Mullamangalath Parameshwaran Bhattathiripad (23 September 1908 – 10 August 1998), commonly known as M. P. Bhatathirippad or Premji, was a social reformer, cultural leader and actor from

Kerala state Kerala ( ; ) is a 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 regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Can ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), 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 and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

. Premji joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with

V. T. Bhattathiripad Vellithuruthi Thazhathu Karutha Patteri Raman Bhattathiripad (1896–1982), also known as V. T. Bhattathiripad, was an Indian social reformer, dramatist and an Indian independence activist. He was best known for his contributions in the reforma ...

E. M. S. Namboodiripad Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad (13 June 1909 – 19 March 1998), popularly known as EMS, was an Indian communist politician and theorist, who served as the first Chief Minister of Kerala in 1957–1959 and then again in 1967–1969. ...

and his brother M. R. Bhattathiripad in the fight against the

casteism Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural ...

and

conservatism Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

that existed in the Nambudiri community. Premji was also a noted stage and film actor who won the

National Film Award for Best Actor The National Film Award for Best Actor, officially known as the Rajat Kamal Award for the Best Actor (), is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India instituted since 1967 to actors who have delivered the best performanc ...

for the film '' Piravi''.

Biography

Premji was born on 23 September 1908 in Vanneri,

Malappuram Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of including the surrounding suburban areas. The first municipality in the district formed in 1970, Malappuram serves as the administrative headquarte ...

, Kerala. It was a time when Kerala was experiencing a social uprising. The effect of that was visible in Premji's family and life as well. His elder twin brother M. R. Bhattathiripad, popularly known as MRB was a prominent figure in Malayalam professional plays. Premji joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with

and MRB in the fight against the

and

that existed in the Nambudiri community. Premji got married at the age of 40 to Arya Antharjanam (28 years old) from Karuvat Illam, Kanjany, Trichur, who was a widow since the age of 17. This was when widow-marriages were completely prohibited in Nambudiri community. This was the second widow marriage in the modern Kerala history, after the marriage of his brother MRB with Uma Antharjanam nine years earlier. Premji started his professional life as a proof editor in ''Mangalodayam'' press

Thrissur Thrissur (), formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi and Kozhikode, and t ...

when he was 19. He soon launched his acting career with ''Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathakku'', a play by eminent dramatist

.Weblokam profile
Later, he acted in various plays: MRB's ''Marakkudakkullile Mahaanarakam'', Moothiringode Bhavathrathan Namboothiripad's ''Apphante Makal'',

Cherukad Cherukad Govinda Pisharodi (26 August 1914 – 28 October 1976), commonly known as Cherukad, was a Malayalam-language playwright, novelist, poet and political activist, associated with the Communist movement in Kerala state, India. Biograp ...

's ''Nammalonnu'' and ''Snehabimbangal'' and P. R. Warrier's ''Chavittikkuzhacha Mannu'' are some of them. He won gold medal from the

Government of Kerala Government of Kerala is the subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decisio ...

for his performance in the play ''Shah Jahan'', produced by Kalakaumudi Nataka Koottayma. He was also awarded a fellowship by the

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India. It was established on 26 April 1958, inaugurated by then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The academy started a cultural centre at the Bahrain Keral ...

. With his expertise in plays, he ventured into film industry. He debuted in '' Minnaminungu'' and went on to act in about 60 films including ''Thacholi Othenen'', ''

Kunjali Marakkar Kunjali Marakkar (alternatively spelled Kunhali Marakkar) was the title inherited by the Admiral of the fleet of the Samoothiri / Zamorin, the king of Kozhikode / Calicut, in present-day Kerala, India. There were four Marakkars whose war tacti ...

'', '' Lisa'', ''Yaagam'', '' Uttarayanam'' and '' Piravi''. He won the

as well as

Kerala State Film Award The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Ch ...

and also won Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actor for his performance as a father in search of his missing son in '' Piravi'' (1989), directed by

Shaji N. Karun Shaji Neelakantan Karun (born 1 January 1952) is an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film ''Piravi'' (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the premiere chairman of the Kerala ...

. In addition to the much acclaimed play ''Ritumathi'' Premji has 4 collected verses to his credit as well, namely ''Sapakthni'', ''Nalkalikal'', ''Raktha Sandesam'' and ''Premji Padunnu''. He died on 10 August 1998, aged 90.

Awards

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

: *

Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to the ...

- 1989 - Piravi

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Ch ...

: *

- 1989 - Piravi

Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing ...

: *

Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Malayalam ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, an ...

- 1989 - Piravi

Filmography

*'' Piravi'' (1988) as Chakyar *''Padippura'' (1989) *''Bhagavan'' (1986) *'' Kochu Themmadi'' (1986) *''Anu Bandham'' (1985) as Valiya Nampoothiri *''Mangalam Nerunnu'' (1984) *''Sreekrishna Parundu'' (1984) *''Oru Thira Pinneyum Thira'' (1982) *''Yagam'' (1982) *''Thrishna'' (1981) as Sankar Menon *''

Sanchari ''Sanchari'' () is a 1981 Indian Malayalam-language film produced and directed by Boban Kunchacko and written by P. K. Sarangapani. The film stars Prem Nazir, Jayan, K. P. Ummer, Mohanlal, and Adoor Bhasi in substantial roles. The film feature ...

'' (1981) as Vaidyar *''Sathyam'' (1980) as Sekharan Nair *''Vilkkanundu Swapnangal'' (1980) as Sridevi's Valyammavan *''Sandhyaragam'' (1979) *''Lisa'' (1978) as Bhavithradan Namputhirippadu *''Aanapappachan'' (1978) *''Jagadguru Adisankaran'' (1977) *''Thulavarsham'' (1976) *''Chennay Valarthiya Kutti'' (1976) *''Samasya'' (1976) *''Niramala'' (1975) *''Utharayanam'' (1975) *''

Thumbolarcha ''Thumbolarcha'' is a 1974 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by Kunchacko. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Srividya and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair. The film has musical score and songs composed by G. Devarajan. Plot The f ...

'' (1974) *''Ponnapurakotta'' (1973) *''

Theerthayathra ''Theerthayaathra'' is a 1972 Indian Malayalam film, directed by A. Vincent and produced by R. S. Prabhu. The film stars Madhu, Sharada, Sukumari and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the lead roles. The film had musical score by A. T. Ummer. The movie ...

'' (1972) *''

Sindooracheppu ''Sindooracheppu'' is a 1971 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Madhu and produced and written by Yusufali Kechery. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Prema and Sankaradi. It won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film. Plot ...

'' (1970) as Thirumeni *''

Othenente Makan ''Othenente Makan'' () is a 1970 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed and produced by Kunchacko. It is a sequel to the 1964 film '' Thacholo Othenan'', followed by '' Kadathanadan Ambadi'' (1990). The film stars Prem Nazir, Ragi ...

'' (1970) as Thacholi Valiya Kurup *''Mindappennu'' (1970) as Kittunni Nair *''Kunjali Marakkar'' (1966) as Zamorin of Calicut *''Pakalkkinavu'' (1966) *''Thacholi Othenan'' (1964) as Thacholi Valiya Kurup *''Moodupadam'' (1963) *''Shymala Chechi'' (1965) *''Ammu'' (1965) *''Thira, Veendum Oru Thira'' *''Minnaminungu'' (1957) *''

Neelakuyil ''Neelakuyil'' ( en, The Blue Cuckoo; ml, നീലക്കുയിൽ) is a 1954 Malayalam film jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat. It is a neo-realistic melodrama and was based on a story written by Uroob who co-wrote the ...

'' (1954)

References

External links

*
Premji at MSI
{{Authority control 1908 births 1998 deaths Indian social reformers Indian male stage actors Male actors from Kerala Malayalam-language writers Indian male film actors Male actors in Malayalam cinema Best Actor National Film Award winners Kerala State Film Award winners 20th-century Indian male actors People from Malappuram district Writers from Kerala