Prem Nazir was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. A popular cultural icon of Kerala, Nazir is often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan. 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).
Madath Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as M.T., is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He is a prolific and versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, and is one of the masters of post-Independence Indian literature. At the age of 20, as a chemistry undergraduate, he won the prize for the best short story in Malayalam at World Short Story Competition conducted by The New York Herald Tribune. His first major novel Naalukettu, written at the age of 23, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. His other novels include Manju (Mist), Kaalam (Time), Asuravithu and Randamoozham. The deep emotional experiences of his early days have gone into the making of MT's novels. Most of his works are oriented towards the basic Malayalam family structure and culture and many of them were path-breaking in the history of Malayalam literature. His three seminal novels on life in the matriarchal family in Kerala are Naalukettu, Asuravithu, and Kaalam. Randamoozham, which retells the story of the Mahabharatha from the point of view of Bhimasena, is widely credited as his masterpiece.
Nambiathusseril Varkey John, better known by his screen name Sasikumar, was an Indian film director who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has directed more than 141 films in his career which began in the mid-1960s. He is often referred to as Hitmaker Sasikumar due to the commercial success of his films. In 2012, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema
Sathyan was an Indian actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. Known for his own style and versatility in acting, Satyan was one of the pioneers of realistic acting in Indian film industry. He is respectfully called Sathyan Master. He was also a soldier in the British Indian Army and later a police officer with the Travancore State Police.
Neelakuyil is a 1954 Malayalam film jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat. It is a neo-realistic melodrama and was based on a story written by Uroob who co-wrote the screenplay and dialogues along with P. Bhaskaran. It stars Sathyan, Miss Kumari, Prema, P. Bhaskaran and Master Vipin. The plot revolves around Neeli, a Dalit peasant girl, who falls in love with Sreedharan Nair, a high caste teacher.
Thulabharam is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by A. Vincent. It is based on the Kerala People's Arts Club play of the same name, written by Thoppil Bhasi. Thoppil Bhasi also adapted the play for the screen. The film had an ensemble cast including Prem Nazir, Sharada, Madhu, Sheela, Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair and Adoor Bhasi. The film won two National Awards. The film was a major blockbuster and following the Malayalam version, the film was made in Tamil (Thulabharam), Telugu and Hindi, with Sharada playing lead roles in all versions.
Nadi is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by A. Vincent and produced by Hari Pothan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sharada, Madhu and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The film has musical score by G. Devarajan. The film is best known for the performance by Prem Nazir, and the songs.
Murappennu is a 1965 Malayalam-language drama film directed by A. Vincent and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The film stars Prem Nazir in the lead role with an ensemble supporting cast including Sharada, Madhu, Jyothilakshmi, K. P. Ummer, P. J. Antony, Jyothilakshmi and Adoor Bhasi playing the pivotal roles. The film revolves around a joint family and the romantic relationships between the cousins of the family. The film explores the Indian custom of marriage between cousins.
Iruttinte Athmavu is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by P. Bhaskaran and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on his own short story of the same name. It stars Prem Nazir and Sharada in lead roles with Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, P. J. Antony, Ushakumari, Kozhikode Shantha Devi and Baby Rajani in supporting roles. The film is about a mentally unstable youth born into a matriarchal family who is forced to live as a mad man in chains and who is misunderstood and ill-treated by everyone except his uncle's daughter. The film features music by M. S. Baburaj, cinematography by E. N. Balakrishnan and editing by G. Venkitaraman and Das.
Punnapra Vayalar is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by Kunchacko. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Adoor Bhasi and P. J. Antony in the lead roles. The film had musical score by K. Raghavan. The movie was based on Punnapra-Vayalar uprising.
Kavyamela is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language film written by S. L. Puram Sadanandan and directed by M. Krishnan Nair, starring Prem Nazir and Sheela in the lead roles. The film is best known for the performance by Prem Nazir and songs by Dakshinamoorthy – Vayalar team.
Chithramela is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language anthology film directed and produced by T. S. Muthaiah. It was Malayalam cinema's first anthology film. The cast includes Prem Nazir, Sharada, Sheela, K. P. Ummer, Kottayam Chellappan, S. P. Pillai, Adoor Bhasi, Bahadoor and Manavalan Joseph.
Kannur Deluxe is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language thriller film, directed by A. B. Raj and produced by T. E. Vasudevan who wrote the story under the pseudonym V. Devan. It is the first road movie in Malayalam which pivots on a theft that occurs in a bus and stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Adoor Bhasi. The film was released on 16 May 1969.
Achani is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by A. Vincent and produced by K. Ravindran Nair. The film stars Prem Nazir, Nanditha Bose, Adoor Bhasi and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. It tells the story of a tailor and the trials and tribulations of his family. The film was a commercial success and the proceeds from the film was donated by the producer for the construction of a Quilon Public Library in Quilon, Kerala. The film was adapted from the Tamil stage play of same name written by Karaikudi Narayanan.
Nizhalattam is a 1970 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by A. Vincent and produced by Hari Pothan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair. The film marked the acting debut of Sudheer and Balan K. Nair.
Asuravithu is a Malayalam novel written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Set in Kizhakkemuri, a fictional picturesque village in Kerala, the novel describes the plight of the protagonist Govindankutty, the youngest son of a proud Nair tharavadu, as he is trapped between the social scenario, social injustice and his own inner consciousness. As in many other M. T. novels, Asuravithu also has as its theme, the conflicts and problems of a Nair Family. The novel's English translation is titled The Demon Seed.
Jwala (transl. Flame) is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by M. Krishnan Nair. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Sharada and Adoor Bhasi in the lead roles. The film has musical score by G. Devarajan.
Thurakkatha Vathil is a 1970 Indian Malayalam film, directed by P. Bhaskaran and produced by A. Raghunath. The film stars Prem Nazir, Madhu, (Ragini) Jayabharathi and Sreelatha Namboothiri. The film's musical score was by K. Raghavan. The movie received the National Award for the best film on National Integration in 1970. It was he second Malayalam film to win this award. The first was Janmabhoomi in 1967. Philomina won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for this movie.
Thriveni is a 1970 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by A. Vincent and produced by C. V. Sridhar through Chitralaya in their only production in Malayalam. The film stars Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Sharada, Savita G. Thampi, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The film's music was composed by G. Devarajan.
Maamaankam is a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language historical drama film directed and produced by Navodaya Appachan, made under Navodaya Studio. It is based on the medieval Mamankam festival held every 12 years at the banks of river Bharathappuzha in Tirunavaya, Southern India. Written by N. Govindankutty, the film stars Prem Nazir, Jayan, Jose Prakash and Alummoodan in the lead roles. The film has musical score by K. Raghavan.
