Bahadoor

Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor and comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in the Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema. Bahadoor also appeared in some serious roles and in professional plays. His last film was '' Joker'', which released shortly after his death.

Early life

Bahadoor was born as P. K. Kunjalu in 1930 in Kodungalloor, near Thrissur in Kingdom of Cochin (present day Kerala, India). As one of the nine children of Padiyath Blangachalil Kochumoideen and Khadeeja. Out of his eight siblings, seven were sisters. His family was financially poor and the seven young women added to the burden as the Kerala social system openly supported dowry at that time. He had affinity towards plays from very young age itself. He passed 10th Standard with First Class and joined Farook College, Calicut for Intermediate. He could not complete his studies due to financial troubles and had to start working for a living. He found his first job in a private bus as the bus conductor. He still wished to be an actor. He met Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair through a relative. Thikkurussi gave him the chance to act in films and renamed him Bahadoor.

Family

He was married to Jameela. The couple have three children, Siddhiq, Muhammed and Rukiya.

Career

Bahadoor made his debut with a minor role in ''Avakasi'' (1954). At that time he also acted in Akashavani and amateur-professional plays and got established as a good actor. Bahadoor got his first break with his role as ''Chakkaravakkan'' in Neela Production's '' Padatha Painkili''. The film, which went on to become a big hit, marked Bahadoor's presence in the industry. He along with Adoor Bhasi formed a box office ruling combination and the duo is being compared to Laurel and Hardy. Bahadoor became the hero in ''Neelisali'' and ''Mucheettu Kalikkarante Makal''. Bahadoor found time for acting in plays as well. He partnered a play production theatre which made blockbuster plays like ''Manikyakkottaram'' and ''Ballatha Pahayan''. These plays were later made into feature films by him. In his entire career he appeared in a Tamil film '' Sathya'' starring Kamal Haasan, which was his only appearance in a non-Malayalam film to date, he played a supporting role as the father of Haasan's character.
Bahadoor started a black and white processing studio in Trivandrum named K. C. Lab. But the studio's establishment was ill-timed as films were shifting to colour. This caused financial troubles for Bahadoor and finally the studio was taken over by people to whom Bahadoor was indebted. Bahdoor also started a film distribution company only to face failures. He produced few films all of which failed at the box office. Even with his commercial debacles from the industry, he could meet his family's monetary requirements and mark his presence in the field of acting.
Bahadoor was last seen in Lohithadas's '' Joker''. He did the role of a mentally ill veteran joker in a circus camp. In the film, he commits suicide by letting himself into the lion's cage in the circus den.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

* Second Best Actor – 1973 – ''Madhavikutty''
* Second Best Actor – 1976 – ''Aalinganam'', ''Thulavarsham''
* Kerala state film awards for Best Comedy Artist – 1972 – Various films

Death

During his final days, Bahadoor suffered various health ailments, like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Failing health made him leave the film industry. But, he returned through the film '' Joker'', only to leave the world soon later. On 22 May 2000 around 10 am, Bahadoor felt severe chest pain at his home in Chennai and was taken to Vijaya Hospital nearby. He died at the hospital by 3 pm due to internal bleeding in his brain caused by a heart attack.

Selected filmography

# ''Avakashi'' (1954)
# '' Baalyasakhi'' (1954) as Pachu Pilla
# '' Aniyathi'' (1955) as Bhasi
# '' Padatha Painkili'' (1957) as Chakkara Vakkan
# ''Jailppulli'' (1957) as Muthu
# ''Mariakutty'' (1958) as Kasim
# '' Nairu Pidicha Pulivaalu'' (1958) as Keshu
# '' Umma'' (1960) as Mammooj
# '' Kandam Bacha Kotte'' (1961) as Khader
# ''Jnaanasundari'' (1961) as John
# ''Unniyarcha'' (1961) as Kittu
# ''Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi'' (1962) as Sankaran/Gopakumar
# '' Ammaye Kaanaan'' (1963) as Naanu
# ''Ninamaninja Kalpadukal'' (1963) as Mammooju
# ''School Master'' (1964) as Damodharan
# '' Aadyakiranangal'' (1964) as Velu
# '' Kutti Kuppayam'' (1964) as Avuran Mullakka
# ''Kalanju Kittiya Thankam'' (1964) as K. Ramachandran Maithanam
# ''Porter Kunjali'' (1965) as Pareed
# '' Daham'' (1965) as Aliyar
# '' Jeevithayaathra'' (1965) as Kochappan
# ''Kuppivala'' (1965) as Poker/Chellathodu
# ''Subaida'' (1965) as Mammu
# '' Tharavattamma'' (1966)
# '' Kasavuthattam'' (1967) as Pokker
# ''Chitra Mela'' (1967) as (segment "Penninte Prapancham")
# ''Balyakalasakhi'' (1967)
# '' Ashwamedam'' (1967) as Krishnandaji
# '' Agniputhri'' (1967) as Appunni Nair
# ''Viplavakarikal'' (1968) as Govindan
# '' Velutha Kathreena'' (1968) as Appayi
# '' Punnapra Vayalar'' (1968) as Paappi mooppan
# '' Kadal'' (1968) as Paul
# ''Yakshi'' (1968) as Paramu
# ''Ballatha Pahayan'' (1969) as Aliyar
# '' Kadalpalam'' (1969) as Appu
# '' Adimakal (1969) as Bhargavan
# '' Urangatha Sundary'' (1969) as Panicker
# '' Velliyazhcha'' (1969) as Madanan
# '' Vazhve Mayam'' (1970) as Kuttappan
# '' Aranazhikaneram'' (1970) as Kunjucherukkan
# '' Nizhalattam'' (1970) as Kurup
# ''Cross Belt'' (1970) as Thilakan
# '' Bheekara Nimishangal'' (1970) as Sankaran
# ''Mindapennu'' (1970) as Unnikrishanan
# ''Oonjal'' (1970) as Appu Nair
# '' Thurakkatha Vathil'' (1970) as Narayanankutty
# ''C.I.D. Nazir'' (1971) as Pappu
# ''Rathri Vandi'' (1971)
# ''Sindooracheppu'' (1971) as Mammad
# '' Achante Bharya'' (1971) as Balan Nair
# ''Line Bus'' (1971) as Vareed
# ''Anadha Shilpangal'' (1971) as Balakrishnan
# '' Sumangali'' (1971) as Keeri Keshava Kuruppu
# ''Vilakku Vangiya Veena'' (1971) as Prathapan
# '' Ernakulam Junction'' (1971) as Kunjali
# ''Thettu'' (1971) as Kochappi
# '' Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971) as Hamsa
# '' Miss Mary'' (1972) as Raju
# '' Kandavarundo'' (1972) as Venu
# ''Omana'' (1972) as Lonappan
# ''Professor'' (1972) as Magician
# '' Chembarathi'' (1972) as Vasu
# '' Taxi Car'' (1972) as Nadathara Rajappan
# '' Achanum Bappayum'' (1972) as Abdulla
# '' Aradimanninte Janmi'' (1972) as Ouseppu
# '' Adyathe Kadha'' (1972) as Kuttan Pilla
# '' Panimudakku'' (1972) as Salim/Ummer
# ''Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka'' (1972) as Puncture Antony
# '' Panitheeratha Veedu'' (1973)
# ''Interview'' (1973) as Kuttappan
# '' Nakhangal'' (1973) as Pappu
# '' Kapalika'' (1973) as Gopalan
# '' Azhakulla Saleena'' (1973) as Daiman Mathai
# ''Chuzhi'' (1973) as Abbas
# '' Dharmayudham'' (1973) as Vikraman
# '' Maram'' (1973) as Mollakka
# '' Manushyaputhran'' (1973) as Kochu Govindan
# '' Achani'' (1973) as Appu
# '' Panitheeratha Veedu'' (1973) as Moideen Kakka, Hameed (double role)
# '' Kaadu'' (1973) as Sekhar
# '' Padmavyooham'' (1973) as Paulose
# '' Kalachakram'' (1973) as Prabha
# '' Divya Darshanam'' (1973) as Velappan Panikkar
# '' Yamini'' (1973) as Doc Chandran
# '' Ladies Hostel'' (1973) as Kuttan Pilla
# '' Udayam'' (1973) as Ittiyavara
# '' Swargaputhri'' (1973) as Kunjali
# ''Panchavadi'' (1973) as Keshava Pilla
# '' Rajahamsam'' (1974) as Keshavan Nair
# '' Chattakkari'' (1974) as Rahim
# '' College Girl'' (1974) as Damu
# ''Panchathanthram'' (1974) as Guptha
# '' Poonthenaruvi'' (1974) as Poovan
# '' Thacholi Marumakan Chandu'' (1974) as Pokkan
# '' Manyasree Viswamithran'' (1974) as Balachandran
# '' Night Duty '' (1974) as Readymade Krishnankutty
# '' Pattabhishekam'' (1974) as Bahadoor
# '' Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi'' (1974) as Appunni
# '' Ayalathe Sundari'' (1974) as Pappu Pilla
# '' Nellu'' (1974) as Seythali
# '' Neela Ponman'' (1975) as Paappi
# ''Thomashleeha'' (1975)
# '' Alibabayum 41 Kallanmarum'' (1975) as Shukkur
# ''Ayodhya'' (1975) as Jayaraman
# ''Babumon'' (1975) as Panikkar
# '' Penpada'' (1975) as Vasu
# '' Love Marriage'' (1975) as Gopi
# ''Hello Darling'' (1975) as Appukuttan
# ''Picnic'' (1975) as Venu
# '' Pravaham'' (1975) as Kunnel Raghavan
# ''Themmadi Velappan'' (1976) as Kuttappan
# ''Thulavarsham'' (1976) as Ayappan
# '' Ayiram Janmagal'' (1976) as A. Krishnan
# ''Aalinganam'' (1976) as Rajashekharan
# '' Chirikudukka'' (1976) as Babu, Paraman
# ''Ayalkkari'' (1976) as Varghese
# ''Panchami'' (1976) as Philippose
# '' Prasadam'' (1976)
# '' Light House'' (1976) as Damu
# '' Randu Lokam'' (1977) as Govindan
# '' Angeekaram'' (1977) as Gangadharan
# ''Abhinivesham'' (1977) as Rajan
# '' Samudram'' (1977) as Shekhardas
# '' Aparadhi'' (1977) as Ouseppachan
# ''Anugraham as Madhavan Pilla
# '' Shankupushppam'' (1977) as Mammad
# ''Poojakkedukkatha Pookkal'' (1977) as Kuttan Pilla
# '' Rathi Nirvedham'' (1978) as Kochammani
# '' Itha Oru Manushyan'' (1978) as Nanu
# ''Agni'' (1978)
# '' Kanyaka'' (1978) as Aliyar
# ''Ee Manohara Theeram'' (1978) as Mathai
# ''Arum Anyaralla'' (1978) as Pralokam Pappu
# ''Neelathamara'' (1979) as Achuthan Nair
# '' Ezhunirangal'' (1979) as Pappachan
# '' Ivide Kattinu Sugandam'' (1979) as Raman Pilla
# '' Itha Oru Theeram'' (1979) as Sankara Pilla
# ''Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum'' (1979) as Hakkim Moulavi Sahib
# ''Theekkadal'' (1980) as Shekharan Pillai
# '' Sakthi'' (1980) as Paramu Pillai
# ''Lava'' (1980) as Govindan
# ''Aravam'' (1980) as Murukayya
# ''Prakadanam'' (1980) as Master
# '' Vilkkanundu Swapnangal'' (1980) as Mammukka
# ''Palangal'' (1981) as Varkey
# ''Sanchari'' (1981) as Sankaran
# '' Grihalakshmi'' (1981) as Raman Pilla
# '' Greeshmajwaala'' (1981) as Unnithan
# '' Guha'' (1981) as Chandrasekhara Kaimal
# '' Kathayariyathe'' (1981) as Raman Nair
# '' Sara Varsham'' (1982) as Ravunni Nair
# '' Ponnum Poovum'' (1982) as Khadir
# '' Beedikunjamma'' (1982) as Velu Nair
# ''Anuraagakkodathi'' (1982) as Gopalan
# ''Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal'' (1983) as Kakka
# ''Eettillam'' (1983) as Njodi Vasu
# '' Visa'' (1983) as Kuttyalikka
# ''Mandanmmar Londanil'' (1983) as Choyi Mooppan
# ''Swapname Ninakku Nandi'' (1983) as Bakker
# ''Maniyara'' (1983) as Hassanali
# ''Naseema'' (1983) as School Master
# '' Kurukkante Kalyanam'' (1982) as Soopi Hajiyar
# ''Veena Poovu'' (1983) as Kudayaani
# '' Mazha Nilaavu'' (1983) as Abdulla
# ''Piriyilla Naam'' (1984) as Vareechan
# ''Ivide Thudangunnu'' (1984) as Kurup
# '' Appunni'' (1984) as Hajiyar
# ''Vellam'' (1984) as Kuttan Nair
# '' Manithali'' (1984) as Kunjanikka
# ''Kaliyil Alpam Karyam'' (1984) as Rarichan Nair
# ''Oru Sumangaliyude Katha'' (1984) as Kumaradas
# '' Thacholi Thankappan'' (1984) as Abu
# ''Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha'' (1984) as Krishna Pilla
# '' Adiyozhukkukal'' (1984) as Muni Kakka
# ''Koodum Thedi'' (1985) as Judy's Father
# ''Janakeeya Kodathi'' (1985) as Suma's Father
# '' Azhiyatha Bandhangal'' (1985) as Easwara Pillai
# ''Adhyayam Onnu Muthal'' (1985) as Maash
# ''Makan Ente Makan'' (1985) as Sankan Nair
# '' Anu Bandham'' (1985) as Madhavan
# '' Ente Kanakkuyil'' (1985) as Sankara Pillai
# ''Oru Sandesham Koodi'' (1985) as Rajasekharan Nair
# ''Kathodu Kathoram'' (1985) as Paily
# ''Kiratham'' (1985) as Musliyar
# ''Pappan Priyappetta Pappan'' (1986) as Padmanaban/Pappan
# '' Revathikkoru Pavakkutty'' (1986) as Ayyappan Pillai
# '' Oppam Oppathinoppam'' (1986)
# ''Oru Yugasandhya'' (1986) as Pappu Pilla
# '' Kochu Themmadi'' (1986) as Kelappan Nair
# ''Katturumbinum Kathu Kuthu'' (1986) as Minister
# ''Adukkan Entheluppam'' (1986) as Peter
# '' Kaalathinte Sabhdam'' (1987) as Nanu Pilla
# ''Naradhan Keralathil'' (1987) as Kuttan Pillai
# '' Anantaram'' (1987) as Mathai
# ''Neeyallengil Njan'' (1987) as Pilla
# ''Ithrayum Kalam'' (1987) as Khader
# '' Aranyakam'' (1988) as Nanu
# '' Sathya'' (1988) as Rajarathinam Mudaliyar
# ''Oru CBI Diary Kurippu'' (1988) as Thomachan
# '' Bhadrachitta'' (1989)
# '' Devadas'' (1989) as Raman Nair
# '' Kali Karyamaai: Crime Branch'' (1989) as Mukundan Nair
# '' Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam'' (1989) as Kunju Krishna Kaimal
# '' Orukkam'' (1990) as Kumaran
# ''Thoovalsparsham'' (1990) as Nair
# ''Oliyampukal'' (1990) as T. P. Chackochan
# ''Kilukkampetti'' (1991) as Muthachan
# ''Soorya Gayathri'' (1992) as Kunjali
# '' Malootty'' (1992) as Kuttan Pillai
# '' Ghoshayathra'' (1993) as Saidukka
# '' Varanamaalyam'' (1994) as Kunjunni
# '' Parinayam (1994) as Kizhakkedam
# ''Sphadikam'' (1995) as Kurup
# ''Vanarasena'' (1996) as Lambodaran
# '' Man of the Match'' (1996)
# '' Joker'' (2000) as Abookka

References

External links

A short biography
(in Malayalam)

An article published in Janayugam
(in Malayalam)
*

Bahadoor at MSI

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahadoor
1930 births
2000 deaths
Indian male film actors
People from Thrissur district
Male actors from Kerala
Kerala State Film Award winners
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
20th-century Indian male actors
Malayalam comedians
Indian male comedians
20th-century comedians
Male actors from Thrissur