PARAVOOR:Actor Paravoor Bharathan, who was part of the golden age of Malayalam cinema, passed away here on Wednesday morning. He was 86. The actor began his career in 1951, and had a strong presence in Malayalam films as villain in the early years. In the later half of his career, Bharathan switched over to comedy and did some ever-lovable roles in some hit films. Bharathan was born in 1929 at Vavakkad near Paravoor in the Ernakulam district. He was the youngest among the four children of Kochanan Koran and Kurumbakkutty. His first released movie in Malyalam was ‘Raktha Bandham’ (1951). He was active in Malayalam cinema until 2009. He made his last screen appearance in tele-film ‘Parethante Vilapam’ (2009).
Bharathan had been undergoing treatment for age-related illness. August 19, the day he bid adieu to the world, was the 50th anniversary of the release of ‘Chemmeen’, the movie that revolutionised mainstream Malayalam cinema, in which Bharathan had enacted a major role.
He is survived by wife Thankamani and children Pradeep Kumar, Madhu, Ajayan and Bindhu. The body was kept at the Vavakkad SNDP Hall and the Paravoor Old Municipal Park on Wednesday for the public to pay homage. The cremation will be held Thursday.
CPI Mourns Death
T’Puram: CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and national Secretariat member Pannyan Raveendran mourned the demise of actor Paravoor Bharathan on Wednesday. Bharathan, who came to movies from theatre, was a highly talented actor, opined Kanam Rajendran. Bharathan’s death was a major loss to Malayalam cinema, said Pannyan.