CELEBSPEAK

One of the most successful actors in Indian cinema, Prem Nazir is known for his powerful performances in Iruttinte Athmavu, Kallichellamma, Murappennu, Anubhavangal Paalichakal, Padayottam, Vida Parayum Munpe, Azhakulla Saleena, and Nadhi.

This note was written as a response to Bharat Gopy’s sudden illness and naturally found its prime place in the fund-raiser publication by his well-wishers.

In a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films and awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor three times.

The came together for the first time for Oru Swakarayam in 1983. Mammootty was instrumental in the production of Patheyam that also brought Bharat Gopy actively back into the business of films.

Mohanlal and Bharat Gopy came together onscreen for the first time in Navodaya’s Ente Mamattikutty Ammaykku in 1983, which remains one of the biggest commercial successes Malayalam cinema. They went on to create some memorable films together in the following years – Kattathe Kilikkodu, Appunni, Aduthaduthu, Akkare, Karimbinpoovinakkare, Rasathanthram, to name a few.

The legends came together for the first time onscreen for an evergreen classic of Malayalam cinema, Yavanika directed by KG George in 1982. With Panchavadipalam, the ensemble cast led by the two gave another classic to Malayalam cinema.

It could have been sheer destiny that Thilakan was awarded the Bharat Gopy Award in 2010, instituted by the Manavaseva Welfare Society.

From his debut in Chattambi Kalayani in 1975, with close to 1000 films as an actor, two movies as a director, Jagathy Sreekumar is mostly synonymous with pure, unbridled humor in Malayalam cinema.Jagathy’s first movie with Bharat Gopy was the seminal Yavanika in 1982. Movies like Oru Swakaryam, Panchavadipalam, Kaanathaya Penkutty and even his last movie Dey Ingottu Nokkiye are great examples of the chemistry that they brought onscreen.

Karamana Janardhanan Nair and Bharat Gopy’s theatre journeys started together at a school summer camp where both performed together in the same play, “Njaan Oradhikapattaanu.” It is also rarely recalled that Swayamvaram is also as much the debut film of Karamana Janardhanan Nair’s as Bharat Gopy’s.

Close friends and peers, this fond note was published in a fund-raiser publication brought out by well-wishers ( against Bharat Gopy’s wishes) to raise funds for his treatment.

Lohithadas is known for his rich, detailed, and realistic screenplays. He has written screenplays for 35 films in a twenty-four year long career, such as Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Thooval Kottaram (1996) and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999). He later became a director, and has directed films such as Bhoothakkannadi (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003).

P.V. Gangadharan’s enviable record at the box office has made his banner one of the most popular ones in Malayalam cinema.

Kattathe Kilikkodu, directed by Bharathan was the only production that PV Gangadharan collaborated with Bharat Gopy, and one which he holds close to his heart, as one of his favorites.

With over 100 screenplays to his credit, he has also authored a definitive memoir on Bharat Gopy titled “Adayalanakshathramayi Gopy”.

Chamaram, Ilakkangal, Palangal, Rachana, Arorumariyathe, Avidathe Pole Ivideyum, Ormakkayi, Sandhya Mayangum Neram, Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Kathodu Kathoram and Utsavapittennu are some of his major works.

K P KUMARAN has been at the vanguard of the parallel cinema movement and his films reflect his deep commitment to female empowerment. All his films from the landmark Athithi (1974) to the National award winning Rugmini (1988) and Thotram, recipient of Suvarna Chakoram Award for Writing at the International Film Festival Of Kerala 2001 have female protagonists at the core of the film.