Lal

December 2, 1958 — Kochi, Kerala, India

Paul Michael (born December 2, 1958), better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian film director, script writer, actor, producer, and film distributor. He is most famous for teaming up with Siddique under the shared name Siddique-Lal to make films such as Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1993), and Kabooliwala (1993). The duo broke off afterwards but he produced Siddique's Hitler (1996) and Friends (1999). Other films he has produced include Thenkasipattanam (2000), Kalyanaraman (2002), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), and Thommanum Makkalum (2005). Lal's debut as an actor came in 1997 when he played Paniyan in Jayaraj's Kaliyattam. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for playing Raveendran Pillai in Madhupal's film Thalappavu (2008).