Kalabhavan Navas

Navas Backer (27 April 1974 – 1 August 2025), better known by his stage name as Kalabhavan Navas, was an Indian actor, comedian and mimic. He began his career performing mimicry in stage shows and gained prominence after joining the Kalabhavan troupe, from which he adopted his professional moniker. He subsequently performed with the Cochin Arts troupe along with his brother, Niyas Backer. He was also a singer.

Navas made his film debut in Chaithanyam (1995) and appeared in approximately 50 Malayalam films, primarily in comedic roles. He is best known for his roles in Mimics Action 500 (1995), Hitler Brothers (1997), Junior Mandrake (1997), Mattupetti Machan (1998), Chandamama (1999) and Thillana Thillana (2003).

Early life Navas was born in a village at Wadakkancherry, Thrissur, on 27 April 1974. His father, Aboobacker, was a theatre and film actor who had appeared in several Malayalam films, while his mother, originally from Ernakulam, was a homemaker. Navas grew up with two siblings — an elder brother, Niyas, and a younger brother, Nisam. The family were practising Muslims. Though his father worked as an actor, his earnings were meagre, and the family lived within limited means during Navas's childhood.

After beginning his career as an artist, he moved to his mother's ancestral home in Ernakulam and lived there for twenty years. His brother, Niyas Backer, also went on to become a comic actor in film and television.

Career

Navas and his brother Niyas Backer used to visit the filming location of Venkalam, directed by Bharathan — who was also from Wadakkanchery — and would perform skits at the artists' camp. Inspired by mimicry artists of the time such as Jayaram and Zainuddin, the brothers developed a keen interest in mimicry and began performing on stage. Navas later joined Kalabhavan, where he started doing professional mimicry shows. Eventually, he became independent and, together with his brother Niyas, founded Cochin Arts, under which they continued performing mimicry. Navas used to imitate his father's role in Vatsalyam on stage. Sometime after his marriage, Navas wrote and directed the telefilm Velicham, which also featured his wife Rehna. The couple also appeared together in the short film Mandan Bench in 2015. The couple once again played leading roles in the 2025 film Izha, which also marked Rehna's return to feature films. His final release before death was Detective Ujjwalan (2025).

Personal life and death Navas was married to Rehna, who had acted in a few films and television serials. Their marriage was arranged while they were both acting in the film Neelakasham Niraye (2002).

On 1 August 2025, Navas was found unconscious at a hotel in Chottanikkara, after having returned to his room after a film's shooting. His death was confirmed at the nearest hospital due to cardiac arrest. He was 51.

Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes1992 Mr and Mrs Newspaper Boy (Debut cameo)1993 Venkalam Cameo 1995 Chaithanyam playback singer Ezharakoottam Mimics Action 500 Babykutty Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Navas Kidilol Kidilam Krishnankutty 1996 Mimics Super 1000 Ishtamanu Nooruvattom 1997 Hitler Brothers Thankappan Siamese Irattakal Junior Mandrake Sandeep Nambiar 1998 Mayajalam Pappan Amma Ammaayiyamma Sharath Meenakshi Kalyanam Unnikrishnan Mattupetti Machan Unnikrishnan Aagosham 1999 Chandamama Pullepadi Monayi My Dear Karadi Appukuttan Auto Brothers 2001 One Man Show Shajahan House Owner Korappan The Great 2002 Neelakasham Niraye Desam 2003 Thillana Thillana Govindan 2004 Vettam Prince 2005 Thamburankunnu 2006 Chakkara Muthu Santhosh Anuvadhamillathe 2009 Chattambinadu Manikandan Boomi Malayalam 2010 Senior Mandrake Sandeep Nambiar Valiyangadi Pariyakutty Kaaryasthan Himself Cameo 2011 Veeraputhran 2012 Cobra Also Playback Singer Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty Gymman 2013 ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi Saji The Factory Single Character Film 2014 Mylanchi Monchulla Veedu Khadar 2015 John Honai Jaffer Ormakalil Oru Manjukaalam 3 Wicketinu 365 Runs 2016 Iyer in Pakistan 2017 Pretham Undu Sookshikkuka Achayans Fr. Jose Kireekadan's Assistant 2018 Priyapettavar Prashnaparihara Shala 2019 Thanka Bhasma Kuriyitta Thamburatti SI Rajan Visudha Pusthakam Mera Naam Shaji Marunnu Johny Driving License Menon 2021 Louis 2023 Vanita A Ranjith CinemaYousaf KrishnaKripa Sagaram 2024 Aaro Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam Rajeev Izha Shoukath 2025 Detective Ujjwalan Ashokan Tikki Taka Philip Posthumous release Prakambanam Posthumous release

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