| 4 | | Malayalam cinema’s best-known film star in the 60s and 70s after Prem Nazir. Until 1980, he starred in a third of all films made in Malayalam. Born in Adoor, originally named K. Bhaskaran Nair. A former textile technologist and stage performer, he went into films when he moved to Madras and worked briefly as production manager on Tamil films. A renowned comedian, he continued the slapstick style introduced into Malayalam cinema by S.P. Pillai. His first major role was as Anachal Krishna Pillai in P. Bhaskaran’s Adya Kiranangal. Later developed the persona of the wide-eyed, wooden-faced and sometimes unsmiling figure delivering lines in a staccato rhythm, which recalled the literary satires of his father, E.V. Krishna Pillai (1894-1938), especially in Kavya Mela, where he plays a poet directly reminiscent of Krishna Pillai’s Kavitakkesu (1929). His style evoked the major tradition of Malayalam farces pioneered by the plays of C.V. Raman Pillai, later used to parody the romantic poetry of the post-Vallathol era. As such, Bhasi functions as the satirical, even cynical, counter to Prem Nazir’s extension of the romantic tradition as he mouths the lyrics of Vyalar Rama Varma. Bhasi’s best-known performance outside Kerala is in John Abraham’s Cheriyachente Kroora Krithyangal, masterfully cast as the cowering Cherian consumed by guilt. Also remembered for his out-of-character ‘serious’ role as the father in Aravindan’s Uttarayanam, and for his triple role in Padunna Puzha. Also directed four films. Contested the Trivandrum Corp elections as an Independent candidate backed by the Left parties, but lost. |
| | 4 | Malayalam cinema’s best-known film star in the 60s and 70s after [[Prem Nazir]]. Until 1980, he starred in a third of all films made in Malayalam. Born in Adoor, originally named K. Bhaskaran Nair. A former textile technologist and stage performer, he went into films when he moved to Madras and worked briefly as production manager on Tamil films. A renowned comedian, he continued the slapstick style introduced into Malayalam cinema by S.P. Pillai. His first major role was as Anachal Krishna Pillai in P. [[Bhaskaran]]’s Adya Kiranangal. Later developed the persona of the wide-eyed, wooden-faced and sometimes unsmiling figure delivering lines in a staccato rhythm, which recalled the literary satires of his father, E.V. Krishna Pillai (1894-1938), especially in [[Kavya Mela]], where he plays a poet directly reminiscent of Krishna Pillai’s Kavitakkesu (1929). His style evoked the major tradition of Malayalam farces pioneered by the plays of C.V. Raman Pillai, later used to parody the romantic poetry of the post-Vallathol era. As such, Bhasi functions as the satirical, even cynical, counter to Prem Nazir’s extension of the romantic tradition as he mouths the lyrics of [[Vyalar Rama Varma]]. Bhasi’s best-known performance outside Kerala is in [[John Abraham]]’s [[Cheriyachente Kroora Krithyangal]], masterfully cast as the cowering Cherian consumed by guilt. Also remembered for his out-of-character ‘serious’ role as the father in [[Aravindan]]’s [[Uttarayanam]], and for his triple role in Padunna Puzha. Also directed four films. Contested the Trivandrum Corp elections as an Independent candidate backed by the Left parties, but lost. |