Kuthiravattam Pappu

Padmadalakshan, better known by his stage name Kuthiravattam Pappu (24 December 1936 – 25 February 2000), was a popular Indian stage and film actor. His repertoire of acting was based on his unique style and use of the ''Kozhikodan'' dialect, impeccable timing and the capability to grasp the subtle nuances of any character and mould it into his signature "Pappu style". He acted in over a thousand Malayalam films. He made his debut in a small comic role in ''Bhargavi Nilayam''. His character was called ‘Kuthiravattom,’ a name that stuck for the rest of his career.

Early life

Pappu was born as Padmadalakshan in Feroke near Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala, as the son of Panaghat Raman and Devi. The family moved to the village of Kuthiravattam (Half a kilometre from Govindapuram, Calicut) 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 St. Antony's School, Calicut.

Family

He was married to Padmini. The couple have three children, Bindu, Biju and Binu. Binu Pappu is an actor in Malayalam movies.

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.

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 Angadi, Ahimsa, Karimbana, Eenadu, Moorkhan, ''Aalkkoottathil Thaniye'', ''Itha Oru Theeram'', ''Kanakkinavu'' 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. His first reference about Thamarassery churam was in the movie T P Balagopalan M A.

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 Calicut following a cardiac arrest on 25 February 2000.

Partial filmography

Malayalam

* Ammaye Kaanaan (1963) as Pamman
* Aadyakiranangal (1964)
* Thacholi Othenan (1964) as Ramar
* Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) as Kuthiravattam Pappu
* Kuttyedathi (1971) as Kuttishankaran
* Chembarathi (1972) as Kuttan
* Panimudakku (1972) as Yashodharan
* ''Nirmalyam'' (1973)
* ''Kaapalika'' (1973) as Ithakku
* ''Mazhakkaru'' (1973) as Maniyan
* Criminals (Kayangal) (1975)
* ''Cheenavala'' (1975) as Fernandez
* ''Penpada'' (1975) as Janaki(Transvestite)
* Sathyathinte Nizhalil (1975)
*Chattambikkalyaani (1975) as Kochappan
* ''Ulsavam''(1975) as Paramu
* Hridhayam Oru Kshethram (1976) as Nanu
* Madhuram Thirumaduram (1976)
* Thulavarsham (1976) as Chenkeeri
* Kamadhenu (1976) as Kunjiraman
* Aalinganam (1976) as Peethambharan
* Guruvayoor Kesavan (1977)
*Vidarunna Mottukal (1977) as Madhupan
* Shankupushppam (1977) as Rajesh
* Angeekaram (1977) as Neelambharan
* Oonjal (1977) as Sankaran
* Avalude Ravukal (1978)
* Eeta (1978) as Paramu
* Lisa (1978) as Gopalan
* Arum Anyaralla (1978) as Bhargavan
* Itha Oru Manushyan (1978) as Bharathan
* Ee Manohara Theeram (1978) as Appukuttan
*Kaathirunna Nimisham (1978) as Harischandran Nair
* Angakkuri (1979)
* Kayalum Kayarum (1979)
* Maamaankam (1979)
* Neelathamara (1979) as Kuttishankara Menon
* Jeevitham Oru Gaanam (1979) as Zachariah/Rappel (double role)
* Itha Oru Theeram (1979) as Chellappan
* Agnivyuham (1979) as Appu
*Sugathinu Pinnale (1979) as Kunjuvareed
* Anupallavi (1979) as Sundaran
*Ivide Kattinu Sugandam (1979) as Pushkaran
* Ambalavilakku (1979) as Lonachan
* Manasa Vacha Karmana (1979)
* Moorkhan (1980) as Kuttappan
* Swantham Enna Padam (1980) as Manmadan
* Karimpana (1980) as Palayyan
* Chaakara (1980) as Kuttan Pillai
* Sathyam (1980) as Sankaran
* Angaadi (1980) as Abu
* Benz Vasu (1980) as Pappu
* Theekkadal (1980) as Pappan
* Aswaratham (1980) as Velayyan
* Meen (1980) as Pappy
* Prakadanam (1980) as Kamalahasanan
* Rajaneegandhi (1980) as
*Raagam Thaanam Pallavi (1980) as Gopalankutty
* Mr Michael (1980) as Pappu
* Kaavalmaadam (1980) as Kunjali
* Arikkari Ammu (1981)
* Attimari (1981) as Salim, Hameed
* Sphodanam (1981) as Narayana Pilla
* Ahimsa as Muthu
* Dwanthayudham (1981)
* Vayal (1981) as Sankunni
* Kaahalam (1981)
* Greeshmajwaala (1981) as Chothi
* Kodumudikal (1981) as Nanappan
* Asthamikkatha Pakalukal (1981) as Gopalan
* Poochasanyasi (1981)
* Ee Nadu (1982) as Khader
* Mattuvin Chattangale (1982)
* Thadakam (1982)
* Postmortem (1982)
* Veedu (1982) as Prabhakaran
* Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam (1982) as Chandran
* Pooviriyum Pulari (1982) as Nanu
* John Jaffer Janardhanan (1982) as Charlie
* Innalenkil Nale (1982)
* Anuraagakkodathi(1982) as Gopi
* Varanmare Avashyamundu(1982)
* Hello Madras Girl (1983)
* Eettappuli (1983) as Pappan
* Mortuary (1983) as Gopalan
* Thavalam (1983) as Thommi
* Thimingalam (1983)
* Aadhipathyam (1983) as Kunjiraman
* Enne Njan Thedunnu (1983) as Unni
* Belt Mathai (1983) as Pachu Pillai
* Thathamme Poocha Poocha (1984) as Ananthan
* Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984) as Kuttan
* Mainakam (1984) as Vasu
* Shabadham (1984) as Kunjan Nair
* Aalkoottathil Thaniye (1984) as Kuttikrishnan
* Onnum Mindatha Bharya (1984) as Bapputti
* Appunni (1984) as Karunakaran
* Adiyozhukkukal (1984) as Sivan Kutti
* Rakshassu (1984) as Mammad
*Theere Pratheekshikkathe(1984) as Achu
*Kodathi (1984) as Antonym
* Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984) as Pachu Pillai

* Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985) as Raman
* Mutharamkunnu P.O. (1985) as K. P. K. Thankappan
* Kaiyum Thalayum Purathidaruthu (1985) as Appu
* Jeevante Jeevan (1985) as Peter
* Angadikkappurathu (1985) as Pappu
* Ottayan (1985) as Korappan
* Shatru (1985) as Kurup
* Idanilangal (1985) as Swami Pilla
* Pachavelicham (1985)
* Chorakku Chora (1985) as Velu
* Mukhyamanthri (1985) as Kuttappan
* Principal Olivil (1985)
* Vartha (1986)
* Vivahithare Ithile (1986)
* T. P. Balagopalan M.A. (1986) as Chandrankutty
* Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (1986) as Velu
* Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986) as Koma Kurup
* Annoru Ravil (1986) as Antony Nair
* Nandi Veendum Varika (1986) as Mukundan
* Karinagam (1986)
* Nakhakshathangal (1986)
* Ithramathram (1986) as Pappan
* Naradhan Keralathil (1987) as Police Constable
* Ithrayum Kalam (1987) as Sankunni Nair
* Janangalude Sradhakku (1987) as Balan
* Amrutham Gamaya (1987) as Kumaran
* Vellanakalude Nadu (1988) as Sulaiman
* Anuragi (1988) as Kunjappan
* Aryan (1988)
* Kanakambarangal (1988) as Nanappan
* Oru Muthassi Katha (1988) as Koyammedkka
* Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) as Aussapachen
* Loose Loose Arappiri Loose (1988) as Pappu
* Janmandharam (1988) as Kuruppilli Kuriakose
* Abkari (1988) as Kumaran
* 1921 (1988)
* Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikkunnu (1989) as Mathai
* Ulsavapittennu (1989) as Pushpangadan
* Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal (1989) as Pushpangadan
* Naduvazhikal (1989) as K. C.
* Mahayanam (1989) as Kunjappan
* Vandhanam (1989)
* V.I.P. (1989) as Khaderkutty
* Aazhikkoru Muthu (1989) as Kuttan Pilla
* Pradeshika Varthakal (1989) as Velichappadu
* Saandhram (1990) as Caesar
* Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam (1990)
* Dr. Pasupathy (1990) as Uthpalakshan
* Aye Auto (1990) as Moidu
* Nammude Nadu (1990) as Musthafa
* Midhya (1990) as Ezhuthachan
* Oliyampukal (1990) as Thankan
* Anaswaram (1991) as Tool/Ambady Ramakrishnan
* Amina Tailors (1991) as Kunjalavi
* Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) as Mariyappan
* Parallel College (1991) as Sanathan Pillai
* Kadinjool Kalyanam (1991) as Mathai
* Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty (1991) as Paulose
* Advaitham (1991) as Kaiyathan
* Amaram (1991) as Raman Kutty
* Eagle (1991) as Azeez
* Mookkillarajyathu (1991) as Vasu/Sundaran Pillai
* Neelagiri (1991) as Arumukhan
* Utsava Melam (1992)
* Radhachakram (1992) as Ponnan
* Kizhakkan Pathrose (1992) as Devassia/Marangodan (nickname)
* Naadody (1992) as Kutty
* Johnnie Walker (1992)
* Vietnam Colony (1993) as Erumeli
* Midhunam (1993) as Palisha Peethambaran
* Manichithrathazhu (1993) as Kattuparamban
* Ekalavyan (1993) as Govindan Kutty
* Customs Diary (1993) as Vishwanathan
* Akashadoothu (1993) as Chandy
* Arthana (1993)
* Aayirappara (1993)
* Pingami (1994) as Achuthan
* Thenmavin Kombathu (1994) as Ammavan
* Chakoram (1994) as Ammama
* Chukkan (1994) as Beeranikka
* Gamanam (1994) as Kunjiraman
* Nirnayam (1995) as Servant
* Kakkakum Poochakkum Kalyanam (1995)
* Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka (1995) as Sundaresan Nair
* Tom & Jerry (1995) as Kesava Kaimal
* Thovalapookkal (1995)
* Kokkarakko (1995)
* Thirumanassu(1995) as Raman
* Highway (1995) as Rajappan
* Alancheri Thamprakkal, Alancherry Thambrakkal (1995) as Kariyathen
* Kidilol Kidilam (1995) as Hassan
* Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana (1995) as Veerappan
* The King (1995 film), The King (1995) as Krishnan
* Thooval Kottaram (1996) as Kunjuraman Menon
* Mr. Clean (1996) as Bhargavan Pillai
* Madamma (1996) as Politician
* Hitlist (1996) as Sankar Das
* Sugavaasam (1996) as Venkidi
* Kalyana Unnikal (1997) as Kuttappi
* Kalyanappittannu (1997)
* Hitler Brothers (1997) as Nanappan
* Ekkareyanente Manasam (1997) as Sumathi's Uncle
* Chandralekha (1997 film), Chandralekha (1997) as Accountant
* Aaraam Thampuran (1997) as Mangalam
* Sundarakilladi (1998)
* Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998) as Achuthan
* Mayajalam (1998) as Paramanandan Nair
* Magician Mahendralal from Delhi (1998) as Sivan Pillai
* Pallavur Devanarayanan (1999) as Kunjuraman
* Chandranudikkunna Dikkil (1999)
* Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999)
* Mr. Butlers, Mr. Butler (2000) (posthumously)
* Narasimham (film), Narasimham (2000)
* Njan Rajavu (2002) (Posthumously)

Series

* Akashadoothu
*Chirikkam Namukku Chirikkam

References

External links

*
Pappu's profile
at weblokam.com (in Malayalam)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pappu, Kuthiravattam
Indian male film actors
Male actors from Kozhikode
1936 births
2000 deaths
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
20th-century Indian male actors
Male actors in Malayalam television
Indian male television actors
Indian male stage actors
Male actors in Malayalam theatre