Bharath Gopi

Gopynathan Velayudhan Nair (2 November 1937 – 29 January 2008), popularly known by the stage name Bharat Gopy, was an Indian actor, producer, and director. Considered one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema, Gopy was one of the first actors to be associated with the New Wave cinema movement in Kerala during the 1970s.

Bharat Gopy has won many awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Sankarankutty in Kodiyettam (1977). His well-known roles include Aiyappan in Yavanika, Vasu Menon in Palangal, Prof. "Shakespeare" Krishna Pillai in Kattathe Kilikoodu, Dushasana Kurup in Panchavadi Palam, Nandagopal in Ormakkayi, Mammachan in Adaminte Vaariyellu, Shankaran in Chidambaram, and Krishnan Raju in Aghaat. He won four Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor for various roles.

As a filmmaker he is known for Ulsavapittennu (1989) and Yamanam (1991). He produced the 1993 film Padheyam directed by Bharathan. In 1991 the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for his contributions towards the arts. In 1994, he authored the book Abhinayam Anubhavam, which won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema.

Early life and family Bharat Gopy was born on 2 November 1937 at Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram District of the state of Kerala as the youngest of four children to Kochuveetil Velayudhan Pillai and Parvathyamma. He completed his BSc. Degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram. Immediately after his studies, he was employed as Lower Division Clerk in the Kerala Electricity Board.

He is married to Jayalakshmy S. V. The couple has a son, writer-actor Murali Gopy, and a daughter, Dr. Minu Gopy.

Career

Stage actor

Gopy began his acting career as a theatre actor at Prasadhana Little Theatres under G. Sankara Pillai. His first stage appearance was in the role of Raaghavan in the play Abhayarthikal. Later on, he became associated with Thiruvarange under Kaavalam Narayana Panicker. He has also written five plays and directed three. He made his movie debut in Adoor's Swayamvaram in 1972 in a small role. He did the lead role of Sankarankutty in Adoor's next film, Kodiyettam (1977), a performance for which he won the National Award for Best Actor. He was also noted for his performances in movies like Ormakkayi, Yavanika, Panchavadi Palam and Adaminte Vaariyellu. Besides Malayalam movies, he acted in two Hindi movies, Aaghat and Satah Se Uthata Aadmi.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991.

In 1979, Gopy directed the movie Njattadi with Murali in lead role. The movie was only screened twice and the print is now lost. He directed three more movies Ulsavapittennu, Yamanam and Ente Hridhayathinte Utama. His Yamanam, about a physically disabled person, was awarded Best Film on social issues by the National Award Jury in 1991.

On 24 January 2008, Gopy was hospitalised with chest pain. He died five days later following a cardiac arrest. His last role was in Balachandra Menon's De Ingottu Nokkiye (2008).

Author

Gopy authored two books. His book Abhinayam Anubhavam (Acting, Experience), won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 1994.

Filmography Actor

+ Year Title Role Notes 1972 Swayamvaram an unemployed youth 1977 Kodiyettam Sankarankutty National Film Award for Best ActorKerala State Film Award for Best Actor 1978 Thampu Panicker, the circus manager 1979 Peruvazhiyambalam Vishwambharan, the tea shop owner 1980 Satah Se Uthata Aadmi Ramesh Screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival Greeshmam 1981 Vida Parayum Munpe Dr. Thomas Palangal Vasu Menon Kallan Pavithran Maamachan 1982 Yavanika Tabalist Ayyappan Ormakkayi Nandu, the deaf and dumb sculptor Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (1982) Snehapoorvam Meera Abraham Gaanam Aalolam Mukundan Menon Marmaram Naxalite Gopy 1983 Rachana Sriprasad Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (1983) Purappadu Asthi Mohan Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal Unni Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback Suresh Babu Kattathe Kilikoodu Shakespeare Krishna Pillai Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (1983) Oru Swakaryam Kaimal Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku Vinod Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (1983) Ashtapadi Asthram Capt. C. S. Nair Eenam Kaimal Eettillam Moitheen Bawa 1984 Adaminte Variyellu Mamachan Muthalaly Sandhya Mayangum Neram Justice Balagangadhara Menon Panchavadi Palam Dushassana Kurup Swantham Sarika Basheer Appunni Perattupadaveettil Ayyappan Nair Akkare K. N. Gopynathan Aarorumariyathe Stephan George Aksharangal VP Menon April 18 Constable Gopy Pillai Oru Painkilikatha Swami 1985 Punnaram Cholli Cholli Krishnankutty Nair Kayyum Thalayum Purathidaruthu Chidambaram Mohandas Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (1985) Gaayathridevi Ente Amma Mahadevan Thampi Aghaat Krishnan Raju Hindi film Principal Olivil Vasavan Pillai Onathumbikkoru Oonjaal Augustine Archana Aradhana Advocate Rajendran Kanathaya Penkutty Devadas Menon Karimpinpoovinakkare Chellan Scene No 7 Menon Puli Varunne Puli Chairman Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki Chellappan Pillai Irakal Bishop 1986 Nilavinte nattil Balachandra Panikkar Meenamasathile Sooryan EK Nayanar Chekkeranoru Chilla Revathikkoru Pavakkutty Balan Menon Udayam Padinjaru Thampi Neram Pularumbol Nancy's Father Ice Cream Panikkar 1993 Padheyam K. V. Raghavan 1994 Swaham Screened at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival Vardhakya Puranam Rama Pothuval 1995 Agnidevan K. K. Menon Ormakalundayirikkanam Thakaran 1998 Elavamkodu Desam Agnisarmman Samaantharangal Musaliyar Kaikudunna Nilavu Devi's Grandfather 1999 Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum Devadasi Shanta Ram 2000 Susanna K P Govardhanan Pilla 2001 Ennum Sambhavami Yuge Yuge Mookkuthy Namukoru Koodaram 2002 Desam Uppa 2003 Varum Varunnu Vannu Kathanar 2004 Sethurama Iyer CBI Fr. Gomez Wanted Anu's Father 2006 Rasathanthram Balan Master 2007 Nivedyam Ramavarma Thampuran Paradesi Nasrani Narayana Swamy 2008 Aakasha Gopuram Abraham Thomas Posthumous film De Ingottu Nokkiye Bhuminadha Kurup Posthumous film 2009 Bharya Swantham Suhruthu Posthumous film

Director

Year Title Notes 1979 Njattadi 1989 Ulsavapittennu 1991 Yamanam Best Film on Other Social Issues 2002 Ente Hridayathinte Udama

Producer

Year Title Notes 1993 Padheyam V. Shantaram award for the producer of the Best film

Awards

International awards and honours Special Jury Award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Tokyo (1985) A five-film retrospective of his films was held in Paris by the Government of France (1985). The only other Indian actors to be awarded this honour are Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan

Civilian awards Padma Shri – 1991

National Film Awards Best Actor – Kodiyettam – 1977 Best Film on Other Social Issues – Yamanam – 1991 Best Book on Cinema – Abhinayam Anubhavam – 1995

V. Shantaram Award Best Film Award – Padheyam – 1993 (as producer)

Kerala State Film Awards Best Actor – Kodiyettam – 1977 Best Actor – Ormakkayi – 1982 Best Actor – Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku, Eenam, Ettillam, Kattathe Kilikoodu – 1983 Best Actor – Chidambaram – 1985

Filmfare Awards 1982 – Best Actor – Ormakkayi 1983 - Best Actor - Kattathe Kilikkoodu

Other awards 1994 – Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship Four critics awards Two Gulf Malayali association awards