N. Sreedharan Nair (11 September 1922 – 19 October 1986), popularly known as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair or just Kottarakkara, was an Indian actor who appeared

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

movies. He hailed from

Kottarakkara Kottarakkara (IAST: Koṭṭārakkara), also transliterated as ''Kottarakara'', is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of the Kerala, India. The town is close to Kollam Port, which has a rich history linked to the early medieval pe ...

in Kollam district of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. Sreedharan Nair won two

Kerala state film award The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Ch ...

s. In 1970, he won the best actor award and in 1969 the second best actor award. He is best remembered for his role as ''Chempankunju'' in the

national award The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate ...

winning film ''

Chemmeen ''Chemmeen'' () is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language romance film, based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It was adapted into a screenplay by S. L. Puram Sadanandan, directed by Ramu Kariat, and produced by Babu Is ...

'' directed by

Ramu Kariat Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include '' Neelakkuyil'' (1954), '' ...

. Other impressive performances were in the films ''Veluthampi Dalava'' (as Veluthampi Dalava), ''Thommante Makkal'' (1965) as Thomman, and ''

Pazhassi Raja Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...

'' (1964) as

, ''

Viruthan Shanku ''Viruthan Shanku'' is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by P. Venu, starring Adoor Bhasi and Ambika. It revolves around Vikraman, and how he tricks people and steals their valuables in a comic way and also how he wins the hea ...

'' (1968) by

P. Venu P. Venu (8 November 1940 – 25 May 2011), was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and lyricist with over 20 films to his name.His directorial venture Udhyogastha in 1967 was the first-ever multi-star cast film of the south Indi ...

. Kottarakkara is also known for playing the role of devil magician in the 1984 fantasy film

My Dear Kuttichathan ''My Dear Kuttichathan'' () is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language fantasy film directed by Jijo Punnoose and produced by his father Navodaya Appachan under Navodaya Studio. It was the first Indian film to be filmed in 3D format. With screenplay ...

. Popular Malayalam actor Saikumar is his son.

Personal life

Sreedharan Nair was born in 1922 to Padinjattinkara Korattiyode Narayana Pillai and Ummini Amma in 1922. He had his primary education from Eswara vilasam higher secondary school. He started acting in dramas at the age of 10. He owned drama troupes ''Jayasree'' and ''Kalamandiram''. He was known to be a very outspoken, stubborn man with a short temper. Once, he walked out of the set of '' Ara Nazhika Neram'' due to some disputes. He did not allow anyone seeking compromise to open the gate and enter into his house compound to discuss with him. When everyone was afraid to talk to him, someone suggested that actor Sathyan should approach Sreedharan Nair to resolve the issue. After talking with Sathyan, Sreedharan Nair set aside the disputes & agreed to act in the movie. Sreedharan Nair married Vijayalakshmi Amma. They had eight children, Jaysree, Geetha, Laila, Shobha, Kala, Sai Kumar, Beena, and Shaila. His son Sai Kumar, daughters

Shobha Mohan Shobha Mohan is an Indian actress known for her works, predominantly in Malayalam cinema along with few Tamil films. Biography Shobha Mohan was born to actor Kottarakara Sreedharan Nair and Vijayalakshmi at Kottarakkara in Kollam, Kerala. She ...

, Sylaja his son-in-law Mohan Kumar, his grandchildren Anil Pappan,

Vinu Mohan Vinu Mohan (born 12 May 1986) is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut with the 2007 film '' Nivedyam'', directed by A. K. Lohithadas. He is the grandson of the actor Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, son of actors K. ...

Anu Mohan Anu Mohan (born 24 August 1990) is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam films. Career He made his debut in the 2011 film, ''Orkut oru Ormakut''. He also played the antagonist in Roopesh Peethambaran's '' Theevram''. Anu Mohan is the young ...

, Vaishnavi saikumar and his great-grandson Kailasveswar S Nair are all film/TV actors.

Awards

* 1970

Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor is an honour, begun in 1969, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to an actor for best performance in a Malayalam film. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Depart ...

- Ara Nazhika Neram * 1969

Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor was an award presented annually from 1969 to 2014 at the Kerala State Film Awards of India. The Kerala State Film Awards is managed by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-prof ...

–

Koottukudumbam ''Koottukudumbam'' is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sathyan, Sheela and Sharada. It was released on 28 November 1969. Plot Cast * Prem Nazir as Radhakrishna Kurup * ...

Filmography

Kannada flm

* 1968 - Bangalore Mail

References

External links