Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair(1922-86)

Malayalam theatre star born in Kottarakkara, Kerala. Major actor over four decades in Malayalam cinema. His single most famous role was that of the father in Kariat’s Chemmeen. Tended to play a tradition-bound villain but his main impact was in shaping the iconography of the extreme right-wing Nair Service Society (NSS), the political voice of the formerly dominant Nair caste which later joined with Christian groups to create the militant Vimochana Samara to oppose the Communist government of Kerala by appealing to the military glories of this once-ruling warrior caste. Gave a high-flown, declamatory performance as Veluthampi Dalawa, the legendary Nair diwan who fought the British and later defied his own king. This figure became the subject of several stage and literary historicals (e.g. a play by Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai) and was integrated into Kerala Congress rhetoric. This role and others like that of Kunjali Marakkar, a Muslim nationalist who joined the Zamorins in fighting the Portuguese in Malabar, defined the Rajapart, i.e. the image of the royal costumed hero on the Malayalam stage and later in film. Another famous Kottarakkara role is that of the old and lonely man who feels death to be ‘half an hour away’ in K.S. Sethumadhavan’s Aranazhikaneram.

FILMOGRAPHY:' 1950: Sasidharan; Chechi; Prasanna; 1951: Yachakan; 1952: Atmashanti; 1953: Lokaneethi; 1954: Avakashi; Avan Varunnu; Manasakashi; Snehaseema; Kidappadam; 1955: Kalam Marunnu; CID; 1956: Atmarpanam; Manthravadi; 1957: Padatha Paingili; Jailpully; 1958: Thaskara Veeran; Randidangazhi; 1959: Nadodikal; Minnal Padayali; 1960: Poothali; 1961: Christmas Rathri; Bhakta Kuchela; Umminithanka; Shri Sabarimalai Shri Ayyappan; 1962: Veluthampi Dalawa; Sneha Deepam; Sreekovil; Puthiya Aksham Puthiya Bhoomi; Shri Rama Pattabhishekham; Bhagya Jatakam; 1963: Nithya Kanyaka; Snapaka Yohannan; Satyabhama; Kadalamma; Rebecca; 1964: Anna; Pazhassi Raja; Althara; Devalayam; 1965: Shyamalachechi; Inapravugal; Thommente Makkal; Kalyanaphoto; Kattuthulasi; Mayavi; Shakuntala; Pattu Thoovala; Sarpakadu; Chemmeen; 1966: Rowdy; Jail; Pennmakkal; Kootukar; Kalyana Rathriyil; Anarkali; Kanmanikal; Tilottama; Mayor Nair; Kunjali Marakkar; 1967: Jeevikan Anuvadhikuka; Kottayam Kola Case; Balyakalasakhi; Lady Doctor; Mainatharuvi Kola Case; Collector Malathi; Cochin Express; Pooja; Kasavuthattam; Ollathu Mathi; 1968: Thirichadi; Viruthan Sanku; Hotel Highrange; Punnapra Vyalar; Midumidukki; Adhyapika; Kodungalluramma; 1969: Vila Kuranja Manushyar; Almaram; Janmabhoomi; Nurse; Susie; Jwala; Kootu Kudumbam; Kumara Sambhavam; 1970: Pearl View; Kurukshetram; Cross Belt; Kakathampurati; Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha; Detective 909 Keralathil; Aranazhikaneram; 1972: Puthanveedu; Ananthasayanam; Chhayam; Panimudakku; Professor; Chemparathi; Achannum Bappayum; Thottilla; Shri Guruvayoorappan; 1973: Enippadikal; Nirmalayam; Gayatri; Swapnam; Darshanam; Achani; Kaadu (Mal); Driksakshi; Thottavadi; Yamini; Chuzhi; Checkpost; Thekkan Kattu; Swargaputhri; Padmavyuham; 1974: Chanchala; Nellu; Devi Kanyakumari; Atithi; Mazhakkaru; 1975: Akkaldama; Kamam Krodham Moham; Palkadal; Prayanam; 1976: Amba Ambika Ambalika; Colonel and Collector; 1977: Shri Murugan; Vezhambal; 1978: Padasaram; Priyadarshini; 1979: Kayalum Kayarum; Radha Enna Pennkutti; 1980: Kadalkattu; Kalika; Ragam Thanam Pallavi; Vedikkettu; 1981: Parvathi; Tharattu; 1982: Ithum Oru Jeevitham; Snehapoorvam Meera; 1984: My Dear Kuttichathan/Chhota? Chetan; 1985: Daivathe Orthu.

Actor