Rizabawa
Rizabawa is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Rizabawa began their career in 1994 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 32 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 6.5, Rizabawa remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. An emerging voice in Tamil cinema, Rizabawa is already attracting significant attention for their distinctive work.
- Born
- Age
- 59
Biography
Rizabawa (24 September 1966 – 13 September 2021) was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema, also appearing in Tamil films such as Thendral Varum Theru (1994), and was widely recognized as a skilled dubbing artist. He is best remembered for his iconic portrayal of the villain 'John Honai' in the 1990 Malayalam blockbuster In Harihar Nagar, a role that launched his career in over 100 films, mostly as an antagonist. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Karmayogi (2010), demonstrating his range beyond villain roles. He also dubbed for Tamil actor Thalaivasal Vijay in several Malayalam productions and for Anupam Kher in the Malayalam film Pranayam, cementing his reputation as a versatile voice artist.
Career Milestones
Film debut as lead actor
Breakthrough role as villain John Honai, which became an iconic character in Malayalam cinema
Appeared in Tamil film alongside Ramesh Aravind and Charu Haasan
View film →Accumulated over 100 film appearances primarily in villain roles across Malayalam and Tamil cinema
Won Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist
Rizabawa by the Numbers
If you watched every Rizabawa film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 2 hours.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Legacy & Influence
Rizabawa is a supporting actor in Tamil cinema whose career trajectory is defined by his consistent portrayals of antagonistic and character roles, primarily during the 1990s and early 2000s. His contribution lies in his ability to effectively embody a range of negative characters, from cunning henchmen to authoritative figures of opposition, thereby providing a reliable counterpoint to the film's protagonists. While not a leading star, his presence added depth and conflict to numerous commercial films, operating within the established framework of Tamil cinema's narrative tropes. His filmography, though not extensively documented in the public domain, includes appearances in notable films such as 'Thendral Varum Theru' (1994). His work represents the essential role played by a cadre of dedicated character actors who form the backbone of the industry, ensuring narrative tension and supporting the star-driven plots typical of the era. Without specific, verifiable details on award recognition or landmark performances, his legacy is best understood as that of a dependable professional within the broader ecosystem of Tamil filmmaking, contributing to the genre's storytelling without necessarily redefining it.
