Bahadoor

Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), better known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor who appeared in Malayalam films, primarily in comedic roles. He and Adoor Bhasi were the two major comedians in Malayalam cinema in the 1960s and 1970s. Bahadoor also appeared in character roles and in professional plays.

Bahadoor won three Kerala State Film Awards, including two Second Best Actor and a Best Comedian.

Early life Bahadoor was born as P. K. Kunjalu in 1930 in Kodungalloor, near Thrissur in Kingdom of Cochin (present day Kerala, India). As one of the nine children of Padiyath Blangachalil Kochumoideen and Khadeeja. Out of his eight siblings, seven were sisters. His family was financially poor and the seven young women added to the burden as the Kerala social system openly supported dowry at that time. He had affinity towards plays from very young age itself. He passed 10th Standard with First Class and joined Farook College, Calicut for Intermediate. He could not complete his studies due to financial troubles and had to start working for a living. He found his first job in a private bus as the bus conductor. He still wished to be an actor. He met Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair through a relative. Thikkurussi gave him the chance to act in films and renamed him Bahadoor.

Career Bahadoor made his debut with a minor role in Avakasi (1954). At that time he also acted in Akashavani and amateur-professional plays and got established as a good actor. Bahadoor got his first break with his role as Chakkaravakkan in Neela Production's Padatha Painkili. The film, which went on to become a big hit, marked Bahadoor's presence in the industry.

He along with Adoor Bhasi formed a box office ruling combination and the duo is being compared to Laurel and Hardy. Bahadoor became the hero in Neelisali and Mucheettu Kalikkarante Makal. Bahadoor found time for acting in plays as well. He partnered a play production theatre which made blockbuster plays like Manikyakkottaram and Ballatha Pahayan. These plays were later made into feature films by him. In his entire career he appeared in a Tamil film Sathya starring Kamal Haasan, which was his only appearance in a non-Malayalam film, he played a supporting role as the father of Haasan's character.

Bahadoor started a black and white processing studio in Trivandrum named K. C. Lab. But the studio's establishment was ill-timed as films were shifting to colour. This caused financial troubles for Bahadoor and finally the studio was taken over by people to whom Bahadoor was indebted. Bahdoor also started a film distribution company only to face failures. He produced few films all of which failed at the box office. Even with his commercial debacles from the industry, he could meet his family's monetary requirements and mark his presence in the field of acting.

Bahadoor was last seen in Lohithadas's Joker. He did the role of a mentally ill veteran joker in a circus camp. The film was released shortly after his death.

Personal life He was married to Jameela. The couple have three children, Siddhiq, Muhammed and Rukiya.

During his final days, Bahadoor suffered various health ailments, like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Failing health made him leave the film industry. But, he returned through the film Joker. On 22 May 2000, Bahadoor was hospitalized after chest pain and died due to internal bleeding in his brain caused by a heart attack.

Awards Kerala State Film Awards

Second Best Actor – 1973 – Madhavikutty Second Best Actor – 1976 – Aalinganam, Thulavarsham Best Comedian – 1972 – Various films

Selected filmography

1950s Year Title Role Notes 1954 Avakasi Baalyasakhi Pachu Pilla 1955 Aniyathi Bhasi 1957 Padatha Painkili Chakkara Vakkan Jailppulli Muthu 1958 Mariakutty Kasim Nairu Pidicha Pulivaalu Keshu

1960s Year Title Role Notes 1960 Umma Mammooj 1961 Kandam Bacha Kotte Khader Jnaanasundari John Unniyarcha Kittu 1962 Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi Sankaran/Gopakumar Veluthambi Dalawa Macauly's butler 1963 Ammaye Kaanaan Naanu Ninamaninja Kalpadukal Mammooju 1964 School Master Damodharan Aadyakiranangal Velu Kutti Kuppayam Avuran Mullakka Kalanju Kittiya Thankam K. Ramachandran Maithanam 1965 Porter Kunjali Pareed Daham Aliyar Jeevithayaathra Kochappan Kuppivala Poker/Chellathodu Subaida Mammu 1966 Tharavattamma Mr. Menon 1967 Kasavuthattam Pokker Chitra Mela Segment: "Penninte Prapancham" Balyakalasakhi Ashwamedam Krishnandaji Agniputhri Appunni Nair 1968 Viplavakarikal Govindan Velutha Kathreena Appayi Midumidukki Purushothaman Punnapra Vayalar Paappi mooppan Kadal Paul Yakshi Paramu 1969 Ballatha Pahayan Aliyar Kadalpalam Appu Adimakal Bhargavan Urangatha Sundary Panicker Velliyazhcha Madanan

1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Vazhve Mayam Kuttappan Aranazhikaneram Kunjucherukkan Nizhalattam Kurup Cross Belt Thilakan Bheekara Nimishangal Sankaran Mindapennu Unnikrishanan Oonjal Appu Nair Thurakkatha Vathil Narayanankutty 1971 C.I.D. Nazir Pappu Rathri Vandi Sindooracheppu Mammad Achante Bharya Balan Nair Line Bus Vareed Anadha Shilpangal Balakrishnan Sumangali Keeri Keshava Kuruppu Vilakku Vangiya Veena Prathapan Ernakulam Junction Kunjali Thettu Kochappi Anubhavangal Paalichakal Hamsa 1972 Miss Mary Raju Kandavarundo Venu Omana Lonappan Professor Magician Chembarathi Vasu Taxi Car Nadathara Rajappan Achanum Bappayum Abdulla Aradimanninte Janmi Ouseppu Adyathe Kadha Kuttan Pilla Panimudakku Salim/Ummer Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka Puncture Antony 1973 Panitheeratha Veedu Interview Kuttappan Nakhangal Pappu Kapalika Gopalan Azhakulla Saleena Daiman Mathai Chuzhi Abbas Dharmayudham Vikraman Maram Mollakka Manushyaputhran Kochu Govindan Achani Appu Panitheeratha Veedu Moideen Kakka, Hameed Kaadu Sekhar Padmavyooham Paulose Kalachakram Prabha Divya Darshanam Velappan Panikkar Jesus Yamini Doc Chandran Ladies Hostel Kuttan Pilla Udayam Ittiyavara Swargaputhri Kunjali Panchavadi Keshava Pilla 1974 Rajahamsam Keshavan Nair Chattakkari Rahim College Girl Damu Panchathanthram Guptha Poonthenaruvi Poovan Thacholi Marumakan Chandu Pokkan Manyasree Viswamithran Balachandran Night Duty Readymade Krishnankutty Pattabhishekam Bahadoor Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi Appunni Ayalathe Sundari Pappu Pilla Nellu Seythali 1975 Neela Ponman Paappi Thomashleeha Alibabayum 41 Kallanmarum Shukkur Ayodhya Jayaraman Babumon Panikkar Penpada Vasu Love Marriage Gopi Hello Darling Appukuttan Picnic Venu Pravaham Kunnel Raghavan 1976 Themmadi Velappan Kuttappan Thulavarsham Ayappan Ayiram Janmagal A. Krishnan Aalinganam Rajashekharan Chirikudukka Babu, Paraman Ayalkkari Varghese Panchami Philippose Prasadam Light House Damu 1977 Randu Lokam Govindan Angeekaram Gangadharan Abhinivesham Rajan Samudram Shekhardas Aparadhi Ouseppachan Anugraham Madhavan Pilla Shankupushppam Mammad Poojakkedukkatha Pookkal Kuttan Pilla 1978 Rathi Nirvedham Kochammani Itha Oru Manushyan Nanu Agni Kanyaka Aliyar Ee Manohara Theeram Mathai Arum Anyaralla Pralokam Pappu 1979 Neelathamara Achuthan Nair Ezhunirangal Pappachan Ivide Kattinu Sugandam Raman Pilla Itha Oru Theeram Sankara Pilla Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Hakkim Moulavi Sahib Kazhukan Pimp Mani

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Theekkadal Shekharan Pillai Sakthi Paramu Pillai Lava Govindan Aravam Murukayya Prakadanam Master Vilkkanundu Swapnangal Mammukka 1981 Palangal Varkey Sanchari Sankaran Grihalakshmi Raman Pilla Greeshmajwaala Unnithan Guha Chandrasekhara Kaimal Kathayariyathe Raman Nair 1982 Sara Varsham Ravunni Nair Ponnum Poovum Khadir Beedikunjamma Velu Nair Anuraagakkodathi Gopalan Kurukkante Kalyanam Soopi Hajiyar 1983 Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal Kakka Eettillam Njodi Vasu Visa Kuttyalikka Mandanmmar Londanil Choyi Mooppan Swapname Ninakku Nandi Bakker Maniyara Hassanali Naseema School Master Veena Poovu Kudayaani Mazha Nilaavu Abdulla 1984 Piriyilla Naam Vareechan Ivide Thudangunnu Kurup Appunni Hajiyar Vellam Kuttan Nair Manithali Kunjanikka Kaliyil Alpam Karyam Rarichan Nair Oru Sumangaliyude Katha Kumaradas Thacholi Thankappan Abu Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha Krishna Pilla Adiyozhukkukal Muni Kakka 1985 Koodum Thedi Judy's Father Janakeeya Kodathi Suma's Father Azhiyatha Bandhangal Easwara Pillai Adhyayam Onnu Muthal Maash Makan Ente Makan Sankan Nair Anu Bandham Madhavan Ente Kanakkuyil Sankara Pillai Oru Sandesham Koodi Rajasekharan Nair Kathodu Kathoram Paily Kiratham Musliyar 1986 Pappan Priyappetta Pappan Padmanaban/Pappan Revathikkoru Pavakkutty Ayyappan Pillai Oppam Oppathinoppam Oru Yugasandhya Pappu Pilla Kochu Themmadi Kelappan Nair Katturumbinum Kathu Kuthu Minister Adukkan Entheluppam Peter 1987 Kaalathinte Sabhdam Nanu Pilla Naradhan Keralathil Kuttan Pillai Anantaram Mathai Neeyallengil Njan Pilla Ithrayum Kalam Khader 1988 Aranyakam Nanu Sathyaa Rajarathinam Mudaliyar Tamil film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Thomachan 1989 Bhadrachitta Devadas Raman Nair Crime Branch Mukundan Nair Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam Kunju Krishna Kaimal

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Orukkam Kumaran Thoovalsparsham Nair Oliyampukal T. P. Chackochan 1991 Kilukkampetti Muthachan 1992 Soorya Gayathri Kunjali Malootty Kuttan Pillai 1993 Ghoshayathra Saidukka 1994 Varanamaalyam Kunjunni Parinayam Kizhakkedam 1995 Sphadikam Kurup 1996 Vanarasena Lambodaran Man of the Match 1997 Oru Yathramozhi Pappan 2000 Joker Abookka