Prominent personalities of Kerala
Thilakan

Padma Shri Thilakan is an acclaimed Indian actor in Malayalam cinema and theatre, known for his excellence in character roles. Thilakan is rated as one of the finest actors in Indian Cinema. He was awarded the Padma Shri on 25th of January 2009.

Thilakan started his career in acting as a theater artist. He ventured into full time acting in theatre after leaving the intermediate college mid-way in the year 1956. It was during his years in theatre that he honed his skills in acting. During this period he and a few friends formed a drama troupe called the `Mundakayam Nataka Samithy.' He worked with KPAC till 1966 followed by stints in Kalidasa Kala Kendra, Changanacherry Geetha, and P.J. Antony's troupe. Thilakan is now in the fiftieth year of his acting career.

In spite of his long association with theatre, Thilakan became a household name only after his foray into Malayalam cinema. He began his career in cinema with a minor role in the film Ulkadal (1979). His first role as a lead character was as Kallu Varkey, a drunkard in Kolangal (1981). Thilakan established himself as an actor after he got his first State Award in 1981 for his role in Yavanika. The film Kireedam was another milestone in his career which is noteworthy for his portrayal of a helpless police man watching silently the fate of his son, played by Mohanlal, who was made into a rowdy by society.

In 1988, he received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Rithubhedam. Again in 1994, and in 1998, he won the State awards for Santhanagopalam and Gamanam. He was strongly favored to get another National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the movie Perumthachan. As noted in the rediff interview the award was steered away from him to Amitabh Bachchan. Some of his other notable films are Sphadikam, Moonnam Pakkam, Kireedam, Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Mookkilla Rajyathu, Chenkol, Randam Bhavam, Kaattu Kuthira and Yavanika.

Thilakan is known to be one of the best supporting actor in the Malayalam movie industry. He has also acted in some of the other South Indian language films such as Tamil. While he performs best when given a serious character role, he has also entertained the audiences with his stints in comedy. This is best noted in a movie named Nadodikkattu. He has also done comedy roles in Films like Chakkikotha Chankaran, Mookilla Rajyathu, Pappan Priyapetta Pappan etc. He truly absorbs the character he plays and his commitment is visible in his movies.

Thilakan portrayed a range of characters. The most admired and popular ones were the super hits with Mohanlal as they portrayed father-son duo. The major of them were Kireedam, Sphadikam, Narasimham, Evidam Swargamanu, Pavithram and Chenkol. He also played father roles to other popular heroes of his prime. With Mammootty in Sangham, with Jayaram in Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal and Sandesam, with Dileep in Meenathil Thaalikettu, with Kunchacko Boban in Aniyathi Pravu and with Prithviraj in Sathyam. He also played many negative roles. His roles of under world don in Randam Bhavam, Karma and Kaalal Pada were much noted. Also he gave many amazing comical performances in films like Nadodikkattu - Pattanapravesham (as a coward underworld don), Mookkilla Rajyathu (as a break out from mental hospital), Kuttettan (as a womanizer) and Naaduvazhikal (as a good for nothing person with a lot of vanity). He played lead roles in many movies including Ekantham, Perumthachan, Santhanagopalam, Kaattukuthira, My dear Muthachan, Mukhamudra (double role) etc.

Thilakan fell terribly ill in the beginning of 2000's and was hospitalized for long. But he came back into life healthy and slowly returned to acting and proved that the illness had no effect on his prolific acting abilities. After his return to acting, he gave a series of statements in many interviews against prominent figures of Malayalam film industry particularly against Mohanlal. He accused that a bunch of actors belonging to Nair community from Thiruvananthapuram is trying to underplay him. In his come back, he played some character roles with Mammootty, but later accused him for giving him less significant roles. In 2008, he had a hot argument with another great actor Nedumudi Venu which included personal accusations.

In 2007, he acted in Ekantham for which he received a special mention from the jury.[3] Even the film technicians’ guild, MACTA, made an exception recently and honoured him though he is not a technician. His boundless talent is likely to bring him into reckoning once again.

Awards

Civilian Awards:
2009 - Padma Shri

National Film Awards:
1988 - Best Supporting Actor - Hrithubhedam
2007 - Special Jury Award (Actor) - Ekantham

Kerala State Film Awards:
1982 - Second Best Actor - Yavanika
1985 - Second Best Actor - Yaatra
1986 - Second Best Actor - Panchagni
1987 - Second Best Actor - Thaniyavarthanam
1988 - Second Best Actor - Mukthi, Dhwani
1989 - Special Jury Award - Various Films
1990 - Best Actor - Perumthachan
1994 - Best Actor - Gamanam, Santhanagopalam
1998 - Second Best Actor - Kaattathoru Pen Poovu

Filmfare Awards:
1990 - Best Actor - Perumthachan
2005 -Lifetime Achievement Award (South) (2005)

Asianet Film Awards
2001 - Best Lifetime Achievement Award

Other Awards
2002 - Bahadoor Award for his contributions to Malayalam Cinema
2005 - Chalachithra Ratna/Lifetime Achievement Award by Kerala Film Critics Association

Selected filmography

Drona 2010 (2010)
Evidam Swargamanu (2009)
Pazhassi Raja (2009)
Makante achan (2009)
Orkkuka Vallapozhum
Red Chillies (2009)
Black Cat(2007)
Ekantham (2007)
Prajapathi (2006) .... Vellodi
Chinthamani Kolacase (2006)
Nerariyan CBI( aka Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Part IV) (2005) .... Kapra
Sathyam (2004) .... Ayyappan Nair
Vellinakshatram (2004)
Koottu (2004) .... Dr. Hariharan
Kilichundan Mampazham (2003) .... Chekutty Muthalali
Kalyanaraman (2002) .... Meppattu Thirumeni
Valkannadi (2002) .... Raghavan
Randam Bhavam (2001)
Mazha (2000)
Narashimham (2000)
Priyam (2000) .... Achan
Pallavur Devanarayanan (1999) .... Pallavur Sreekanta Pothuval
Prempujari (1999)
Thachiledathu Chundan (1999) .... Vikraman Nair
Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999) .... Kochu Thoma
The Truth (1998)
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998) .... Karunan
Elavamkodu Desam (1998) .... Mooss
Mailpeelikkavu (1998)
Meenathil Thalikettu (1998)
Nakshathra Tharattu (1998)
Punjabi House (1998) .... Kaimal
Sidhartha (1998) .... Raghavan
Aniyathi Pravu (1997) .... Kunchacko boban's father
Bhoopathi (1997) .... Bawa/Chindan
Manickakoodaram (1997)
Nagarapuranam (1997) .... Sathya Narayanan
Oral Mathram (1997) .... Shekhara Menon
Poonilamazha (1997)
Ullasappoonkattu (1997) .... John Fernandez
Mookkilla Rajyathu (1996)
Karma (1995)
Peterscott (1995)
Sphadikam (1995) .... Chacko Master
Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995)
Thacholi Varghese Chekavar (1995) .... Avarachan
Chukkan (1994) .... Fired Factory Worker
Gamanam (1994)
Kinnaripuzhayoram (1994)
Kudumba Visesham (1994) .... Madhavan Nair
Minnaram (1994) .... Bobby's Father : Retd Judge Mathews
Pakshe (1994) .... Mohan Lal's father in law
Pavithram (1994) .... Easwara Pillai
Pingami (1994) .... Kumaran
Santhana Gopalam (1994)
Vendor Daniel State Licency (1994) .... Vendor Daniel
Aagneyam (1993) .... Velu Asan
Ammayana Sathyam (1993) .... R. Varghese Mathew
Chenkol (1993) .... Sethu's father
Ente Sreekuttikku (1993)
Kalippattam (1993) .... Urvashi's father
Manichithrathazhu (1993) .... Brahmadattan Nampoothirippadu
Samagamam (1993) .... Pallivathukkal Kariyachan
Kauravar (1992) .... Aliyar
Daivathinte Vikrithikal (1992) .... Landlord
Ezhara Ponnana (1992) .... Madhava Menon
My Dear Muthachan (1992) .... Parameswaran
Sadhyam (1992)
Swaroopam (1992)
Dhanam (1991)
Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty (1991) .... Itichen
Godfather (1991) .... Balaraman
Kadavu (aka The Ferry)(1991)
Kilukkam (1991) .... Judge Nambiar Pillai
Mookilla Rajyathe (1991)
Sandesham (1991) .... Raghavan Nair
Venal Kinavukal (1991) .... Gopalakrishnan Nair
Kuttettan (1990) .... Thomas Chacko
Oliyampukal (1990) .... John Mathew
Mathilukal (aka The Walls)(1990)
Ee Kannikoodi (1990) .... Simon
Kattu Kuthira (1990)
Maala Yogam (1990) .... Mukesh's father
Perumthachan (aka The Master Carpenter)(1990) .... Raman
Radha Madhavam (1990)
Rajavazhcha (1990) .... Madhava Panikkar
Sasneham (1990) .... Retired Stationmaster
Adharvam (1989) .... Mekkadan
Chakkikotha Chankaran (1989) .... Raghavan Thampi
Chanakyan (1989) .... Mathor Menon
Jaathakam (1989) .... Appukuttan Nair
Kaalal Pada (1989)
Kireedam (1989) .... Achudhandan
Naaduvazhikal (1989) .... Shankaran
Varavelppu (1989) .... Ramakrishnan
Varnam (1989) .... Major M. K. Nair
Dhwani (1988) .... Vettukuzhi
Kudumba Puranam (1988)
Moonnam Pakkam (1988) .... Muthachan
Pattana Pravesham (1988) .... Ananthan Nambiar
Witness (1988) .... Vikraman Nair
Thaniyavartanam (1987)
Achuvettante Veedu (1987) .... Damodaran Nair
Amritamgamaya (1987) .... Kurup
Manja Manthrangal (1987) .... Mathew Paul
Nadodikkattu (1987) .... Ananthan Nambiar
Sruthi (1987) .... Aasan
Vilambaram (1987) .... James
Pranamam (1986) .... Aparna's Father
Ee Kaikalil (1986) .... Ummachan
Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) .... Maya's Father
Ithile Iniyum Varu (1986) .... Kaimal
Ennennum Kannettante (1986)
Irakal (1986) .... Mathukutty
Kunjattakilikal (1986) .... Ayyappan Nair
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986) .... Sofia's Stepfather
Oridathu (1986) .... Raman
Panchagni (1986) .... Raman
Pappan Priyappetta Pappan (1986)
Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986) .... Damodaran
Ee Lokam Ivide Kure Manushyar (1985) .... Krishna Pillai
Yathra(aka Yaatra )(1985) .... Jailor
Ente Kanakkuyil (aka Ente Kanakuyil )(1985) .... Kuttan Nair
Ayanam (1985) .... Priest
Anu Bandham (aka Anubandham ) (1985) .... Menon
Aram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985) .... M.N.Nambiar
Koodum Thedi (1985) .... Priest
Vasantha Sena (1985) .... Unnithan
Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol (1984) .... Karunakaran Nair
Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla (1984) .... Bhargavan Pillai
Engane Undasane (1984)
Koottinilamkili (1984) .... Devasya
Onnanu Nammal (1984) .... Sethu's Father
Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha Katha (1984) .... Mammukka
Panchavadi Palam (1984).... Ishak Tharakan
Adaminte Variyellu (aka Adam's Rib) (1983) .... Purushothaman Nair
Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983) .... Fr. Joseph Sebastian
Prasnam Gurutharam (1983) .... Mohan's Father
Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla (1983) .... Home Minister
Yavanika (aka The Curtain Falls )(1982) (as Tilakan) .... Vakkachan
Kolangal (aka Caricatures ) (1981) .... Drunk
Ulkatal (1978) .... Rahulan's Father