A tribute to the doyen of Malayalam cinema

The acclaimed actor Thilakan, aged 77, died of heart failure early Monday. He was in critical condition fighting with multiple organ failure for about a month. Thilakan had essayed remarkable roles in around 200 films.

Thilakan was an actor par excellence who mesmerised us with his sublime acting. His performance in movies like ‘Perumthachan’, ‘Moonam Pakkam’, and ‘Kireedam’ was awe inspiring, to say the least. He was such a gifted and talented actor who can essay any role with ease. He has immortalized several characters in Malayalam, both on stage and on screen.

His combination scenes with Mohanlal, as father and son, in many movies are still afresh in the mind of the audience. His expressions were so powerful that even with a look or smile he was able to convey the feelings. Moreover he was such a versatile actor who could breathe life into any character or emote anything for that matter.

Born and brought up in Plankamon, Ayroor Panchayat of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, he moved actively to acting after his intermediate studies. He made his entry at the age of 19 as a theatre artist. He proved his mettle on stage before making his debut in films. His debut role was in the Malayalam film ‘Periyar’ (1973) directed by P J Antony. But he became known with his role in the 1979 film ‘Ulkadal’.

He had sketched out a range of characters and proved himself to be a flexible character. His notable films which include ‘Panchagni’,‘Dhwani’, ‘Perumthachan’, ‘Kireedam’, ‘Chenkol’, ‘Sphadikam’, ‘Pavithram’, ‘Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam’, ‘Rithubhedam’, ‘Jathakam’, ‘Nadodikkattu’, ‘Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal’, ‘Moonam Pakkam’, justify him as a versatile actor.

Even though he was such a fine actor and in fact one of the best actors in India he has never been awarded a national award for best actor. Once he missed it between cup and lip for his performance in ‘Perumthachan’. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contributions towards the arts. He won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1988 for ‘Rithubhedam’ and State Awards for ‘Santhanagopalam'. Thilakan received the State Best Actor award in 1990 for his performance in ‘Perumthachan’.

Despite the fact that he was not active during the last couple of years in the field due to various reasons, he made a strong come back with ‘Indian Rupee’ and ‘Ustad Hotel’. His powerful performances in these films have won him laurels. Both of them turned out to be hits and his performance was applauded by everyone.

With his outstanding roles, Thilakan has carved a niche for himself in the film world. His untimely demise will create a vacuum that can never be filled and is a huge loss to Malayalam cinema.