Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad (26 December 1946 – 3 November 2003) was an Indian actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikkara in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore.[1] Appreciated for his body language and performance by the audience and critics, he is known for portraying character roles and villain characters in Malayalam films.[2]

Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad
Born(1946-12-26)26 December 1946 Mavelikkara, Quilon Division, Kingdom of Travancore (Present-day Mavelikkara, Kerala)
Died3 November 2003(2003-11-03) (aged 56)
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Professor
  • Actor
  • Author

Personal life

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He studied at N. S. S. College, Pandalam, for Pre-University and for his degree (in Mathematics). He moved to Institute of English, University of Kerala for his post-graduation in English Language and Literature. A voracious reader in Malayalam and English, Narendra Prasad distinguished himself as a potential man of letters even as a degree student. He used to take part in the Malayalam and English literary discussions, debates and competitions organised at the college and university levels, and won prizes. His play Souparnika won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985.[3]

Narendra Prasad started his career as a college teacher; he joined Bishop Moore College in 1967 as lecturer in English. He got into government service in 1968, and worked as lecturer at Government Victoria College, Palakkad, and Govt. Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, and as Professor at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1989 while working as Professor of English at University College, he was selected for the post of Director, School of Letters of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He continued in this post until his demise.

Awards

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Kerala State Film Awards:

Film

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He earned recognition as an actor with his portrayal of semi-villainous characters. His hit films include Meleparambil Aanveedu,Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava,Thalastaanam, Utsavamelam, Paithrukam, Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Ekalavyan, Bharanakoodam,

Yaadhavam, Aaram Thamburan, Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu, Njangal Santhushtaranu, Ustaad, Vazhunnor, One Man Show, and Susanna. He acted in over 150 films, winning the State Award for the 'Best Supporting Actor' for "Paithrukam."[citation needed]

Death

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He died at PVS Hospital, Kozhikode on 3 November 2003, due to cardio-respiratory arrest. He had been admitted in Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam for apnea, caused by interstitial lung disease (ILD), a condition that caused disintegration of lungs. From there he was moved to PVS Hospital, where though he gained consciousness, he succumbed to the illness.[4] He was aged 56 at the time of his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Mavelikkara.[citation needed]

Filmography

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As an actor

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1980s

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Asthikal Pookunnu Govindan

1990s

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Unnikuttanu Joli Kitti
1992 Adhwaytham Sreekantan Pothuval
Ootty Pattanam Rajashekhara Varma
Utsavamelam Thirumeni
Thalastaanam G. Parameswaran
Rajashilpi Staanu Aashaan
Pandu Pandoru Rajakumari Dr. Robert Franklin D'Souza
Kudumbasametham Adv. Mahendran Kurup
Aardram Vamadevan
1993 Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans Kunjikannan Nambyar
Pravachakan MLA Kurian
Padaleeputhram
Kudumba Sneham
Yaadhavam Chandrasenan
Thalamura Nangiyattumadathil Bhadran Namboothiri
Journalist Anantharama Sharma
Sarovaram
Paithrukam
Meleparambil Anveedu Thiruvikraman Pillai
Kavadiyattam Unni's father
Janam Azheekkal Raghavan
Ekalavyan Swami Amoorthananda
Bhaagyavaan Divakaran Thekkumthara MLA
Bandhukkal Sathrukkal Viswambharan
Ammayane Sathyam Jaganatha Varma
Aayirappara Padhmanabha Kaimal
1994 Vardhakya Puranam Mahendran Thampi
Pavithram Sankaran Pillai
Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji Kuruppu
Kochaniyan
Prathakshinam Parameswaran
Chukkan Mahendra Varma
Galileo Galileo
CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. CID Agency Head
Bheesmacharya Rajakumaran Thampy
Dhadha Vettukadan
Vishnu Mathews
Sukrutham Dr. Unni
Bharanakoodam Devaraj
Vendor Daniel State Licency Udayanoor Karavalpadu
1995 Tom & Jerry Ananthan Nambiar/Chandrasekhara Varma
Thirumanassu Thirumanassu
Mimics Action 500 Kulashekara Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran
Chaithanyam Thekkepattu Ravunni Nair
Chantha Cameo
Boxer Rajagopalan Thampi
Sargavasantham Dr. Sarathchandra Varma
Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta Mangalam Veetil Mooppil Nair
Kidilol Kidilam Ramabhadran
Kalyanji Anandji Dr. Shankaran
Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Kodalipparampil Sankara Menon
Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava Kuttan Bava (Chettan Bava)
Alancheri Thamprakkal Chanthappan Gurukkal
Munpe Parakkunna Pakshi
Ezharakoottam Andrews Nicolas
Aksharam Krishna Murthy
Sindoora Rekha Menon
Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary Adv. Jagadish T. Nambiar
1996 Devaraagam Ramadhanapadikal
Sooryaputhrikal
Mayoora Nrithyam Mash
Sulthan Hyderali
Kanchanam Billiards Menon
Excuse Me Ethu Collegila
Rajaputhran Vamadevan Karunakaran
Kumkumacheppu Grandfather
Dilliwala Rajakumaran Udhaya Varma Maharaja
Kathapurushan Vasu
1997 Moonu Kodiyum Munnuru Pavanum
Kalyanapittennu
Raajathanthram Keshava Menon
Kilikurissiyile Kudumba Mela Shrimangalathu Ananthakrishnan
Bhoopathi Mahendra Varma
Kannur M.P. Rajappan
Suvarna Simhaasanam Meledathu Madhavan Nair
Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu Meenakshi's father
Kaliyattam Thamburan
Innalekalillathe Lonachan
Kalyanappittannu
Asuravamsam Mayor Swami/Ranganathan Swamy
Aaraam Thampuran Kulappully Appan Thampuran
1998 Manthri Maalikayil Manasammatham Chekuthan Lawrence
Malabaril Ninnoru Manimaaran
Mayilpeelikkavu Rahuleyan
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan Ravunni
Elavamkodu Desam Adithyan
Panchaloham Kuppuvachan Mushari
Sooryaputhran Mangalathu Padipurackel Jagannadhan
British Market CI Jacob Purakkadan
Aakhosham
1999 Vazhunnor Parakkadan Kochousepp
Ustaad Nandan's father
F. I. R. Rahim Haji
Pranaya Nilavu
Udayapuram Sulthan Avittam Thirunal Narayana Varma
Rishivamsam
Njangal Santhushtaranu DGP Rajasekharan Nair IPS
Gopalannayarude Thaadi

2000s

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Mazhanoolkkanavu
Narashimham Mooppil Nair
Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam
Susanna Prof. Noor Mohammad
2001 Saivar Thirumeni Mazhamangalathu Narayanan Nampoothirippadu
Ee Nadu Innalevare Vishambharan Ambalakkadan
Andolanam
Randam Bhavam Ananthakrishnan's father
Kakki Nakshthram Thomas Vattoly
Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu Vasudeva Panicker
Meghasandesam Samuel
One Man Show Adv. K. R. Menon
2002 Swapnahaliyil Oru Naal
Abharanacharthu
Onnaman Sukumaran Menon
Punyam
Kadha
Krishna Pakshakkilikal
Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair Bhaskaran Nair
Dany Fr. Simon
Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari Adv. Veerabhadra Kurup
2003 Mizhi Randilum Musafir Babu
Varum Varunnu Vannu Varghese Vaidyan
Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu Aditya Varma
Gowrisankaram
2004 Kusruthi Sreevallabhavan
Kottaram Vaidyan Bhageerathan
Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku Paramu Nair
2005 The Campus Narendran
Deepangal Sakshi Mullakkal Bhaskaran Nair
Brahmasuran

As a dubbing artist

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Television

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Towards the second half of the nineties he ventured into television. Shayama Prasad's tele-film Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal, was Prasad's first venture on the small screen

Documentary film

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  • The documentary film on late Prof. Narendraprasad's life, Arangozhinja Akshara Prabhu was produced by Kulakkara Creations and directed by Arun S, written by R Harikrishnan, cinematography and editing by Thanzil Rajan. Veteran film directors Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jayaraaj, Sooryakrishnamoorthi, actors P. Sreekumar, M. R. Gopakumar, actor and voice artist Prof. Aliyar, politician M. A. Baby and many other appears in this documentary. The documentary was screened for the first time on 2011 at Mavelikkara Natyagraha before a huge audience, where actor Jagathy Sreekumar received the first disc copy of the project.

References

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  1. ^ "നരേന്ദ്രപ്രസാദ് ഓര്‍മ്മദിനം". Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ^ "5 Evergreen Villians of Malayalam Cinema". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Manorama Online | Malayalam News | Nostalgia |". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Narendra Prasad passes away". The Hindu. 3 November 2003. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
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