Vinayakan is an Indian actor, former dancer, and composer who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil language films.He started his career with a cameo appearance in the 1995 film Maanthrikam. Vinayakan won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in the year 2016 for his leading role of Ganga in Rajiv Ravi's Kammatipaadam. His recognized roles include Edakochi Dude in Aadu - Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu and its successor film Aadu 2, and as Ayyappan in Lijo Jose Pellissery's Ee.Ma.Yau. He achieved wider attention by playing the antagonist Varman in Nelson Dilipkumar's Tamil-language action thriller film Jailer (2023) starring Rajinikanth.