Theevram'' and ''The Hitlist''. In the same year, he appeared in ''Ezham'' ''Suryan'' and ''I love Me'' directed by B. Unnikrishnan. His action sequences where well acclaimed by the audience.In 2013 he appeared in ''Ithu Pathiramanal'' and ''Orissa,'' both directed by M. Padmakumar. Also he was seen in ''D Company'' an anthology of three independently shot action films.In 2014, he appeared in ''The Last Supper'' directed by Vinil turned out to be a flop. But in the same year, he made a comeback by playing one of the titular role along with Dulquer Salmaan in hit movie ''Vikramadithyan'' directed by Lal Jose.In 2015, he was seen in supporting role in the Mammootty starrer ''Fireman'' directed by Deepu Karunakaran. Same year, he played the lead role in the movie ''Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander'' as Jordan, the son of Alexander who was the protagonist in the prequel. He next release was ''KL 10 Patthu'' written and directed by debutant Muhsin Parari.In 2016, he did action thriller movie ''Style'' which turned out to be a decent commercial entertainer. He was then seen in critically acclaimed movie ''Kaattum Mazhayum'' and fantasy romantic comedy film ''Oru Murai Vanthu Parthaya.'' He made his Tollywood debut with the film ''Janatha Garage'' in an antagonistic role as Raghava, son of Sathyam (Mohanlal). The film was both commercial success and critically acclaimed. It was the highest grossing Telugu films of the year.In 2017 film ''Achayans'', he made his debut as a lyricist and singer. He played one of the lead role along with Jayaram and Adil Ibrahim in the movie and it turned out to be a commercial success. In the same year, he was seen in another multi hero movie ''Avarude Raavukal'' along with Asif Ali which received mixed reviews. In August of the same year ''Clint'' with director Harikumar was released, in which he played the role of Joseph, father of Edmund Thomas Clint, a child prodigy known for having drawn over 25,000 paintings during his short life of seven years. He was seen in two different looks as a 35-year old and a 73-year-old man in the film. For this film he received Ramu Kariat Movie Award for the Best Actor. His release of 2017 was Mammootty starrer ''Masterpiece'' in which he played the villain role and ''Tharangam'' in which he played an extended cameo.In 2018, he did Tamil-Telugu Bilingual film ''Bhaagamathie'' along with Anuskha Shetty which turned out to be both commercial success and critically acclaimed. His next releases were two thriller movies ''Ira'' and ''Chanakyathanthram''. Both the films received positive reviews and was commercially successful.His first release of 2019 was Haneef Adeni's ''Mikhael'', in which he portrayed the role of antagonist Marco Jr. He was seen in the film ''Meppadiyan'' which had a theatrical release on 14 January 2022. Later, he was seen in the Telugu film ''Khiladi''. His next appearance was in ''Malikappuram'' which earned him critical acclaim and praise.

Debut and initial success (2011–2013)

In 2011, Unni made his film debut in Tamil film ''Seedan'', a remake of the Malayalam film ''Nandanam''. Unni entered the Malayalam film industry through ''Bombay March 12'' alongside Mammootty, directed by Babu Janardhanan. For his performance in ''Bombay March 12'', he was earned awards as best newcomer from SIIMA, Asianet Film Awards, Asiavision, Jaihind TV, Amrita TV and Vanitha Film Awards. He played a supporting role in ''Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty'', directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar.Unni got his turning point from the movie ''Mallu Singh'' (2012) directed by Vyshakh. The movie became a huge hit and ran over 100 days. He did cameo appearances in movies ''Theevram'' and ''The Hitlist''. In the same year, he appeared in ''Ezham'' ''Suryan'' and ''I love Me'' directed by B. Unnikrishnan. His action sequences where well acclaimed by the audience.In 2013 he appeared in ''Ithu Pathiramanal'' and ''Orissa,'' both directed by M. Padmakumar. Also he was seen in ''D Company'' an anthology of three independently shot action films.

Breakthrough (2014–present)

In 2014, he appeared in ''The Last Supper'' directed by Vinil turned out to be a flop. But in the same year, he made a comeback by playing one of the titular role along with Dulquer Salmaan in hit movie ''Vikramadithyan'' directed by Lal Jose.In 2015, he was seen in supporting role in the Mammootty starrer ''Fireman'' directed by Deepu Karunakaran. Same year, he played the lead role in the movie ''Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander'' as Jordan, the son of Alexander who was the protagonist in the prequel. He next release was ''KL 10 Patthu'' written and directed by debutant Muhsin Parari.In 2016, he did action thriller movie ''Style'' which turned out to be a decent commercial entertainer. He was then seen in critically acclaimed movie ''Kaattum Mazhayum'' and fantasy romantic comedy film ''Oru Murai Vanthu Parthaya.'' He made his Tollywood debut with the film ''Janatha Garage'' in an antagonistic role as Raghava, son of Sathyam (Mohanlal). The film was both commercial success and critically acclaimed. It was the highest grossing Telugu films of the year.In 2017 film ''Achayans'', he made his debut as a lyricist and singer. He played one of the lead role along with Jayaram and Adil Ibrahim in the movie and it turned out to be a commercial success. In the same year, he was seen in another multi hero movie ''Avarude Raavukal'' along with Asif Ali which received mixed reviews. In August of the same year ''Clint'' with director Harikumar was released, in which he played the role of Joseph, father of Edmund Thomas Clint, a child prodigy known for having drawn over 25,000 paintings during his short life of seven years. He was seen in two different looks as a 35-year old and a 73-year-old man in the film. For this film he received Ramu Kariat Movie Award for the Best Actor. His release of 2017 was Mammootty starrer ''Masterpiece'' in which he played the villain role and ''Tharangam'' in which he played an extended cameo.In 2018, he did Tamil-Telugu Bilingual film ''Bhaagamathie'' along with Anuskha Shetty which turned out to be both commercial success and critically acclaimed. His next releases were two thriller movies ''Ira'' and ''Chanakyathanthram''. Both the films received positive reviews and was commercially successful.His first release of 2019 was Haneef Adeni's ''Mikhael'', in which he portrayed the role of antagonist Marco Jr. He was seen in the film ''Meppadiyan'' which had a theatrical release on 14 January 2022. Later, he was seen in the Telugu film ''Khiladi''. His next appearance was in ''Malikappuram'' which earned him critical acclaim and praise.