Prem Nazir (1928-89)

Aka Chiriyinkil Abdul Kader. Actor born in Chiriyinkil, South Kerala, and graduated from St Berchman’s College, Changanassery. Biggest star in Malayalam film history. Started in Kunchako’s Excel company. The bulk of his prodigious output was for the Udaya and Merryland Studios where he was the first of a new generation of stars manufactured to bolster specifically Malayalam film genres. Nazir, the oldest of the generation (cf. Sathyan and Madhu), resembles e.g. Gemini Ganesh. His image merged with what Ayyappa Panicker (1987) called ‘the second generation of romantics’, poets working within a tradition framed largely by Vallathol (1878-1958) and exemplified by ‘pastoral’ poets Changampuzha and G. Sankara Kurup. Most famous Malayalam film lyricists emerged from that tradition (Vyalar Rama Varma, O.N.V. Kurup, P. Bhaskaran) and Nazir’s acting is a performative counterpart to their imagery. His embodiment of the ideal male is usually seen as more accessible than e.g. Sathyan’s remoteness, and at its best it drew attention to exploitative aspects of social and religious systems (Padatha Paingili), the breakdown of the joint family (e.g. Kariat’s Maya) and the modern engagement with folk narratives (e.g. Unniyarcha). With the new generation of 60s film-makers such as Vincent (the ghost story Bhargavi Nilayam) and K.T. Mohammed (Nazir’s classic village simpleton in Thurakatha Vathil), the films tend to elaborate a strangely intermediate world between fantasy and the contemporary, culminating in his consecration as a totally selfcontained icon, a development evoked in Lenin Rajendran’s Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla with Nazir, playing himself, kidnapped by tribals and ‘forgotten’ by the outside world as he matches his unreality with that of tribals living outside his definitions of the world. Wrote a book on the film characters he played, Enne Thediyetha Kathapatrangal.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1952: Marumagal; Visappinte Vili; Achan; 1954: Avakashi; Avan Varunnu; Manasakshi; Balya Sakhi; Kidappadam; 1955: Anujathi; CID; 1956: Atmarpanam; Manthravadi; Avarunarunnu; 1957: Devasundari; Padatha Paingili; Jailpully; 1958: Lily; Mariakutty; Chadarangam; 1960: Seeta; 1961: Krishna Kuchela; Gnana Sundari; Unniyarcha; 1962: Laila Majnu; Kalpadukal; Shri Rama Pattabhishekham; 1963: Ninamaninja Kalpadukal; Snapaka Yohannan; Kattu Maina; Chilampoli; Kaleyum Kaminiyum; Satyabhama; 1964: Kuttikkuppayam; Devalayam; School Master; Oralkoodi Kalanayi; Pazhassi Raja; Ayesha; Kudumbini; Althara; Karutha Kayi; Bhargavi Nilayam; 1965: Devatha; Odeyil Ninnu; Porter Kunjali; Inapravugal; Kaliyodam; Muthalaly; Kuppivala; Thankakudam; Rosy; Mayavi; Jeevitha Yatra; Rajamalli; Kathiruna Nikkah; Kochumon; Bhoomiyile Malakha; Shakuntala; Chettathi; Kavya Mela; Murappennu; 1966: Kalithozhen; Station Master; Pinchu Hridayam; Pennmakkal; Kootukar; Kalyana Rathriyil; Anarkali; Kanmanikal; Puchakanni; Kanakachilanka; Sthanarthi Saramma; Tilottama; Priyatama; Kunjali Marakkar; 1967: Ramanan; Jeevikan Anuvadhikuka; Irutinte Atmavu; Agniputhri; Kottayam Kola Case; Udyogastha; Balyakalasakhi; Kudumbam; Bhagyamudra; Kannatha Veshankal; Collector Malathi; Ashwamedham; Chitramela; Nagarame Nandi; Pareeksha; Cochin Express; Pooja; NGO; Nadan Pennu; Kasavuthattam; Ollathu Mathi; Swapnabhoomi; Pathirapattu; 1968: Thirichadi; Vidyarthi; Thokkukal Katha Parayunnu; Inspector; Dial 2244; Asuravithu; Padunna Puzha; Punnapra Vyalar; Lakshaprabhu; Love In Kerala; Thulabharam; Anju Sundarigal; Kodungalluramma; Velutha Kathrina; Agni Pareeksha; Kayalkarayil; Bharyamar Sukshikuka; 1969: Anashchadanam; Padicha Kallan; Vila Kuranja Manushyar; Almaram; Ballathapahayan; Mr Kerala; Rahasyam; Susie; Adimagal; Kannur Deluxe; Poojapushpam; Kadalpalam; Mooladhanam; Jwala; Vilakkapetta Bandhangal; Nadhi; Danger Biscuit; Kootu Kudumbam; Virunnukari; Rest House; 1970: Aranazhikaneram; Moodalamanju; Mindapennu; Pearl View; Amma Enna Stree; Anatha; Palunku Pathram; Kalpana; Nazhikakallu; Ezhuthatha Katha; Dattuputhran; Rakta Pushpam; Nizhalattam; Vivaham Swargathil; Thurakatha Vathil; Othenente Makan; Ningalenne Communistaki; Vivahitha; Kakathampurati; A Chitrashalabham Paranotte; Lottery Ticket; Triveni; Tara; Saraswathi; 1971: Anubhavangal Palichakal; CID Nazir; Lanka Dahanam; Muthassi; Neethi; Shiksha; Moonnupukkal; Kalithozhi; Marunattil Oru Malayali; Puthanveedu; Ernakulam Junction; Vilakku Vangiya Veena; 1972: Sambhavami Yuge Yuge; Aradi Manninte Janmi; Pushpanjali; Devi; Maya; Manthrakodi; Manushya Bandhangal; Aromalunni; Taxi Car; Mayiladum Kunnu; Omana; Oru Sundariyude Katha; Miss Mary; Punarjanmam; Maraivil Thiruvu Sukshikuha; Gandharvakshetram; Nrithyasala; Adhyathe Katha; Anveshanam; Brahmachari; Postmane Kananilla; Pani Teertha Veedu; Maram; 1973: Police Ariyaruthu; Football Champion; Agnathavasam; Panchavati; Bhadra Deepam; Thiruvabharanam; Kalachakram; Ponnapuram Kotta; Veendum Prabhatam; Thani Niram; Ladies’ Hostel; Achani; Urvashi Bharathi; Thenaruvi; Pacha Nottukal; Pavangal Pennungal; Dharma Yuddham; Sastram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu; Interview; Azhakulla Saleena; Poyi Mukhangal; Manasu; Thottavadi; Padmavyuham (Mal); Angathattu; 1974: Chanchala; Pattabhishekham; Chandrakantham; Suprabhatam; Panchatanthram; Rahasya Rathri; Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum; Durga; Setu Bandhanam; Nellu; Poonthenaruvi; Night Duty; College Girl; Ayalathe Sundari; Chakravakam; Thacholi Marumagan Chandu; Thumbolarcha; Raja Hamsam; Honeymoon; Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi; Arakallan Mukkal Kallan; Chief Guest; 1975: Abhimanam; Alibaba and Forty- One Thieves; Aranyakandam; Ashtami Rohini; Ayodhya; Babu Mon; Cheenavala; Chumadu Thangi; Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre; Hello Darling; Kottaram Vilakkanundu; Love Marriage; Manishada; Neela Ponman; Padmaragam; Palazhi Madhanam; Picnic; Pravaham; Priyamulla Sophia; Pulival; Sammanam; Sindhu; Surya Vamsam; Thamarathoni; Thiruvonam; Tourist Bungalow; 1976: Ayiram Janmangal; Ajayanum Vijayanum; Ammini Ammavan; Amritha Vahini; Aparadhi; Chennai Valarthiya Kutty; Chirikuduka; Kamadhenu; Kanyadanam; Kayamkulam Kochunniyude Maghan; Light House; Mallanum Mathevanum; Ozhukkinethire; Panchami; Panchamrutham; Parijatham; Pickpocket; Prasadam; Pushpa Sarem; Rajayogam; Seemantha Puthran; Themmadi Velappan; Thulavarsham; Thuruppu Gulam; Vanadevatha; Vazhi Vilakku; 1977: Suryakanthi; Acharam Ammini Osaram Omana; Akshaya Pathram; Anjali; Anugraham; Aparajitha; Aval Oru Devalayam; Chaturvedam; Gandharvam; Haridhayame Sakshi; Innale Innu; Ivanente Priyaputhran; Kaduvaye Pidicha Kiduva; Kannappanunni; Lakshmi; Minimol; Mohamum Mukthiyum; Muttathe Mulla; Parivarthanam; Rathi Manmathan; Rendu Lokam; Saghakkale Munottu; Samudram; Sujatha; Tholkkan Enikku Manassilla; Varadakshina; Veedu Oru Swargam; Vishukkani; 1978: Anappachan; Amarsham; Ashtamudikayal; Bharyayum Kamukiyum; Ee Ganam Marakkumo; Jayikkanai Janichavan; Kadathanattu Maakkam; Kalpa Vruksha; Kanalkkattakal; Kudumbam Namakku Sreekovil; Liza; Mudra Nazir, Prem 165 Mothiram; Ninakku Jnanum Enikku Neeyum; Nivedyam; Prarthana; Raju Rahim; Shathru Samharam; Snehathinte Mukhangal; Sundari Marudde Swapnangal; Thacholi Ambu; Tharu Oru Janmam Koodi; Vilakkum Velichavum; Yagaswam; 1979: Ward No. 7; Kalam Kathu Ninilla; Irumpazhigal; Vijayanum Veeranum; Mamankam; Prabhu; Pamparam; Tharangam; Thirayum Thiravum; Indradhanush; Iniyum Kanam; Kathirmandapam; Manavadharmam; Ormayil Nee Mathram; Pichathikkuttappan; Sarpam; Valaduthavan Valal; Vellayanni Paramu; 1980: Air Hostess; Kari Puranda Jeevithangal; Agni Kshetram; Ithikkara Pakki; Theekadal; Mr Michael; Digvijayam; Chandrahasam; Palattu Kunjikannan; Lava; Pralayam; Anthappuram; Nayattu; Love in Singapore; Theeram Thedunnavar; 1981: Charam; Areyappedatha Rahasyam; Thadavara; Thalam Manasinte Thalam; Theekali; Sanchari; Choothatham; Kodumudikal; Ellam Ninakku Vendi; Kilungatha Changalakal; Pathiya Suryan; Sangharsham; Attamari; Raktham; Vida Parayum Munpe; Itihasam; Parvathi; Dhruva Sangamam; Adimachangala; Kadathu; Itha Oru Dhikkari; Kadathu; Kahalam; Kattukallan; Thakilukottampuram; Thenum Vayampum; 1982: Idiyum Minnalum; Ivan Oru Simham; Angachamayam; Mayilanji; Jambulingam; Oru Thira Pinneyum Thira; Maruppacha; Panchajanyam; Champalakadu; Padayottam; Arambham; Akrosham; Shri Ayyappanum Vavarum; Raktha Sakshi; Adarsham; Ankuram; Drohi; Irattimadhuram; Keni; Mazhanilavu; Nagamadhathu Thampuratti; Post Mortem; 1983: Bandham; Adhyathe Anuragam; Attakkalasam; Adhipathyam; Angam; Ashrayam; Bhukambam; Chakravalam Chuvannappol; Deeparadhana; Ee Yugam; Ente Katha; Himam; Justice Raja; Kariyam Nisaram; Kodungattu; Mahabali; Markkailo Rikalum; Mortuary; Oru Madaupravinte Katha; Passport; Prashnam Gurutharam; Pratigna; Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla; Theeram Thedunna Thira; Yuddham; 1984: Makale Maapu Tharu; Alakadalinakkare; Amme Narayana; Ente Nandini Kutty; Inakkilli; Kadamattathachan; Krishna Guruvayoorappa; Kurisuyuddham; Madhu Vidhu Theerum Munpe; Manase Ninakku Mangalam; Manithali; Ningalil Oru Stree; Oru Thettinde Katha; Piriyilla Naam; Poomadathu Pennu; Vanitha Police; Vellom; Vikatakavi; 1985: Daivathe Orthu; Manya Mahajanangale; Mukhya Manthri; Nerariyum Nerathu;; Orikkal Oridathu; Orunal Innorunal; Ozhivukalam; Sannaham; Snehicha Kuttathinu; Uyirthezhunnelppu; Shatru; 1986: Ayalvasi Oru Dharithavasi; 1988: Dhwani; 1989: Lal Americayil.

Actor