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P. J. Cherian (1891-1981)
Actor-producer, born in Ernakulam Dist., Kerala. Produced P.V. Krishna Iyer’s Nirmala (1948), the first Malayalam sound film made in Kerala. Regarded as the founder of the Malayalam film industry. Owned the Royal Dramatic Co. (later Royal Cinema & Dramatic Co.), the main professional stage company in 30s Kerala, known mainly for its staging of Christian themes (e.g. Parudisa Nashtam, adapting Paradise Lost). Known also as a painter in the Raja Ravi Varma tradition and was awarded the title of Artist Chevalier by the Pope. Acted in S.S. Rajan’s Snehaseema (1954). Wrote his autobiography Ente Kala Jeevitham (1964).