Nedumudi Venu’s recent performances came in anthologies

He played the hero, the sidekick, the antagonist, the comedian, and he adapted to the times. Nedumudi Venu made his film debut in Malayalam in the late 1970s, at a time when Jayan was emerging as a star to reckon with. Mohanlal and Mammootty – the stars to be – were yet to make their mark. Nedumudi grew with them, as an actor – sometimes playing the lead, other times the supporting character to their lead. In the late 80s, while still in his 30s, he began playing elderly characters double his age and seemed to enjoy doing them. Looking back, he was only 42 when he played the elderly old man in His Highness Abdullah. Nedumudi, who breathed his last on Monday, was an actor who kept up with the times.