Kuthiravattam Pappu

Kuthiravattam Pappu
Born	Padmadalakshan 1936 Kozhikode, Indian Empire
Died	February 25, 2000(2000-02-25) Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Years active	37
Spouse(s)	Padmini
Children	Bindu, Biju, Binu
Parents	Panagodu Raman Devi

Kuthiravattam Pappu, often credited as Pappu, was a popular Indian stage and film actor. His repertoire of acting was based on his unique style and use of the Kozhikodan ^[1]dialect, impeccable timing and the capability to grasp the subtle nuances of any character and mould it into his signature "Pappu style". He has acted in over thousand Malayalam films.^[2]

Early life

Pappu was born as Padmadalakshan in Feroke in Kozhikode, Kerala and was a son of Panagodu Raman and Devi.^[3] The family moved to the village of Kuthiravattam (Half a kilometre from Govindapuram), Kozhikode when Pappu was still a child. He was keen in acting since childhood and performed his first major stage performance when he was 17. At that time he was studying in Kozhikode St. Antony's School.^{[citation needed]}

Family

He is married to Padmini. The couple have three children, Bindu, Biju and Binu.

Career

Pappu started his career as a drama artist. He acted in about thousand instant plays and two professional dramas, Samasya and Manasu. His role in the drama Samasya fetched him the Best Comedian Award. ^[4]

Pappu has worked with Kunjandi, Nellikode Bhaskaran, Thikkodiyan and K. T. Muhammed. Film personalities, Ramu Karyat and A. Vincent were impressed by his performance in Mudiyanaya Puthran and gave him chance to act in the film Moodupadam. His first noted role was in Bhargavi Nilayam, written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and directed by A. Vincent. The name of his character in the film given by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, "Kuthiravattam Pappu" stayed with him for the rest of his life.

His performance in Aalkkottathil Thaniye, Etho Oru Theeram, Kanakkinavukal was remarkable. The turning point in his career was his roles in Chembarathi, Avalude Ravukal, Angaadi. Even his brief roles like those in Manichitrathazhu and The King are well remembered till this day. His one-liners like "Taski Viliyeda" in Thenmavin Kombath and "Ippo Sariyakkitharam" and "'Thamaraseri Churam'" in Vellanakalude Nadu earned their position in the list of Malayalam idioms. Pappu became one of the best comedians Malayalam cinema has ever seen. He used Kozhikode slang in his acting which was well liked and appreciated. Due to his affection toward plays, with the help of his old friends in the field of theatre, he founded Akshara Theatres a few weeks before his death.

He died in a private hospital in Kozhikode following a cardiac arrest on 25 February 2000.

Filmography

References

External links

• Kuthiravattam Pappu at the Internet Movie Database
• Pappu's profile at weblokam.com (in Malayalam)