# Rajan P. Dev (രാജൻ പി. ദേവ്)
**Rajan P. Dev** (രാജൻ പി. ദേവ്) was an Indian film and stage actor from Kerala, known above all for villain roles in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema) and for creating the character Kochuvava in the hit stage play *Kattukuthira*. He acted in over 140 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, and also directed films.[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Cherthala, Alappuzha district, Kerala; sources give 1953[3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors) or 1954[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html) |
| Died | 29 July 2009, at a private hospital in Kochi, during treatment for a liver disorder[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) |
| Signature stage role | Kochuvava in S. L. Puram Sadanandan's play *Kattukuthira*, staged on over 3,000 stages across Kerala[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/veteran-malayalam-actor-rajan-p-dev-dead/story-eoMVJPswVhipRhRY5OglmK.html) |
| Breakthrough film role | Carlos, the underworld don in *Indrajaalam* (1990), directed by Thampy Kannanthanam and starring Mohanlal[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) |
| Film debut | *Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku* (1983), directed by Fazil[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) |
| Output | Over 140 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada; also directed *Achamamakuttiyude Achayan* (1998) and *Achante Kochumolkku* (2003)[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) |
| Last film | *Ee Pattanathil Bhootham*, starring Mammootty[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) |
## Theatre career
Dev grew up around theater. His parents, S. J. Dev and Kuttiyamma, ran Raja Rani Theatres, and he began writing, directing, and acting in plays as a child, staging amateur productions at Holy Family High School for Boys in Cherthala.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html) His father, who knew the hardships theater artists faced, opposed a professional career for his son; after his father's death Dev became a full-time dramatist.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html)
**N. N. Pillai and early troupes.** Dev joined the troupe of the drama personality [N. N. Pillai](https://www.edgepedia.org/n-n-pillai), a friend of his father, and acted small roles there. He then founded his own troupe, Malayalam Nadakavedi, and wrote its first drama, *Radham*, which failed and left him in serious financial difficulty.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html)
**Kattukuthira.** In 1983 S. L. Puram Sadanandan, who had inaugurated Dev's drama troupe, cast him as the protagonist Kochuvava in *Kattukuthira* for the troupe Suryasoma.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html) The play broke with conventional plots by replacing the idealistic young hero with an anti-hero carrying a darker history and a crystallized vengeance, and it needed an actor with a new approach to characterization.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html) It was staged on over 3,000 stages across Kerala in a short span, and Dev, about 20 years old at the time, portrayed the 60-year-old Kochuvava.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html) The Times of India reports that the role won him best theater actor awards in 1984 and 1986.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Actor-Rajan-P-Dev-dead/articleshow/4835580.cms)
When director P. G. Viswambaran made *Kattukuthira* into a film, the role of Kochuvava went to Thilakan rather than Dev. Playwright and director T. M. Abraham called this a great loss to Dev's career, and the actor's associate Benny P. Nayarambalam described it as the greatest disappointment of his life.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html)
**Later theater work.** After leaving Suryasoma, Dev worked with Cochin Harisree Theatre and won a Kerala state award for best actor for playing a mentally challenged character in *Mullappoovukal Chuvannappol*. In 1987 he founded the troupe Jubilee Theatres in Cherthala, and a year later he introduced the writer Benny P. Nayarambalam to drama, directing his play *Athyunnathangalil Daivathinusthuthi*, for which Dev won a second state best actor award.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html) He kept managing Cherthala Jubilee Theatres throughout his film career; the troupe's last play, the satire *Amminipuram Gramapanchayat*, had its lyrics and music by Dev.[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) • [3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors)
## Film career
Dev's film career began with small appearances, including *Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku* (1983), directed by Fazil, and early roles that were too small to show his ability.[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) • [4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html) The turning point came when his disappointment at losing the *Kattukuthira* film role, expressed in a magazine interview, caught the attention of director Thampy Kannanthanam, who cast him as the villain Carlos in *Indrajaalam* (1990), starring [Mohanlal](https://www.edgepedia.org/mohanlal).[3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors) With distinct slang and mannerisms, Dev made the underworld don Carlos so popular that for some years he was often referred to simply as Carlos, and the role brought him a stream of villain offers.[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) • [3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors)
**Beyond the villain mold.** Dev worked mostly as a villain, sometimes as the villainous cop, in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films, and also took serious character and humor-oriented roles.[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) He expanded to other industries starting with *Gentleman* (1993), directed by [S. Shankar](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-shankar), in Tamil.[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf) His Telugu roles in [Allu Arjun](https://www.edgepedia.org/allu-arjun)'s films *Arya* and *[Bunny](https://www.edgepedia.org/bunny-2005-film)* were widely applauded.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html)
A break from typecasting came with *Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava* (1995), directed by Rajasenan, in which he played Aniyan Bava opposite Narendra Prasad's Chettan Bava; the film established his versatility, and he went on to full comedy roles in films such as *Sphadikam* (1995), *Thommanum Makkalum* (2005), and *Chota Mumbai* (2007).[3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors) In *Thommanum Makkalum* he played the funny father to [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty), who was the same age as him.[8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/curious-arcs-villains-turning-comedy-roles-malayalam-cinema-179292) His notable films also include *Commissioner*, *Ekalavyan*, *Manthrikam*, *Azhakiya Ravanan*, and *Junior Mandrake*.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html)
**Direction.** Dev directed *Achamamakuttiyude Achayan* (1998) and *Achante Kochumolkku* (2003); the Directorate of Film Festivals catalog also lists a third film, *Manyarakkallan*, and notes that he was planning two more, *Kayal Rajavu* and *Simbam*, starring Mammootty and [Jayasurya](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayasurya) respectively.[1](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf)
## Death
Dev died on 29 July 2009 at a private hospital in Kochi at 6:30 a.m., while undergoing treatment for a liver disorder.[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) The Times of India reported that he had been hospitalized on 26 July after vomiting blood, later slipped into a coma, and suffered from liver complications and chronic diabetes; it gave his age as 55.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Actor-Rajan-P-Dev-dead/articleshow/4835580.cms) He was laid to rest with state honors at St. Xavier's Church in Angamaly.[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/veteran-malayalam-actor-rajan-p-dev-dead/story-eoMVJPswVhipRhRY5OglmK.html) • [9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/31/rajan-p-dev-laid-to-rest-with-state-honours-72742.html) His last released film was *Ee Pattanathil Bhootham*, with Mammootty, who called his death a personal loss.[2](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Actor-Rajan-P-Dev-dead/articleshow/4835580.cms)
## Assessment
Contemporaries placed Dev in the line of Malayalam theater actors who became mainstays of the film industry, alongside Thilakan and KPAC Lalitha.[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2009/Jul/30/the-end-of-rajan-p-devs-act-72719.html) A retrospective in The New Indian Express described him as capable of playing the essential knave with sound and expression alone, without costume or body-language props, and noted that his more than 30-year, 150-film career certified him as a villain while he felt he deserved more substantial screen space.[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2009/Jul/30/the-end-of-rajan-p-devs-act-72719.html) His movement from menacing villains to comic and fatherly characters, as in *Thommanum Makkalum*, is cited as a prominent example of Malayalam cinema's villain-to-comedy transitions.[8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/curious-arcs-villains-turning-comedy-roles-malayalam-cinema-179292) His son Jubil Rajan P. Dev is also an actor.[3](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors)
## References
1. [Rajan P. Dev profile, Indian Panorama Catalogue 2009, Directorate of Film Festivals](https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/115_IPCatalogue2009.pdf)
2. [Rajan P. Dev No More, Nowrunning (29 July 2009)](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/rajan-p-dev-no-more/24893/story.htm)
3. [Rajan P Dev / രാജൻ പി ദേവ്, MalayalaSangeetham.Info](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Rajan+P+Dev&category=actors)
4. [Theatre was his first love, The New Indian Express (30 July 2009)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/theatre-was-his-first-love-72601.html)
5. [The 'wild horse' has left all, for ever, The New Indian Express (30 July 2009)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/30/the-wild-horse-has-left-all-for-ever-72414.html)
6. [Veteran Malayalam actor Rajan P. Dev dead, Hindustan Times / IANS (29 July 2009)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/veteran-malayalam-actor-rajan-p-dev-dead/story-eoMVJPswVhipRhRY5OglmK.html)
7. [Actor Rajan P Dev dead, The Times of India (30 July 2009)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Actor-Rajan-P-Dev-dead/articleshow/4835580.cms)
8. [The curious arcs of villains turning to comedy roles in Malayalam cinema, The News Minute (3 July 2023)](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/curious-arcs-villains-turning-comedy-roles-malayalam-cinema-179292)
9. [Rajan P Dev laid to rest with state honours, The New Indian Express (31 July 2009)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/31/rajan-p-dev-laid-to-rest-with-state-honours-72742.html)
10. [The end of Rajan P Dev's act, The New Indian Express (30 July 2009)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2009/Jul/30/the-end-of-rajan-p-devs-act-72719.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Malayalam film actors › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license