Muraleedharan Pillai, popularly known as Murali (25 May 1954 – 6 August 2009) was an Indian film, stage and television actor and author.

[1][2] Murali started his film career playing villain roles and soon turned to character acting.

[3] The film was well received at the box office and Murali ascended to the status of a star in Malayalam cinema, which he enjoyed for a few years during the 1990s.

Some of his other notable films include Nee Ethra Dhanya, Dhanam, The King, Pathram, Chakoram, Veeralippattu, Achan Kombathu Amma Varambathu, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Swarnam, Kaarunyam and The Truth"Amaram".

[6] Murali was actively involved with Natyagriham, a drama venture started by actor Narendra Prasad.

Murali won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ravana in the Malayalam play Lanka Lakshmi, which was based on C. N. Sreekantan Nair's novel of the same name.

Murali was a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and has contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from the Alappuzha constituency as a Left Democratic Front candidate, but lost to V. M. Sudheeran of Indian National Congress.

Murali died in Thiruvananthapuram on 6 August 2009 at the age of 55, due to acute diabetes which led to a heart attack at 8.20 PM IST.

[7] He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Aruvikkara, which he had bought some years prior to his death.