Kunchacko Boban

In this Indian name, the name Boban is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kunchacko.

Kunchacko Boban
Born	Kunchacko Boban (1976-11-02) November 2, 1976[1] Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Residence	Kochi, Kerala, India
Other names	Chackochan
Occupation	Film Actor , Producer, Businessman
Years active	1981, 1997 - 2006 , 2009 – present
Religion	Syro-Malabar Catholic[2][3]
Spouse(s)	Priya Ann Samuel (2005–present)
Relatives	Kunchacko (grandfather) Navodaya Appachan (granduncle)
Awards	Kerala State Film Awards Special Jury Award for Ee Snehatheerathu (2004)

Kunchacko Boban (born on 2 November 1976) is an Indian film actor and producer who appears in Malayalam films. He is the grandson of producer Kunchacko, who established the film production studio Udaya Pictures.^[4]

Kunchacko Boban made his acting debut in Fazil's Aniyathipraavu (1997) which turned out to be a blockbuster and made him into an overnight superstar. He became a popular lead star in the late-1990s with successful films such as Mayilpeelikkavu (1998), Nakshatratharattu (1998), and Niram (1999). He continued his success with Dhosth (2001), Swapnakoodu (2003), and Kasthooriman (2003). After a couple of commercial failures, his career took a set back in the mid-2000s. He made a comeback with Gulumaal (2009)^[5] which was well received. Later, he went on to act in successful films such as Elsamma Enna Aankutty (2010), Traffic (2011), Seniors (2011),^[6] Ordinary (2012), Romans (2013), Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum (2013), How Old Are You? (2014), and Vettah (2016). Kunchacko Boban was awarded the Special Jury Award for his performance in Ee Snehatheerathu at the 2004 Kerala State Film Awards.^[7]

Career

Kunchacko Boban, son of actor, director Boban Kunchacko and grand son of legendary Kunchacko, was introduced into Malayalam film industry by versatile director Fazil. His debut movie Aniathipravu (1997), co-starring Shalini, and directed by Fazil ^[8] was a block buster. Kunchacko Boban's performance as Sudhi, the lead character got him good reception across young audience and the family crowd. Kunchacko Boban- Shalini pair was considered as a lucky pair in late nineties. Following the success of Aniathipravu, Kunchacko Boban was cast in movies like Nakshathrathaarattu, Mayilpeelikkavu and Niram (1999). "Niram" was one of the biggest grossers of 1999. Songs of "Niram" are still very popular. His performance in hit movies "Kasthuriman" and "Swapnakoodu" was also appreciated by critics.

He played a cameo in Fazil's Harikrishnans, which marked the reunion of Mohanlal and Mammootty after 9 years. Then came a streak of Chandamama, an average film at the box office, and he went on to do Ingane Oru Nilapakshi, Prem Poojari, Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam etc.

After Niram, Dosth and Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka, his next films included Kasthooriman, and Swapnakkoodu. The movie Ee Snehatheerathu earned him a Special Jury Award at the 2004 Kerala State Film Awards.

Kunchacko has been fortunate to work with ace directors like Fazil, Kamal,Hariharan, Sathyan Anthikadu, Siby Malayil, Lohithadas, Laljose,Roshan Andrews,Rajesh Pillai,Dr.Biju etc. Many leading heroines like Asin, Namitha Pramod, Sneha,Ann Augustine,Mamta Kulkarni made their debut in Malayalam with Kunchako Boban. In 2005 after his marriage he took a break from movies since few of his last movies were not doing well at box office.

2008 to 2016

He returned to films in 2008 with a special appearance in a song in Twenty:20 and Shafi's LollyPop. Kunchacko Boban made the real come back through the movie "Gulumal" directed by popular Ad filmmaker and director V.K.Prakash. It was a surprise hit at the box office. Kunchacko Boban’s dream run starts from there. "Gulumal" was followed by a string of superhit movies which established him as one of the most successful actors of last decade. He played lead role in blockbuster movies like Mummy & Me, Sakudumbam Shyamala and Lal Jose's Elsamma Enna Aankutty. His first release in 2011 was Traffic. His later releases included Seniors, Three Kings, Sevens and Doctor Love. In 2011, he won the Youth Icon of the Year award at the Asianet Film Awards. In 2012 he featured in three films, Spanish Masala, Ordinary and Mallu Singh. Ordinary had 10,000 shows in theatres before reaching the 50-day mark and grossed over ₹10 crore (US$1.6M, €1.2M, or £1M as of October 2013).^[9] His 2013 works include Romans and 3 Dots, God for Sale: Bhakthi Prasthanam,^[10] and Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum directed by Lal Jose.^[11] ". "Jamnapyaari(2015)","Madhura Naaranga(2015)", "Vettah(2016)" "valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti(2016)" and "School Bus (2016)" are his latest releases.

In the earlier stages of his career Kunchacko Boban had a Chocolate boy image. But he made a complete makeover of his screen image in his comeback. He proved his versatility as an actor by doing roles which had humour,negative shades and also serious ones.His dance moves were always a joy to watch.

Kunchacko Boban has been also part of many parallel movies like "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal", "Kadhaveeedu" and "Ee Snehatheerathu". "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal" directed by Dr Biju was an eye opener on Endosulphan affected Northern Kerala villages. The film was screened at United Nations and was also selected for many world famous film festivals including Toronto Film Festival,New York Indian Film Festival and International Film Festival of India. "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal" bagged the national award for Best Film made on environment preservation. He played the central character in the much talked movie "Traffic", directed by Rajesh Pillai, which was considered as the first of its kind of new generation movies in Malayalam industry.

In 2016 he revamped Udaya Pictures, the iconic production house of Malayalam. His debut movie as a producer, Under the banner of Udaya Pictures, is titled "Kochauvva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho" (KPAC).

Personal life

Kunchacko was born in Alappuzha, Kerala. He is the grandson of film producer Kunchacko of the erstwhile Udaya Studios, the first film studio in Kerala. His father Boban Kunchacko was also an actor and producer who acted in a few films produced by Udaya and his mother Molly is a housewife. He has two younger sisters, Anu and Mini.^[12] Boban Kunchacko later ventured into direction with the films Palattu Kunhikkannan, Sanchari and Aazhi. Kunchacko Boban is also the grandnephew of Navodaya Appachan of the Navodaya Studios.

Kunchako Boban married Priya Ann Samuel on 2 April 2005 at Little Flower Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Ernakulam.^[13][2][3]

Filmography

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

• 2004 - Special Jury Award for Ee Snehatheerathu

Asianet Film Awards

• 2014 – Youth Icon of the Year for various films.
• 2012 – Special Jury Award for Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum, Romans.
• 2011 – Youth Icon of the Year for various films.
• 2010 – Best Star Pair Award with actress Archana Jose Kavi for Mummy & Me^[14]

Vanitha Film Awards

• 2010 - TTK Prestige — Vanitha Film Awards: Best Star Pair Award with actress Archana Jose Kavi for Mummy & Me^[15]

Mathrubhumi Film Awards

• 2010 - Best Star Pair Award with actress Bhama for Sakudumbam Shyamala^[15]

Jaihind TV Film Awards

• 2013 - Popular Actor^[16]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kunchacko Boban.

• Kunchacko Boban at the Internet Movie Database