Paul Michael (2 December 1958), better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian film director, actor, script writer, producer, and film distributor widely known for his work in Malayalam cinema.

He is best known 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 (1992), and Kabooliwala (1994). The duo broke off afterwards but he produced Siddique's Hitler (1996) and Friends (1999) under his production company Lal Creations. Other films he has produced include Thenkasipattanam (2000), Kalyanaraman (2002), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), and Chanthupottu (2005).

Lal's debut as an actor came in 1997 when he played Paniyan in Jayaraj's Kaliyattam. He is known for his serious as well as comedic roles and has twice won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his roles in Thalappavu (2008) and Ayal and Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013). After sixteen years, Lal returned to directing with sequels to In Harihar Nagar, 2 Harihar Nagar (2009) and In Ghost House Inn (2010).

Biography

Lal was born on 2 December 1958, as Paul Michael to M. A. Paul and Philomina in a Roman Catholic Latin Rite family of the Archdiocese of Verapoly at Ernakulam. He is married to Nancy. The couple have a son Jean Paul Lal, who is an upcoming movie director and a daughter Monica.Music director Alex Paul, who composed soundtracks for the sequels of In Harihar Nagar, is his younger brother.