Puthanangadi Abraham Thomas (22 March 1922 – 19 January 1995) was an Indian film director, producer, script writer, theater artist and actor 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 ...

movies. He has directed more than 15 movies and produced 11 movies during the 1960s and 1970s. He has also acted around 20 movies. Some of the popular movies he produced are '' Oraal Koodi Kallanaayi'' (1964), ''

Kudumbini ''Kudumbini'' is a 1964 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Adoor Bhasi. The film has musical score by L. P. R. Varma. The film received a certificate o ...

'' (1964), ''

Porter Kunjali ''Porter Kunjali'' is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Adoor Bhasi and Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film's score was composed by M. S. Baburaj. Cast *Prem Nazir ...

'' (1965), ''

Station Master The station master (or stationmaster) is the person in charge of a Train station, railway station, particularly in the United Kingdom and many other countries outside North America. In the United Kingdom, where the term originated, it is now lar ...

'' (1967) and ''

Thomasleeha ''Thomasleeha'' or ''St. Thomas'' is a 1975 Indian Malayalam-language historical drama film based on the life of Thomas the Apostle, St. Thomas the Apostle and his missionary work in India. It was directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. Plot Th ...

'' (1975). All his movies dealt with the contemporary social issues of those times.

Career

After passing the intermediate course, Thomas entered professional drama troupe as an actor. He later formed his own professional drama troupe and presented several dramas all over

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

and in other parts of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. He was offered a role in the 1950 film ''Prasanna'' which was directed by Sri Ramadu Naidu and next year in 1951 he became the hero of '' Vanamala'' film which was directed by Dr. G. Viswanath. ''Vanamala'' which was released in 1951 was the first jungle film in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam, Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both th ...

. He later entered to the field of direction also and directed several successful films in Malayalam. Thomas himself was the producer of many films which he directed.

Personal life and death

Thomas was born in Puthanangadi family to Abraham and Mariamma on 22 March 1922 at

Njarakkal Njarakkal () is a village in the Vypin area situated in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, fo ...

. He was married to Thresia and had 3 children. Thomas died on 19 January 1995, at the age of 72.

Filmography

Direction

* Sreekovil (1962) * Oraal Koodi Kallanaayi (1964) *

(1964) *

Bhoomiyile Malakha ''Bhoomiyile Malakha'' (''Angel on Earth'') is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Prem Nazir and Rajalakshmi, with Sukumari, Lakshmi, Adoor Bhasi and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair in suppo ...

(1965) *

Kayamkulam Kochunni Kayamkulam Kochunni (born c. 1818) was a revolutionary from Kayamkulam, who lived during the late 19th century. He was active in the Travancore area in the present-day Kerala, India. He is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor ...

(1966) * Kallippennu (1966) * Station Master (1966) * Jeevikkan Anuvadikku (1967) *

Pavappettaval ''Pavappettaval'' is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Sathyan, Kamaladevi, Sukumari and Adoor Bhasi. The film had musical score by B. A. Chidambaranath. It is a remake of the 1941 Telugu film '' D ...

(1967) *

Postman A mail carrier, also referred to as a mailman, mailwoman, mailperson, postal carrier, postman, postwoman, postperson, person of post, letter carrier (in American English), or colloquially postie (in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Unite ...

(1967) * Madatharuvi (1967) *

Sahadharmini ''Sahadharmini'' is a 1967 Indian Malayalam film directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Sathyan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Adoor Bhasi and Hari in the lead roles. The film had musical score by B. A. Chidambaranath. Cast * Sathyan *Kav ...

(1967) *

Thalaivan ''Thalaivan'' () is a 2014 Indian Tamil film directed by Ramesh Selvan and produced by Chithirai Selvan. The film features Baskaran, the younger brother of politician T. T. V. Dhinakaran and Nikesha Patel in the lead roles, while the ensemble ...

(1970) (Tamil) *

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

(1973) *

(1975)

Acting

* Prasanna (1950) * Vanamaala (1951) * Kaanchana (1952) * Malaikkallan (1954) * Manasaakshi (1954) * Thaskaraveeran (1957) * Chathurangam (1959) * Naadodikal (1959) * Mudiyanaaya Puthran (1961) *

Sreekovil A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum". The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for w ...

(1962) * Veluthambi Dalawa (1962) * Oraal Koodi Kallanaayi (1964) *

(1964) * Kalyaana Photo (1964) *

Thacholi Othenan Vadakkan Pattukal () are a collection of Malayalam ballads from the medieval period (12th-20th century). The genre as a whole represents the sentiment of ''vira'', or the heroic, through its depictions of "valour and sacrifice." Contents The so ...

(1964) *

(1965) * Viruthan Shanku (1968) * Aruthu (1976) * Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal (1983)

Production

* Oraal Koodi Kallanaayi (1964) *

(1964) * Bhoomiyile Maalakha (1965) * Porter Kunjaali (1965) *

Kallippennu ''Kallipennu'' is a 1966 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Sathyan, Adoor Bhasi, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film had musical score by B. A. Chidambaranath. ...

(1966) * Station Master (1966) * Postman (1967) * Maadatharuvi (1967) * Sahadharmini (1967) * Thomasleeha (1975) * Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal (1983)

Screenplay

* Postman (1967) * Jesus (1973) * Anuraagam (2002)

Story

* Kallippennu (1966) * Postman (1967) * Sahadharmini (1967)

Dialogue

* Anuraagam (2002; posthumous adaptation)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, P. A. 1922 births 1995 deaths 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian male actors Malayalam film directors Malayalam screenwriters Malayalam film producers Male actors from Thiruvananthapuram Male actors in Malayalam cinema Indian male film actors Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram Film producers from Thiruvananthapuram Screenwriters from Thiruvananthapuram