Prem Nazir

 Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 7 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian film actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation. He is considered one of the most successful actors of Indian cinema. Nazir is often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan ("Evergreen Hero"). Nazir began his career as a stage actor and made his film debut with the 1952 film Marumakal. He took on the stage name Prem Nazir on the sets of his second film, Visappinte Vili (1952). Nazir rose to stardom during the 1950s to become one of the biggest superstars from the late 1950s to early 1980s. He is most famous for being a romantic actor. After 1983, he intentionally moved from main hero roles to character roles as he wanted to portray a variety of characters, as other artists do.

Nazir is noted for his critically acclaimed performances in films such as Murappennu (1965), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Nadhi (1969), Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971), Azhakulla Saleena (1973), Vida Parayum Munpe (1981), Padayottam (1982), and Dhwani (1988).^[1] Nazir won the Kerala State Film Award (Special Jury Award) for his role as Madhavan Kutty in Vida Parayum Munpe. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan the third highest civilian honours respectively, for his contribution towards the arts.^[2] He died due to measles on 16 January 1989 at the age of 62.

Nazir holds two Guinness World Records: for playing the lead role in a record 520 films and for playing opposite the same heroine in 130 films (with Sheela).^[3][4] He also holds two other acting records; for acting opposite eighty heroines and for acting in lead roles in 30 films which were released in a single year (1973,77).

Career

Prem Nazir had his acting debut as Shylock in the play The Merchant of Venice (1951), when he was a student at SB College, Changanacherry. He won the best actor award for this role in the play directed by Sheppard. His first film was Marumakal (1952), directed by S. K. Chari and produced by Paul Kallungal. He was credited as Abdul Khader in this film. He got his career break with Visappinte Vili (1952), his second film, made for K&K Combines (Udaya Studio) by Telugu director Mohan Rao. It was on the set of this movie he was renamed to Prem Nazir by Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair. Prem Nazir started his career when drama was the most popular visual medium and film making at its infancy. He began acting for the Excel Productions (Udaya Studio) and most of his films were for the Udaya and Merryland Studios

Popular film genres

Two popular film genres initiated by Prem Nazir are the C.I.D series and the Vadakkanpattu series. The former is a group of investigative films in which Nazir played James Bond like protagonists. In most of these movies Nazir teamed with Adoor Bhasi, a famed comedy actor who would accompany Nazir characters in investigations. These hit mainstream popularity with the trendsetter Lanka Dahanam and are perhaps the single most popular movie series in Malayalam film history. The waves created by this movie series continue in Malayalam cinema, arguably to this day. It has inspired numerous adaptations and similar series like for example popular CBI series with Mammootty in the lead and a satirical CID series of Mohanlal-Sreenivasan team. Other inspired films are C.I.D Unnikrishnan starring Jayaram and C.I.D Moosa with Dileep in the lead.

Another popular film series starring Nazir was a series of movies based on Vadakanpaattu which are part of the traditional folklore of Kerala. These are tales of martial warriors spread over generations through folk songs. Although the series may have been initiated by Sathyan's title role in Thacholi Othenan, the trend was continued long after his demise with Nazir in the lead, playing various other characters from Vadakkanpattu.^[11] Nazir later teamed with other actors like Jayan, Shankar, Mammootty, Jayaram and Mohanlal in later films of this category.

Awards

Prem Nazir won his only Kerala State Film Award in 1981; He won Filmfare Special Award - South^[16] for numerous films in 1976 and he won a Special Jury Award for the supporting role he played in the film Vida Parayum Munbe. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1983 by the President of India in recognition of distinguished services of a high order to the nation in his field (acting). The Prem Nazir Award was initiated in his memory, in 1992, for excellence in contributions to the Malayalam cinema Industry. He has also held the position of National Film Award jury in 1985.

Importent roles

1 Kunjali Marakkar (1966) as Antonio/Narayanan Nair

2 Thirichadi (1971) as Kuttappan/Venu

3 Rahasyam (1969) as Babu/K.K.Nair

4 Seemantha Puthran (1978) as Surendran/Jayadevan

5 Makane Ninakku Vendi (1971) as Sam/Thomachan

6 Aromalunni (1974) as Kunjiraman/Aromalunni

7 Gandharvakshethram (1974) as Gandharvan/Velayudhan

8 Postmane Kananilla (1973) as Ramu/Aniyan

9 Football Champion (1976) as Vijayan/ Thakil Veerachami

10 Thenaruvi (1976) as Rajan/Mannaan.

11 Ragapournami (1978) as Vinayan/Ajayan

12 Thacholi Marumakan Chandu (1980) as Othenan/Kutty

13 Honeymoon (1974)

14 Mamangam (1980) as Marathandan/Kannan

15Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum (1974)

16 Durga (1974) as Prof. Damodaran/Ramu

17 Kottaaram Vilkkaanundu (1975) as Murali

18 Picnic (1975) as Ravivarma/Rajagopal

19Aaranyakaantam (1979) as Unnikrishnan/Duplicate Unni

20Kadamattathachan (1978) as Ravivarma/Kadamattathu Kathanar

21 Ajayanum Vijayanum (1978) as Ajayan/Vijayan

22 Paarijatham (1976)

23 Vanadevatha (1976) as Chandran/Suresh

24 Chennaaya Valarthiya Kutty (1976) as Sreeni/Maranchadi.

25 Kannappanunni (1981) as Durgadasan/Kannappanunni.

26 Kadathanaattu Maakkam (1978) as Nambeeshan/Kannan.

27 Kanalkattakal (1979) as Panikkar/Vijayan.

28 Aanappaachan (1978) as Paachan/Gopi.

29 Vijayanum Veeranum (1982) as Vijayan/Veeran.

30 Anthapuram (1981)

31 Sanchari (1981) as Sumesh/Suresh

32 Post Mortem (1982) as Vikariyachan/C.I.of Police.

33Marupacha (1982) as PremKumar, Premchandran

34 Ente Katha (1983) as Sreekumar/Sankar

35 Justice Raja (1983) as Justice Raja/Son of Raja.

36.Muhammadum musthafayum (1978) as Rajan/Babu

37.Rajurahim (1978) as Raju and Rahim

38.Mallanum Mathevanum

39.Anweshanam (1978) as Gopi/Venu

40.Adachangala (1978) as Ravi/Johnny

41.Ammini Ammavan (1977) as Anandhan/Suresh

Family

Prem Nazir was married to Habeeba Beevi and they have one son and three daughters. Laila (settled at Calicut), Rasiya (married to Mr. Hashim, Businessman from Kannur & settled at Chennai) – both elder to Shanavas. The youngest daughter is Rita (married to Doctor Sharafuddin of Punalur & settled at Muscat). Shanavas's wife Ayisha Beevi is the daughter of the eldest sister of Prem Nazir, Suleikha Beevi. Prem Nazir's son Shanavas acted in few films as well but could not succeed like his father. Third generation of Prem Nazir, Shanavas's son Shameer Khan, acted in a Malayalam film, Uppukandam Brothers Back in Action.

Prem Nazir's younger brother Prem Nawas (Abdul Wahab) also acted in a few films. Although he was the first in the family to begin acting in movies, he later began producing films – Agniputhri, Thulaavarsham, Poojakku Edukatha Pookkal, Neethi and Keni to name a few. Prem Nawas's only son, Prem Kishore has also had a stint with the industry by acting in two Malayalam films – Vacation and Thaskaraputran. Prem Nawas has the distinction of acting in the first ever colour film made in Malayalam – Kandam Vechu Kottu.