Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair (1917-97)

Actor, scenarist, lyricist, playwright and director born in Thikkurisi, Kerala. Major Malayalam star since 1950. Known more recently for elderly ‘character’ roles. Wrote five plays 1944- 9, the best known being Stree, the film version of which was also his acting début. His early work helped the Malayalam stage and cinema move away from the pervasive influence of the Tamil stage by eliminating the musical conventions of the Tamil Bhagavathars’ (actorsingers) hour-long invocations, their emphasis on the high scale and the use of the pedalorgan. He kept his accompanyists behind the stage curtain and recited his own Malayalam compositions in metrical structures closer to lyric poetry than to Carnatic forms. Extended this style in his early films, e.g. Jeevitha Nauka, the Koshy-Kunchako production that tried to establish an indigenous Kerala film culture. Directed many remakes of Tamil hits, rewritten and reperformed to address a local milieu: e.g. Palunku Pathram remade K.S. Gopalakrishnan’s Kaikodutha Daivam (1964). One of the three stars (with Prem Nazir and comedian Adoor Bhasi) who dominated Malayalam films in the 60s and 70s. In addition to his big Udaya Studio films, famous roles include key films by Kariat (e.g. Maya), Bhaskaran (Irutinte Atmavu) and Vincent (Abhijathyam). Also wrote dialogues and lyrics for Devasundari (1957), dialogues for Sabarimalai Shri Ayyappan (1962) and Muthalaly (1965), and st/dial for P. Subramanyam’s Ana Valarthiya Vanampadi (1971).

FILMOGRAPHY (* also d): 1950: Stree; Chandrika; 1951: Jeevitha Nauka; Navalokam; 1952: Amma; Visappinte Vili; Achan; Andaman Kaithi; 1953: Sario Thetto* (also music d); 1954: Puthradharmam; Kidappadam; 1955: Harishchandra; Kalam Marunnu; 1956: Atmarpanam; 1957: Achannum Maganam; 1958: Thaskara Veeran; Mariakutty; Randidangazhi; 1960: Umma; Seeta; Poothali; 1961: Christmas Rathri; Kandam Becha Coat; Unniyarcha; Shri Sabarimalai Shri Ayyappan; Bhakta Kuchela; Gnana Sundari; 1962: Majnu; Veluthampi Dalawa; Sneha Deepam; Sreekovil; Shri Rama Pattabhishekham; Viyarppinte Vila; 1963: Nithya Kanyaka; Doctor; Snapaka Yohannan; Satyabhama; Chilampoli; Kaleyum Kaminiyum; 1964: Devalayam; School Master; Atom Bomb; Karutha Kayi; Shri Guruvayoorappan; Omanakuttan; Kalanjukuttiya Thangam; Kudumbini; 1965: Odeyil Ninnu; Inapravugal; Kaliyodam; Muthalaly; Rosy; Mayavi; Jeevitha Yatra; Kattupookal; Kathiruna Nikkah; Kochumon; Bhoomiyile Malakha; Shakuntala; Chettathi; 1966: Kusirthikuttan/Anni?; Kadamattathachan; Jail; Kootukar; Kayamkulam Kochunni; Puthri; Anarkali; Tharavatamma; Kanmanikal; Puchakanni; Kallipennu; Kanakachilanka; Karuna; Tilottama; Priyatama; Mayor Nair; 1967: Irutinte Atmavu; Postman; Madatharuvi; Anveshichu Kandatiyilla; Chitramela; Pareeksha; Nadan Pennu; 1968: Vidyarthi; Viruthan Sanku; Manaswini; Inspector; Vazhipizhacha Santhathi; Kadal; Hotel Highrange; Punnapra Vyalar; Thulabharam; Adhyapika; Aparadhini; Kodungalluramma; 1969: Ballathapahayan; Chattambi Kavala; Nadhi; Kumara Sambhavam; Nurse*; Poojapushpam*; 1970: Amma Enna Stree; Cross Belt; Ezhuthatha Katha; Nizhalattam; Vivaham Swargathil; Triveni; Tara; Saraswathi*; Palunku Pathram*; 1971: Abhijathyam; Achante Bharya*; Puthanveedu; 1972: Maya; Thavaputhalvan; Professor; Aromalunni; Shri Guruvayoorappan; Maraivil Thiruvu Sukshikuha; Swayamvaram; Shakti; 1973: Thiruvabharanam; Ponnapuram Kotta; Kavitha; Chenda; Thani Niram; Kattu Vithachavan; Kaadu (Mal); Nakhangal; Prethangalude Thazhvara; Sastram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu; Divya Darshanam; Checkpost; Swargaputhri; Asha Chakram; Jesus; Angathattu; Urvashi Bharathi*; Pacha Nottukal; 1974: Suprabhatam; Nathoon; Yauvanam; Nellu; Nagaram Sagaram; Swarna Vigraham; Ivide Thodangannu; Kalyana Saugandhikam; Thumbolarcha; Devi Kanyakumari; Nadhi Nadanmare Avasiamundu; Vishnu Vijayam; Sapta Swarangal; Swarna Malsiyam; 1975: Abhimanam; Alibaba and Forty-One Thieves; Aranyakandam; Bharya Illatha Rathri; Cheenavala; Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre; Manishada; Padmaragam; Sammanam; Surya Vamsam; Swami Ayyappan; Thomasleeha; Sathyathinde Nizhalil; Neela Ponman; 1976: Ammini Ammavan; Amritha Vahini; Appooppan; Chennai Valarthiya Kutty; Chirikuduka; Dheere Sameere Yamuna Theere; Kayamkulam Kochunniyude Maghan; Mallanum Mathevanum; Romeo; Sarvekkalu; Srimadh Bhagavad Geeta; Swimming Pool; Thuruppu Gulam; Vazhi Vilakku; Yakshaganam; 1977: Aparajitha; Chaturvedam; Harsha Bhashpam; Kannappanunni; Kavilamma; Kodiyettam; Madanolsavam; Manas Oru Mayil; Minimol; Niraparayum Nilavilakkum; Parivarthanam; Rathi Manmathan; Saghakkale Munottu; Satyavan Savithri; Vishukkani; Yatheem; Suryakanthi; 1978: Kanyaka; Ashtamudikayal; Asthamayam; Avar Jeevikkunu; Chakrayudham; Jayikkanai Janichavan; Kadathanattu Maakkam; Kalpa Vruksha; Kanalkkattakal; Madhurikuna Rathri; Manoratham; Snehikkan Oru Pennu; Society Lady; Sundari Marudde Swapnangal; Thacholi Ambu; 1979: Allavudeenum Albutha Velakkum/Allavudeenum? Arputha Vilakkum/ Alladdin and the Wonderful Lamp; Ajnatha Theerangal; Iniyethra Sandhyakal; Hridayathinte Nirangal; Iniyum Kanam; Mamankam; Manushiyan; Pennoruppetal; Ponnil Kulicha Rathri; Prabhata Sandhya; Pratiksha; Puthiya Velicham; Sayujiyam; Valaduthavan Valal; 1980: Seeta; Adhikaram; Ambala Vilakku; Oru Nimisham Tharu; Palattu Kunjikannan; Swathu; 1981: Balloon; Grihalakshmi; Sanchari; Thalam Manasinte Thalam; Ayudham; 1982: Ithum Oru Jeevitham; Ithu Gnangalude Katha; Padayottam; 1983: Ahankaram; 1984: Attahasam; Oodarathuammava Alariyum; Oru Sumangaliyuda Katha; 1985: Azhiyatha Bandhangal; Ee Thalamura Inganna; 1986: Avanazhi; 1988: Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu; Oru Muthassi Katha; Aryan; 1989: Purappad; 1990: Aye Auto; His Highness Abdullah; 1991: Advaitham.

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Writer