Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal (1 September 1932 – 16 December 2024), better known as Thomas Berly, was an Indian actor, director, producer, script writer, music composer 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 ...

, and author in English.

Life and career

Berly was born at

Fort Cochin Fort Kochi ( , ; Cochin Portuguese: ''Cochim de Baixo'', , Tamil: ''Koçhé Kōtàì''), formerly also known as Fort Cochin or British Cochin or Old Kochi, is a region of Kochi city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the For ...

Madras Presidency The Madras Presidency or Madras Province, officially called the Presidency of Fort St. George until 1937, was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India and later the Dominion of India. At its greatest extent, the presidency i ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

on 1 September 1932. His parents were Kurishingal K. J. Burleigh, an independence activist, and Annie Burleigh, a leader of the pre-independence era who led a

satyagraha Satyāgraha (from ; ''satya'': "truth", ''āgraha'': "insistence" or "holding firmly to"), or "holding firmly to truth",' or "truth force", is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. Someone who practises satyagraha is ...

against toddy shops in

. His debut movie was ''Thiramala'' in 1953 as a 21 year old perhaps becoming one of the youngest heroes in Malayalam film industry at that time. He later went to do a course on acting in

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...

. There he acted in a few English movies and television series in small roles. He acted in a Hollywood movie ''

Never So Few ''Never So Few'' is a 1959 CinemaScope Metrocolor war film directed by John Sturges and starring Frank Sinatra, Gina Lollobrigida, Peter Lawford, Steve McQueen, Richard Johnson, Paul Henreid, Brian Donlevy, Dean Jones, Charles Bronson and Phil ...

'' in 1959. He produced an English movie, ''Maya'' for children. He was also interested in magic, violin, Madeleine instrumental music and painting. His painting ''Galiyan'' was selected and shown on International festivals. Later in 1969 he came back and started seafood exporting business. In 1973 he directed a movie, ''Ithu Manushyano?''. Popular song ''Sughamoru bindu dukhamoru bindu'' is from this movie. Then he directed ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' in 1985 with veteran actor

Prem Nazir Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 6 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading man, leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the hist ...

as hero. He published a collection of English writings to his credit ''Beyond Heart'' (published 2000), which is prose-poetry, ''Fragrant Petals'' (2004), in memory of his father. He has also published a cartoon book, ''O Kerala'' (2007). and ''Sacred Savage'', a historical novel (2017). He was married to Sophy. They have three children, Tanya, Tarun and Tamina and three grandchildren Tahir, Kiara and Kayaan. He was residing at his family home in

Fort Kochi Fort Kochi ( , ; Cochin Portuguese: ''Cochim de Baixo'', , Tamil: ''Koçhé Kōtàì''), formerly also known as Fort Cochin or British Cochin or Old Kochi, is a region of Kochi city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the For ...

, Kerala. Berly died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in

Ernakulam Ernakulam () is the central business district of the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is the namesake of Ernakulam district. The eastern part of Kochi city is mainly known as Ernakulam, while the western part of it after the Venduruthy Bridge ...

, on 16 December 2024, at the age of 92.

Filmography

As an actor

* '' Thiramaala'' (1953) * '' Double Barrel'' (2015)

Direction

* '' Ithu Manushyano'' (1973) * '' Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)

Story

* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973) * ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)

Screenplay

* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973) * ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)

Production

* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973) * ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)

Dialogue

* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973)

Music

* "Mangalangal"... ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985) * "Romaancham Poothirangum"... ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' * "Hemantha Kalam" ... ''Vellarikkaappattanam''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berly, Thomas 1932 births 2024 deaths Male actors from Kochi Male actors in Malayalam cinema Indian male film actors Malayalam film directors Malayalam screenwriters Malayalam film producers Malayalam film score composers Film producers from Kochi Film directors from Kochi Musicians from Kochi 20th-century Indian composers Screenwriters from Kochi