| Kainakary Thankaraj | |
| Birth Date: | 18 October 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Kainakary, Travancore present day Alappuzha district, Kerala, India |
| Death Place: | Keralapuram, Kerala, India |
| Othername: | Kainakari Thankaraj |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Yearsactive: | 1978–2022 |
Kainakary Thankaraj (Malayalam: കൈനകരി തങ്കരാജ്; 18 October 1946 – 3 April 2022) was an Indian actor, who worked in the Malayalam movie industry and Malayalam Drama Theater Industry.
Kainakary, son of playwright Krishnankutty Bhagavathar, was born on 18 October 1946 in Kainakary, Travancore.[1] He began acting at 13 and worked with several theater committees, including Kerala People's Arts Club. His film debut was in Aanappaachan (1978) alongside Prem Nazir, leading to roles in over 35 films.
Thankaraj started acting in plays while in school, becoming a popular face in amateur theatre alongside Nedumudi Venu, Faasil and Alleppey Ashraf. His first professional play was Changanasserry Geetha. He was part of many professional theatre collectives, including Kottayam National Theaters, Chalakkuddy Saradhi and KPAC. In 1995, he founded Kainakary Theaters and later formed a theatre troupe named Ambalappuzha Aksharajwala with late actor Thilakan.[2]
Kainakary passed away on 3 April 2022 at his home in Velamkonam, Keralapuram, after a long battle with liver-related issues.[3] He was 75.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana | Police officer | |
| 1978 | Aanappaachan | Shankaran | |
| 1980 | Agni Kshethram | ||
| 2008 | Annan Thambi | ||
| 2013 | Amen | Chali Pappan | |
| 2014 | Iyobinte Pusthakam | ||
| 2018 | Ee.Ma.Yau. | Valiyathuparambil Vavachan Mesthiri | |
| Iblis | Great Grandfather | ||
| 2019 | Lucifer | Sakhaavu Nedumpally Krishnan | |
| Ishq | Murugan | ||
| Vaarikkuzhiyile Kolapathakam | Kattuthara Vakkachan | ||
| 2021 | Home | Appachan | |
| Orilathanalil | |||
| Mohan Kumar Fans | |||
| 2022 | Padavettu | [4] | |
| 2023 | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam | [5] | |