Adv. K. P. Gopakumar, Mohanlal’s first co-star and ‘Thiranottam’ hero, Passes away at 73

Advocate K. P. Gopakumar, known as the hero of Thiranottam the first film in which Mohanlal acted has passed away at the age of 73. He was a resident of Punnapuram in Thiruvananthapuram as reported by News 18.



'Thiranottam' was directed by V. Ashok Kumar and produced by Pachalloor Sasi. The film never had a proper theatrical release during its time. Ravikumar and Maniyanpilla Raju were among the other actors in the movie.

A life beyond cinema

Gopakumar was known for more than his brief association with cinema. He was a practicing lawyer and a respected social worker. Years ago, he contested the local body elections in Thiruvananthapuram.

Although he acted in a few films, he did not remain active in the film industry. His contributions were rooted more in social service and law, areas in which he stayed engaged for most of his life.

Family and cremation details

Gopakumar is survived by his wife Geetha Menon and daughter Revathi G. Menon. His sisters are Shubha P. S., Jayashree, and the late Padmaja. His brother was the late Mohan Kumar Prathap. The cremation will take place today at 2.30 PM at Shanthikavadam in Thycaud.

Thiranottam: The film that never reached theatres

Thiranottam (transl. Retrospect) is a 1978 Indian Malayalam drama film directed by V. Ashok Kumar and written by Kumar and Pachalloor Sasi. The film features debut performances by Mohanlal, C. Chandramohan, Ravikumar, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Renu Chandra.

In the film Mohanlal played Kuttappan who is a mentally disabled servant. Although the film was completed and censored in 1978, it did not release at the time. It eventually opened in a single theatre in 2005 in Kollam.

Thiranottam is known for being the acting debut of Mohanlal, then 18 years old, even though his onscreen debut was 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal' (1980).



The legacy of 'Thiranottam' is tied not to commercial success but to its significance in Malayalam film history.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”