Prem Nazir

Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 7 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation.

He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema.

A popular cultural icon of Kerala, Nazir is often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan ("Evergreen Hero").

Nazir was born in Chirayinkeezhu in the princely state of Travancore (now in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala), to Akkode Shahul Hamid and Asuma Beevi on 7 April 1927 in a Rowther family.

He had two brothers - Prem Nawas (Abdul Wahab) - and Ashraf and six sisters - Sulekha, Arifa, Aneesa, Umaiba, Sunaisa and Suhara.

His mother died when he was very young, and his father remarried a woman of the same name.

He completed his formal education from Kadinamkulam Lower Primary School, Sri Chithiravilasam School, Trivandrum, Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha, and St. Berchmans College, Changanassery.

By the time he completed his education, he had become an experienced drama artist.

In the late 1950s, Nazir drew attention by playing movies with themes based on social and religious injustices in the society.

Prem Nazir had his acting debut as Shylock in the play The Merchant of Venice (1951), when he was a student at SB College, Changanacherry.

He won the best actor award for this role in the play directed by Sheppard.

Nazir began his career as a stage actor and made his film debut with the 1952 film Marumakal.

He took on the stage name Prem Nazir on the sets of his second film, Visappinte Vili (1952).

His first film was Marumakal (1952), directed by S. K. Chari and produced by Paul Kallungal.

He was credited as Abdul Khader in this film.

He got his career break with Visappinte Vili (1952), his second film, made for K&K Combines (Udaya Studio) by Telugu director Mohan Rao.

It was on the set of this movie he was renamed to Prem Nazir by Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair.

Prem Nazir started his career when drama was the most popular visual medium and film making at its infancy.

He began acting for the Excel Productions (Udaya Studio) and most of his films were for the Udaya and Merryland Studios.

With the arrival of Nazir, there was a new screen personality, a new debonair actor who could be a youth heart throb.

Prem Nazir acquired the halo of a romantic hero and a loyal following.

His tear-jerkers were very popular with female audiences and soon made him a darling of the masses.

He became the first real star of Malayalam cinema.

Another factor that assisted Prem Nazir's rise – as it had the rise of his contemporaries in other regional film industries – was the continuing reign of mythologicals and devotionals.

Costumed musicals, filmed start-to-finish within the confines of a studio, contributed their own.

All such films for a long period kept him before his fans, nourished his romantic image and provided him unlimited scope for rehearsing and refining his talent in playing diverse roles.

Since the bulk of South Indian cinema was theatrical visually and aurally, Prem Nazir's stage background and his extraordinary command of Malayalam helped him win the hearts of his audience.

From 1956 to 1976, Prem Nazir rode high at the crest of a tidal wave of popularity and also gave his best to Malayalam cinema.

Nazir is noted for his performances in films such as Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969), Nadhi (1969), C.I.D. Nazir (1971), Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971), Taxi Car (1972), Azhakulla Saleena (1973), Nellu (1974), Ariyappedatha Rahasyam (1981), Vida Parayum Munpe (1981), Padayottam (1982), and Dhwani (1988).

Nazir won the Kerala State Film Award (Special Jury Award) for his role as Madhavan Kutty in Vida Parayum Munpe.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan the third highest civilian honours respectively, for his contribution towards the arts.

Nazir catapulted to the row of the finest actors of India with the film Iruttinte Athmavu (1967).

Playing a demented youth – Velayadhan, Prem Nazir discovered his prowess as a dramatic actor of great intensity.

Many critics have evaluated this role as his masterpiece, and as one of the finest onscreen performances ever.

Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, the film provided Malayalam cinema with a new direction; that of the low-budget film.

One could see a lot of the pre-occupations of the scenarist, who carried the touches of human relationships through all of his subsequent films whether as screenplay writer or director.

In spite of its large number of studio shots and overall theatricality, the film was so culturally rich that many of the episodes would become archetypes for future Malayalam film makers dealing with family drama.

He also holds two other acting records; for acting opposite eighty heroines and for acting in lead roles in 30 films which were released in a single year (1973 and 1977).

He died due to measles on 16 January 1989 at the age of 62.

Nazir holds the Guinness World Records for playing opposite the same heroine in 130 films (with Sheela), and previously held the record for playing the lead role in a record 720 films.