Actor Lal

Paul Michael, better known by his stage name Lal, is a Malayali Indian film director, script writer, actor, producer, and film distributor.

He is most famous for teaming up with Siddique, hence the name Siddique-Lal, to make films such as Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1993), and Kabuliwala (1993). The duo broke off afterwards but he later produced Siddique`s Hitler (1996) and Friends (1999).

Lal`s debut as an actor came in 1997 when he played Paniyan in Jayaraj`s Kaliyattam. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for playing Raveendran Pillai in Madhupal`s film Thalappavu (2008).

He started his career as a mimicry artsist in Kalabhavan, along with his childhood friend Siddique, who would later team up as Siddique-Lal to make many films. Lal and Siddique joined as assistant directors to Fazil in 1988.

The Siddique-Lal team became directors with Ramji Rao Speaking. They went on to make four more hit films in a row: In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, Vietnam Colony and Kabooliwala. Lal and Siddique were also associate directors for Fazil`s Manichithrathazhu (1993). They are two of the most successful directors in the history of Malayalam cinema. All their movies were record-breaking blockbusters.

After that, both decided to part ways as a director pair and Lal turned producer with the Siddique-directed Mammootty-starrer Hitler. Lal debuted in acting with a villain role as Paniyan in Kaliyattam, directed by Jayaraj. Kaliyattam was a new take on Othello where Lal played Paniyan, the character standing for Iago.

Lal started acting in Tamil films with N. Linguswamy`s Sandakozhi. Lal`s other major roles include Jeevan in Ormacheppu, Devin Karlos Padaveedan in Black, Sathyan in Thommanum Makkalum and the title role in Banglowil Outha and Raveendran Pillai in Madhupal`s Thalappavu.

Lal became a producer and distributor in the Malayalam film industry in the mid-1990s and established a film production and distribution company named Lal Creations. The first film he produced was Hitler, which was directed by Siddique and starred Mammootty. He then produced Thenkasipattanam by the Rafi-Mecartin duo, in which he played a major role with Suresh Gopi. He also produced Rafi-Mecartin`s Superman and Chathikkatha Chanthu. Other films he has produced include Siddique`s Friends, Lal Jose`s Chanthupottu and Renjith`s Black.

Lal returned to directing with the 2009 film 2 Harihar Nagar, a sequel to In Harihar Nagar. After its success, he directed another sequel named In Ghost House Inn. It was released on March 25, 2010. It also became a box office success.

Music director Alex Paul, who composed soundtracks for the sequels of In Harihar Nagar, is his younger brother.