Thilakan (1935–2012) was an Indian actor who worked prominently in Mollywood films. He acted in more than 200 films and many stage plays. Some of his notable roles are in the films Yavanika (1982), Perumthachan (1990), Kiridam (1989) and Ustad Hotel (2012). Thilakan died of a heart attack at the age of 77.
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Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranath Thilakan or PV Surendranath Thilakan was born on Monday, 15 July 1935 (aged 77 at the time of death) in Plankmon, Ayiroor village, Travancore, British India (now Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India). His zodiac sign is Cancer. He had his schooling at St. Louis LP School in Mundakayam, CMS English High School in Mundakayam and MD Seminary in Kottayam. According to him, his teacher Mariakutty was the first to realize his talent. He acted in a play called Kittunnathil Pathi, written by this teacher for the school annual function. His college education was at Sree Narayana College, Kollam. He acted in stage plays during his college years.
Thilakan during his young days
Family
Thilakan belonged to a Kerala Hindu family of Ezhava caste.
parents and siblings
Thilakan’s father Palappurath TS Kesavan (1904–1972) was an employee of the Travancore Tea and Rubber Company in Mundakayam. His mother PS Devayani (1912–2010) was a housewife. According to him, his father was a strict disciplinarian, on whom he based his character Chacko Maash in the film Spadicum. His mother had disagreements with him regarding his choice of profession. He was the second of six children.
Thilakan with his mother during an interview
wife and children
Thilakan is not known to have married any of his colleagues. His first partner was actress Santha. His children with Santha are Shaji, Shammi and Shobi. Shaji Thilakan was an actor and died in 2020 at the age of 56 due to liver disease.
Thilakan’s sons Shaji and Shammi
Shammi and Shobi Thilakan are accomplished dubbing artistes and actors. Thilakan’s grandson, Abhimanyu S. Thilakan, is an actor, film producer and entrepreneur.
Shobi Thilakan, son of Thilakan
Thilakan’s grandson, Abhimanyu
Her second partner was her co-star Sarojam. They have three children, Shibu, Sophia and Sonia. Sophia Ajith is a medical professional and Dr. Sonia Thilakan is a dentist.
Thilakan with his partner Sarojam
Thilakan with his daughter Dr. Sonia
relationships/affairs
In an interview, Thilakan admitted to several affairs, including with his colleagues, Santha and Sarojam.
religion/religious views
Thilakan was an atheist until his death. He is not known to visit temples unless it is necessary for his performance. In a column by journalist Shevlin Sebastian, he is quoted,
It is not God who is omnipotent, but our mind.”
At the same time, he also acknowledged the secret behind many outstanding performances from various talents.
signature/autograph
Thilakan’s signature
livelihood
early career
After leaving his college studies midway, he joined the Indian Army for some time. Due to some unfortunate circumstances his feet were badly affected. Army doctors decided to amputate his leg, for which they did not require any consent from the patient or his relatives at that time. It so happened that the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the patients at the army facility, to whom Thilakan requested to make it mandatory to obtain the consent of the patients or their relatives for such surgeries. Soon the rules were amended and Thilakan’s tenure in the Indian Army came to an end.
Theater
He started a drama troupe called Mundakayam Drama Committee with his friends. He also worked with the Kerala People’s Arts Club until 1966. Later, he worked with the drama troupes of Kalidasa Kalakendram, Changanacherry Geedha and PJ Antony in Kollam. He considered the famous theater director, actor and writer PJ Antony as his mentor. He acted in many plays for All India Radio.
Thilakan with the drama troupe after the first stage of his play, Socialism
film
Thilakan made his debut in the film Periyar in 1973, but both the film and the character played by Thilakan went unnoticed. His first lead role was that of Kallu Varkey in the film Kolangal (1981) directed by KG George, which was highly appreciated.
Thilakan in the movie Kolangal
His role as Vakkachan, the drama troupe owner, in the film Yavanika (1982) earned him a second Best Actor award at the Kerala State Film Awards. Thilakan’s characters in the films Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983), Adaminte Veriyalu (1983), Panchavadi Palam (1984), Yatra (1985), Panchagni (1986), and Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) were well received by the audience. In the film, Ritubhedam (1987), Thilakan’s character Naduvancheril Achunni Nair won him the National Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Thilakan on the poster of the film Ritubhedam
Mammootty’s portrayal of Reverend Father Panangodan opposite Varunni in the film Mrigaya (1989) was accepted by critics and audiences alike. This film won a lot of applause for its different story and presentation.
Thilakan in the movie Mrigaya
The character Raman Perumthachan played by Thilakan in the period film Perumthachan (1991), written by MT Vasudevan Nair, was a milestone in his career. The film was based on the famous Kerala folk tale Parayi Petta Panthirukulam. This character won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor. The film is considered a classic in the Malayalam film industry.
The characters played by Thilakan in the films of director Sathyan Anthikad are very much liked by the audience. Some of the films of the duo are Sanmanasullavarakku Samadhanam (1986), Pappan Priyappetta Pappan (1986), Kudumbapuranam (1988), Varavelappu (1989), Sasneham (1990), Sandesham (1991), and Pingami (1994). The character of Raghavan Nair, a retired railway station master, in the film Sandesham received wide acceptance and praise for Thilakan.
The various characters played by Thilakan range from emotional roles in films such as Grandfather in the film Moonanam Pakkam (1988), comedy roles in films such as Nadodikkattu (1987) and Pathanapravesham (1988) to negative roles in Namukku Parkkan Munthirithopukkal (1986). ) and Kattukuthira (1990). He acted in Tamil language films such as Sathriyaan (1990) and Aayudha Poojai (1995).
Thilakan during the shooting of the film Moonanam Pakkam
The combination of Thilakan and Mohanlal is one of the all-time favorites of the audience. Some of those films are Kiridam (1989), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Chenkol (1993), Pavithram (1994), Spadicam (1995), and Avidam Swargamanu (2009).
Thilakan in the movie Avidam Swargamanu
Thilakan, in his last release, played the role of Karimikka, the wise and loving grandfather of the character played by Dulquer Salmaan in the film Ustad Hotel (2012).
Thilakan on the poster of the movie Ustad Hotel
Television
Thilakan appeared in television series during the later years of his career. The series Anveshi and Mannu was aired on channel DD. Channel Asianet aired the series Kadamthatthu Kathanar, Orma and Swami Ayyappan. Sri Ayyappanam Vavarum, Madhavam, and Peythozhiyathe were telecasted on Surya Channel.
controversies
Claim of irregularities in National Awards
In an interview, Thilakan claimed that the National Awards jury favored his character in the film Perumthachan for the Best Actor award till the last round. He further claimed that due to some political reasons the intervention of a political leader changed the decision in favor of Amitabh Bachchan.
Differences with FEFKA and AMMA associations
Thilakan was replaced from the film Christian Brothers (2010) after he had already signed for the role, reportedly due to the intervention of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). Thilakan publicly protested the issue, for which the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) issued a show cause notice. Furthermore, he was replaced in the film Dam 999 (2011). Later his role was played by Rajit Kapoor.
Allegation of nexus of Nair community in Malayalam film industry
Thilakan alleged that various roles are snatched away from him by the ‘Nair lobby’ present among Malayalam actors and given to actors from the Nair community. According to him, backward caste actors are not given much preference in the industry.
Awards and Honors
- Thilakan was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009.
- National Award for Best Supporting Actor Ritubhedam in 1987.
- In 2006 and 2012, he received the Special Jury Mention Award at the National Film Awards for the films Ekantham and Ustad Hotel respectively.
Thilakan at the National Film Awards ceremony
- He received the Second Best Actor Award at the Kerala State Film Awards six times. They were in 1981 for the film Yavanika, in 1985 for the film Yatra, in 1986 for the film Panchagni, in 1987 for the film Thaniyavartanam, in 1988 for the film Mukthi and Dhvani, and in 1991 for the film Kattathoru Penappuvu.
- In 1989, he received the Kerala State Special Jury Award for various films.
- He received the Best Actor Award at the Kerala State Film Awards twice in 1990 for the film Perumthachan and in 1994 for Gamanam and Santhanagopalam.
- In 2001, he received the Asianet Film Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- In 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Filmfare Awards-South.
- In 2007, he was awarded the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship presented by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala.
- In 2010, she received the Bharat Gopi Award instituted by the Manavseva Welfare Society.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn