Acting
Nov 10, 1969
Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Naveen D. Padil
Acting
Biography
**Naveen D. Padil** (born 11 November 1969) is an acclaimed Indian theatre and film actor who primarily works in Tulu and Kannada cinema. Widely celebrated in Tulu theatre circles as a master of comedy and tragedy, he is affectionately known by fans as "Kusalda Arase" (The King of Comedy). With a prolific stage career, he has performed in over a thousand plays, leaving an indelible mark on regional theater. Born in Padil, Mangalore, Karnataka, his deep roots in the coastal region's cultural fabric profoundly influenced his artistic journey. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Padil teamed up with Devadas Kapikad and Aravind Bolar to form a legendary comedic trio, revolutionizing Tulu stage comedies and entertaining massive audiences across the state. While he is a titan of the stage, Padil made his cinematic debut in the 1993 Malayalam film *Vidheyan*, directed by the legendary Adoor Gopalakrishnan. He subsequently transitioned into Tulu and Kannada cinema, where he became highly sought after for his impeccable comic timing and memorable character roles. Some of his most celebrated Tulu films include *Oriyardori Asal* (2011), *Telikeda Bolli* (2012), *Chaali Polilu* (2014), and *Girgit* (2019). He has also appeared in prominent Kannada films, reaching a pan-Indian audience with his role as a lawyer in Rishab Shetty's blockbuster *Kantara* (2022). His immense contributions to regional cinema and theater have been recognized with numerous accolades. He won the prestigious Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2016 Tulu film *Kudla Cafe*. Additionally, he has won multiple Tulu Cinemotsava and RED FM Tulu Film Awards for Best Actor in a Comic Role. In 2014, his lifelong dedication to the arts was honored with the Sandesha Award.
Feature Films (13)
It tells the story of three best friends named Pandu, Damu and Manju. All three of them are up to no good as they never showed interest in studies, and are now jobless. In order to make a living, they try different things but end up in a big problem. Will they be able to manage their way out of this situation?
Chaali Polilu
The film is about two friends who join an engineering college in Mangalore. The hero has a dark past which troubles him and is suffering from a mental disorder due to this.
Rang
A struggling Padhubidri actor's life is upended by the arrival of a Bangalore superstar.
Yaan Superstar
Love cocktail is a fun love story between a 40 year old man (Aravind Bolar) who is a bachelor by fate and a girl who is in her mid 20s who has the same problem in her life.
Love Cocktail
Thommy is the loyal servant of Bhaskara Pattelar, a ruthless tyrant. He struggles between obedience and morality.
Vidheyan
Purushotham, a middle-class boy dreams of going to Dubai. However, he falls for Athmika. Will this middle-class local boy succeed in achieving his dream or risk losing everything he holds dear?
Purushothamana Prasanga
Shiva, a tribal vagabond lives with his mother in hamlet, stays away from the traditional Daivaradhane and Bhoota Kola legacy due to an unforgettable childhood incident. He is happy loafing around with his friends and doing petty jobs for his landlord. When Forest officer Murali enters the scene, it gives a fresh dimension to the man-vs-nature fight. Can Shiva save the forest from Murali? Or is Murali just a dummy bait cast by bigger fish?
Kantara
Television & Series (1)
Majaa Talkies is a Kannada comedy talk show hosted by Srujan Lokesh that combines on-stage live sketch comedy with celebrity interview segments. The show features a recurring cast performing sitcom-style sketches and serves as the premier marketing platform for Sandalwood, where actors and filmmakers regularly appear to promote their upcoming and in-theatre movies.
