
Sathyan
ActingAbout Sathyan
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema.Widely considered as one of the greatest actors in India,He is also regarded as the toughest actor in the Malayalam film industry personally and professionally, and respectfully called as 'Sathyan Master' by everyone. Sathyan was born to a Roman Catholic family in Thrikkannapuram , Nagercoil in Southern Travancore on 9 November 1912 as the second child of Cheruvilakathu Veettil Manuel and Emily. He has five siblings named Late Kunjamma, Chellayya, Neshan, Devadas and Jacob.Sathyan passed the Vidwan exam, equivalent to Master of Arts before joining Saint Joseph's School, Trivandrum as a teacher. After some time, he got job as a clerk in the Kerala Secretariat and worked there for about a year. He joined the army in 1941 and got posted as a Commissioned Officer of the Viceroy of India. He served the British army in Manipur, Burma (now Myanmar) and British Malaya (now Malaysia) during theWorld War II period. After finishing his term in the army, he returned home and joined the then Travancore State Police as a police inspector. During the communist riots in 1947–1948, Sathyan was the inspector at Alappuzha North Police Station.
Sathyan Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Sathyan reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Sathyan's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 80% of Sathyan's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Thriveni, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Sathyan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Sathyan's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Sathyan has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Lakshyam | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Akkarapacha | Vasudevan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Agnimrigam | Mukundan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Inquilab Zindabad | Venugopalan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Karakanakadal | Thoma | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Anubhavangal Palichakal | Chellappan/Prabhakaran | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Sarasayya | Dr Thomas | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Kuttyedathi | Appunni | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Aranazhika Neram | Mathukutty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Thara | Balakrishna Pilla | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Thriveni | Damodaran Muthalali | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Cross Belt | Rajasekharan Nair | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Vazhve Mayam | Sudhi | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | You Made Me a Communist | Paramu Pilla | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Othenante makan | Othenan Kurup | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Bheekara Nimishangal | Mancheri Raghavan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Vivahitha | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Mooladhanam | Ravi | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Kadalpalam | Narayana Kaimal and Raghu | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Adimakal | Appukkuttan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Yakshi | Professor Sreenivasan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Thokkukal Kadha Parayunnu | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | Ashwamedham | Dr Thomas | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Ollathu Mathi | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | Anweshichu Kandethiyilla | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Anarkali | King Akbar | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Kayamkulam Kochunni | Kochunni | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Rowdy | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Pakalkkinavu | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Odayil Ninnu | Pappu | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Shakunthala | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Chemmeen | Palani | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Kadathukaran | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Omanakkuttan | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Pazhassi Raja | Baber | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Manavatty | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Anna | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Thacholi Othenan | Thacholi Othenan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Nithyakanyaka | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1962 | Bharya | Benny | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Kannum Karalum | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Laila Majnu | Baqthum | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Mudiyanaya Puthran | Rajan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Ara Pavan | Vettukaaran Ramu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Unniyarcha | Aromal Chekavar | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Chathurangam | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu | Chandran | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Achanum Makanum | Raghu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Neelakuyil | Sreedharan Nair | Super Hit | Similar → |
Sathyan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Sathyan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Sathyan is "Thriveni" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Sathyan acted in?
Sathyan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Sathyan?
Other notable films include "Vazhve Mayam", "Othenante makan", and "Kannum Karalum".



