Manu M Lal's rise to fame, however, goes beyond his roles as Krishna-like characters.
Manu M Lal
In an industry where names are often synonymous with fame, it’s not uncommon for actors to be misidentified or miscredited, especially when their roles transcend the boundaries of their original persona. For actor Manu M Lal, this has become a bit of a challenge.
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Born as Manesh Kumar, the talented actor has made a name for himself in the Malayalam entertainment world, but not without the occasional confusion when it comes to his name in casting lists and credits. Over the years, a strange trend has emerged: his name is sometimes wrongly listed as Manesh Krishnan in casting sheets, websites, and even in the credits of his projects. This mix-up stems from his notable portrayal of characters named "Krishna" or "Kannan," roles that he initially took on in his early career.
The first spark of this confusion occurred with his debut appearance in a music video in the album “Sreenandanam” back in 2009, where he played the character of Krishna in the song “ Ambadikanna”. The role left a lasting impression on audiences from Malayali households. In his breakthrough films, he portrayed characters named Kannan and Krishnan-names that, in the minds of both audiences and industry professionals, became inseparable from his on-screen presence.
"There's a bit of irony in the situation," Manu M Lal admits with a smile. "I started with playing Krishna, Kannan, and Krishnan. It was part of my early image, and it stuck. But when websites or casting sheets mistakenly use 'Manesh Krishnan' instead of my real name, it’s just a bit funny for me now. I’ve learned to laugh it off."
The misconception doesn’t stop at simple name errors. In fact, it sometimes affects the actor's professional life, with casting directors and agents occasionally uncertain if the actor with the credited name is indeed the same Manu M Lal they’ve worked with before. The mix-up could cause complications when working across multiple projects where identity and credits are crucial for the actor's career development.
Manu M Lal's rise to fame, however, goes beyond his roles as Krishna-like characters. He has successfully expanded his range with diverse roles in dramas, comedies, and even thrillers, shedding the typecast that originally followed him. Yet, as his body of work continues to grow, so does the occasional misstep in credits.
"It’s always a bit tricky, but I try to focus on the work and let everything else follow. The names may change, the characters may evolve, but at the end of the day, it's the story and the performance that matter," says the actor.
Indeed, the entertainment industry is known for such identity quirks, and Manu M Lal is certainly not the only one to experience it. With time, he is determined to continue rising above the confusion while leaving his unique mark on every role he plays. His fans know him by many names, but for them, he will always be the actor who brings every character to life-regardless of the name on the credits.
For now, fans and industry professionals alike will have to remember that Manesh Kumar is the man behind the screen persona of Manu M Lal, no matter how many "Krishnans" may pop up along the way.
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