Narendra Prasad

Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad (26 December 1946 – 3 November 2003) was a popular Indian actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala.[1]

This article is about the actor and critic. For social activist and surgeon, see Narendra Prasad (surgeon).

Narendra Prasad
Born26 December 1946 Pandalam Travancore, British India
Died(2003-11-03)3 November 2003 (aged 56)
Kozhikode, Kerala
OccupationCollege professor, actor, author
Spouse(s)Nanda (deceased)
Children2
Parent(s)V. Raghava Kurup
P. Janaki Amma

He studied at N. S. S. College, Pandalam, for Pre-University and for his degree (in Mathematics). He moved to Institute of English, University of Kerala for his post-graduation in English Language and Literature. A voracious reader in Malayalam and English, Narendra Prasad distinguished himself as a potential man of letters even as a degree student. He used to take part in the Malayalam and English literary discussions, debates and competitions organised at the college and university levels, and won prizes. His play Souparnika won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985.[2]

Narendra Prasad started his career as a college teacher; he joined Bishop Moore College in 1967 as lecturer in English. He got into government service in 1968, and worked as Lecturer at Government Victoria College, Palakkad, and Govt. Arts College, Trivandrum, and as Professor at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1989 while working as Professor of English at University College, he was selected for the prestigious post of Director, School of Letters of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He continued in this post till his demise.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

On stage

Narendra Prasad's love of theatre prompted him to create "Natyagriham", a drama troupe, in the early 1980s. He composed, directed and produced plays for the troupe. Some of those who associated themselves with "Natyagriham" later became great actors in Malayalam films-- 'Bharat' Murali, Gopakumar, Aliyar Kunju and Rashid, to name a few. Kaithapram Damodaran Nambudiri, the noted Malayalam lyricist, used to compose music for the troupe. Sowparnika a play written and directed by him won the Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in many categories in 1983. It also won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1985. Other productions include Velliyazcha, Shanidasha, Marthandavarma Engane Rakshapettu, Moonu Prabhukkanmar, Satheerthian etc.

Prasad's noted literary works include the novel Alanjavar Anveshichavar, the critical works entitled Nishedhikalae Manasilakku, Adhunikathinte Madyanu, Ente Sahitya Nirupanangal, Jadi Paranjal Enthe, and the critically acclaimed and award-winning play Souparnilka. It is as a playwright and critic that Prasad became known in the Malayalam literary world. He won the Sangeeta Nataka Akademi and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his contributions to drama.

Film

Narendra Prasad got into the tinsel world while working at the School of Letters. He earned recognition as a talented actor with his powerful portrayal of semi-villainous characters. His hit films include Thalastaanam, Utsavamelam, Paithrukam, Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Ekalavyan, Yaadhavam, Aaram Thamburan, Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu, Njangal Santhushtaranu, Ustaad, Vazhunnor, One Man Show, and Susanna. He acted in over 150 films, winning the State Award for the 'Best Supporting Actor' for "Paithrukam." His character in Aaram thamburan gained more popularity in public

Personal life

Born on 26 December 1946 to V. Raghava Kurup and P. Janaki Amma, at Pandalam. He had his education from Govt.School Pandalam, NSS College, Pandalam and Institute of English-University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. He was married to Nanda and has two children.[3]

Death

He died at the PVS Hospital, Kozhikode on 3 November 2003, due to cardio-respiratory arrest. He had been admitted to Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam for breathlessness, caused by interstitial lung disease (ILD), a condition that caused disintegration of his lungs. From here he was moved to PVS Hospital, where though he gained consciousness, he succumbed to the illness.[4] He was aged 57 at the time of his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Mavelikkara.

Filmography

As an actor
  • Brahmasuran (2007)
  • Deepangal Sakshi (2005) .... Mullakkal Bhaskaran Nair
  • The Campus (2005) .... Narendran
  • Videshi Nair Swadeshi Nair (2005)
  • Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku (2004) .... Paramu Nair
  • Kottaram Vaidyan (2004) .... Bhageerathan
  • Kusruthi (2004) .... Sreevallabhavan
  • Gaurisankaram (2003)
  • Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu (2003) .... Aditya Varma
  • Varum Varunnu Vannu (2003) .... Varghese Vaidyan
  • Mizhi Randilum (2003) .... Musafir Babu
  • Mazhanoolkkanavu (2003)
  • Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari (2002) .... Adv Veerabhadra Kurup
  • Dany (2002) .... Fr. Simon
  • Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair (2002) .... Bhaskaran Nair
  • Krishnapakshakilikal (2002)
  • Kadha (2002)
  • Punyam (2002)
  • Onnaman (2002)
  • Abharanacharthu (2002)
  • Swapnahaliyil Oru Naal(2002)
  • One Man Show (2001) .... K. R. Menon
  • Megasandesam (2001) .... Samuel
  • Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu (2001) .... Vasudeva Panicker
  • Punyam (2001)
  • Kakki Nakshthram (2001) .... Thomas Vattoly
  • Randam Bhavam (2001) .... Ananthakrishnan's father
  • Andolanam (2001)
  • Ee Nadu Innalevare (2001).... Vishambharan Ambalakkadan
  • Saivar Thirumeni (2001) .... Mazhamangalathu Narayanan Nampoothirippadu
  • Narashimham (2000)
  • Susanna (2000)
  • Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam (2000)
  • Mazhanoolkkanavu (2000)
  • F.I.R(1999) .... Rahim Haji
  • Njangal Santhushtaranu (1999) .... Geethu's Father
  • Rishivamsam (1999)
  • Udayapuram Sulthan (1999) .... Avittam Thirunal Narayana Varma
  • Ustaad (1999) .... Nandan's Father
  • Vazhunnor (1999) .... Kochousepp
  • Aakhosham (1998)
  • Sooryaputhran (1998)
  • Panchaloham (1998)..... Kuppuvachan Mushari
  • Elavamkodu Desam (1998) .... Adithyan
  • Kottaram Veettile Apputtan (1998)
  • Mayilpeelikkavu (1998) .... Rahuleyan
  • Manthri Malikayil Manassammatham (1998)
  • Kaliyattam (1997)
  • Aaram Thamburan (1997) .... Kolapulli Appan
  • Asuravamsam (1997) .... Mayor Swami/Ranganathan Swamy
  • Bhoopathi (1997) .... Mahendra Varma
  • Kalyanappittannu (1997)
  • Innalekalillathe (1997)
  • Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997) .... Meenakshi's Father
  • Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997) .... Meledathu Madhavan Nair
  • Moonu Kodiyum Munnuru Pavanum (1997)
  • Kannur (1997)
  • Kilikurissiyile Kudumba Mela(1997)
  • Rajathandram (1997)
  • Kalyanapittennu(1997)
  • Kathapurushan (1996) .... Vasu
  • Dilliwala Rajakumaran (1996) .... Maharaja
  • Excuse Me Ethu Collegila (1996)
  • Rajaputhran (1996) .... Vamadevan Karunan
  • Sulthan Hyderali (1996)
  • Mayoora Nrithyam (1996)
  • Sooryaputhrikal (1996)
  • Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary (1995) .... Jagadish T. Nambiar
  • Aksharam (1995) .... Krishna Murthy
  • Alancheri Thamprakkal (1995) .... Chanthappan Gurukkal
  • Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava (1995) .... Kuttan Bava (Chettan Bava)
  • Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam (1995) .... Sankara Menon
  • Kidilol Kidilam (1995) .... Ramabhadran
  • Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta (1995) .... Muthachan
  • Sargavasantham (1995) .... Dr. Sarathchandra Varma
  • Sindoora Rekha (1995) .... Menon
  • Ezharakoottam (1995)
  • Boxer (1995)....Rajagopalan Thampi
  • Chantha (1995)
  • Chaithanyam (1995)
  • Mimics Action 500 (1995)
  • Thirumanassu (1995) .... Thirumanassu
  • Tom & Jerry (1995) .... Ananthan Nambiar/Chandrasekhara Varma
  • Sukrutham (1994) .... Doctor
  • Vishnu (1994) .... Mathews
  • Bheesmacharya (1994) .... Rajakumaran Thampy
  • CID Unnikrishnan B.A., BEd (1994) .... CID Agency Head
  • Galileo (1994) .... Galileo
  • Chukkan(1994) .... Mahendra Varma
  • Pradhakshinam (1994)
  • Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji (1994)
  • Pavithram (1994) .... Sankaran Pillai
  • Vardhakya Puranam (1994)
  • Aayirappara (1993) .... Padmanabha Kaimal
  • Ammayane Sathyam (1993) .... Jaganatha Varma
  • Bandhukkal Sathrukkal (1993)
  • Bhagyavan (1993) .... Divakaran Thekkinthada
  • Ekalavyan (1993) .... Swami Amoorthananda
  • Janam (1993) .... Azheekkal Raghavan
  • Kavadiyattam (1993)
  • Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993) .... Thrivikram muthallali
  • Paithrukam (1993)
  • Sarovaram(1993)
  • Journalist(1993) .... Anantharama Sharma
  • Thalamura(1993)
  • Yadhavam(1993)
  • Kudumba Sneham (1993)
  • Pravachakan (1993) .... Kurian
  • Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993) .... Kunjikannan Nambyar
  • Aardram (1992) .... Vamadevan
  • Kudumbasametham (1992)
  • Ootty Pattanam (1992) .... Rajashekhara Varma
  • Pandu Pandoru Rajakumari (1992) .... Robert Franklin D'Souza
  • Rajasilpi (1992) .... Staanu Aashaan
  • Thalastaanam (1992) .... G. Parameswaran
  • Ulsava Melam (1992)
  • Advaitham (1992) .... Sreekanta Pothuwal
  • Unnikuttanu Joli Kitti(1990)
  • Asthikal Pookunnu (1989)

As a dubbing artist

Television

Towards the second half of the nineties he ventured into television. Shayama Prasad's tele-film Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal, was Prasad's first venture on the small screen

  • Pandavapada (Doordarshan)
  • Sthree (Asianet)
  • Vedanakalude Viralppaadukal (Kairali TV)
  • Shanghupushpam (Asianet)

Documentary film
  • The documentary film on late Prof. Narendraprasad's life, Arangozhinja Akshara Prabhu was produced by KULAKKARA CREATIONS and directed by ARUN S, Written by R HARIKRISHNAN, Cinematographed and edited by THANZIL RAJAN .Veteran Film directors Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jayaraaj, Sooryakrishnamoorthi, Actors P.Sreekumar, M.R.Gopakumar, Actor and voice artiste Prof.Aliyar, Politician M.A.Baby and many other appears in this documentary.The documentary was screened for the first time on 2011 at Mavelikkara Natyagraha before a huge audience, where actor Jagathy Sreekumar received the first disc copy of the project.

References
  1. "നരേന്ദ്രപ്രസാദ് ഓര്‍മ്മദിനം".
  2. http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=12748595&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3
  3. "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal".
  4. "Narendra Prasad passes away". The Hindu. 3 November 2003. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
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