Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad (26 December 1946 3 November 2003) was an Indian actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikkara in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. Appreciated for his body language and performance by the audience and critics, he is known for portraying character roles and villain characters in Malayalam films.

Personal life

He studied at N. S. S. College, Pandalam, for Pre-University and for his degree (in Mathematics). He moved to Institute of English, University of Kerala for his post-graduation in English Language and Literature. A voracious reader in

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 ...

and English, Narendra Prasad distinguished himself as a potential man of letters even as a degree student. He used to take part in the Malayalam and English literary discussions, debates and competitions organised at the college and university levels, and won prizes. His play ''Souparnika'' won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985. Narendra Prasad started his career as a college teacher; he joined Bishop Moore College in 1967 as lecturer in English. He got into government service in 1968, and worked as lecturer at Government Victoria College, Palakkad, and Govt. Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, and as Professor at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1989 while working as Professor of English at

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...

, he was selected for the post of Director, School of Letters of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He continued in this post until his demise.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards: * Second Best Actor – 1993 – Paithrukam

Film

He earned recognition as an actor with his portrayal of semi-villainous characters. His hit films include '' Meleparambil Aanveedu'','' Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava'','' Thalastaanam'', '' Utsavamelam'', '' Paithrukam'', '' Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans'', '' Ekalavyan'', '' Bharanakoodam'', '' Yaadhavam'', '' Aaram Thamburan'', '' Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu'', '' Njangal Santhushtaranu'', '' Ustaad'', '' Vazhunnor'', '' One Man Show'', and '' Susanna''. He acted in over 150 films, winning the State Award for the 'Best Supporting Actor' for "Paithrukam."

Death

He died at PVS Hospital, Kozhikode on 3 November 2003, due to cardio-respiratory arrest. He had been admitted in Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam for

apnea Apnea (also spelled apnoea in British English) is the temporary cessation of breathing. During apnea, there is no movement of the muscles of inhalation, and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged. Depending on how blocked the ...

, caused by interstitial lung disease (ILD), a condition that caused disintegration of lungs. From there he was moved to PVS Hospital, where though he gained consciousness, he succumbed to the illness. He was aged 56 at the time of his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Mavelikkara.

Filmography

As an actor

1980s

1990s

2000s

As a dubbing artist

*'' Orkkapurathu'' – Voice for N. L. Balakrishnan *'' Adharvam'' – Voice for Charuhasan *'' Vaishali'' – Voice for Babu Antony *'' Douthyam'' – Voice for Babu Antony *'' Chithram'' – Voice for Poornam Viswanathan *'' Meenamasathile Sooryan'' – Voice for Kakka Ravi *'' Njan Gandharvan'' – voice of Lord Brahma

Television

Towards the second half of the nineties he ventured into television. Shayama Prasad's tele-film ''Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal'', was Prasad's first venture on the small screen * Pandavapada ( Doordarshan) * Sthree ( Asianet) * Vedanakalude Viralppaadukal (Kairali TV) * Shanghupushpam ( Asianet) *Mangalyam ( Asianet)

Documentary film

*The documentary film on late Prof. Narendraprasad's life, ''Arangozhinja Akshara Prabhu'' was produced by Kulakkara Creations and directed by Arun S, written by R Harikrishnan, cinematography and editing by Thanzil Rajan. Veteran film directors Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jayaraaj, Sooryakrishnamoorthi, actors P. Sreekumar, M. R. Gopakumar, actor and voice artist Prof. Aliyar, politician M. A. Baby and many other appears in this documentary. The documentary was screened for the first time on 2011 at Mavelikkara Natyagraha before a huge audience, where actor Jagathy Sreekumar received the first disc copy of the project.

References

External links

*
Narendra Prasad at MSINarendra Prasad Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prasad, Narendra 1945 births 2003 deaths Malayalam-language writers Male actors from Alappuzha Kerala State Film Award winners Academic staff of the University College Thiruvananthapuram University of Kerala alumni Male actors in Malayalam cinema Indian male film actors Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Academic staff of Government Victoria College, Palakkad 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Indian male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Indian male voice actors Indian male television actors Male actors in Hindi television Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala Writers from Alappuzha 20th-century Indian male writers