Venu Nagavally (16 April 1949 – 10 September 2010) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director best known for his work in Malayalam film industry.

[7] It was his directorial projects like "Sughamo devi", "Sarvakalashala", "Aey Auto" and "Lal Salam" that cemented Mohanlal's status as a superstar, in the late 1980s.

His oeuvre also had a strain of his left leanings; in addition to acting in films like Meenamasathile Sooryan (about the Kayyur revolt) and heading the production wing of a pro-left television channel, two of the films he directed – Lal Salam (1990) and Raksthasakhikal Zindabad (1998) – were an introspective look at the rise and fall of communist ideals.

Venu examines these issues by dealing with the cracks in political movements, its hopes and later degeneration, create in human relationships.

[10] The movies for which he has sung songs include Chillu, Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki, Oru Painkilikatha out of which the song "Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu" from the movie Ente Ammu, Ninte Thulasi, Avarude Chakki became quite popular.