Kuthiravattam Pappu

Panangat Padmadalakshan, better known by his stage name Kuthiravattam Pappu (24 December 1936 – 25 February 2000), was a popular Indian stage and film actor. His repertoire of acting was based on his unique style and use of the Kozhikodan dialect, impeccable timing and the capability to grasp the subtle nuances of any character and mould it into his signature "Pappu style". He acted in over a thousand Malayalam films. He made his debut in a small comic role in Bhargavi Nilayam. His character was named Kuthiravattom, a name that stuck for the rest of his career.

Early life

Pappu was born as Padmadalakshan in Feroke, near Kozhikode, Kerala, to Panaghat Raman and Devi. The family moved to the village of Kuthiravattam (half a kilometre from Govindapuram, Kozhikode when Pappu was still a child. He was keen in acting from childhood and performed his first major stage performance when he was 17. At the time, he was studying in St. Antony's School, Calicut.

Family He was married to Padmini. The couple have three children, Bindu, Biju and Binu. Binu Pappu is an actor in Malayalam movies.

Career

Pappu started his career as a drama artist. He acted in about thousand instant plays and two professional dramas, Samasya and Manasu. His role in the drama Samasya fetched him the Best Comedian Award.

Pappu has worked with Kunjandi, Nellikode Bhaskaran, Thikkodiyan and K. T. Muhammed. Film personalities Ramu Karyat and A. Vincent were impressed by his performance in Mudiyanaya Puthran and gave him chance to act in the film Moodupadam. His first noted role was in Bhargavi Nilayam, written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and directed by A. Vincent. The name of his character in the film given by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, "Kuthiravattam Pappu" stayed with him for the rest of his life.

His performance in Angadi, Ahimsa, Karimbana, Ee nadu, Moorkhan, Aalkkoottathil Thaniye, Itha Oru Theeram, Kanakkinavu was remarkable. The turning point in his career was his roles in Chembarathi, Avalude Ravukal, Angaadi. Even his brief roles like those in Manichitrathazhu and The King are well remembered till this day. His one-liners like "Taski Viliyeda" in Thenmavin Kombath and "Ippo Sariyakkitharam" and "'Thamaraseri Churam'" in Vellanakalude Nadu earned their position in the list of Malayalam idioms. His first reference about Thamarassery churam was in the movie T P Balagopalan M A.

Pappu became one of the best comedians Malayalam cinema has ever seen. He used Kozhikode slang in his acting which was well liked and appreciated. Due to his affection toward plays, with the help of his old friends in the field of theatre, he founded Akshara Theatres a few weeks before his death. He died in a private hospital in Calicut following a cardiac arrest on 25 February 2000.

Partial filmography

Malayalam

Ammaye Kaanaan (1963) as Pamman Aadyakiranangal (1964) Thacholi Othenan (1964) as Ramar Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) as Kuthiravattam Pappu Kuttyedathi (1971) as Kuttishankaran Chembarathi (1972) as Kuttan Panimudakku (1972) as Yashodharan Nirmalyam (1973) Kaapalika (1973) as Ithakku Mazhakkaru (1973) as Maniyan Criminals (Kayangal) (1975) Cheenavala (1975) as Fernandez Penpada (1975) as Janaki(Transvestite) Sathyathinte Nizhalil (1975) Chattambikkalyaani (1975) as Kochappan Ulsavam(1975) as Paramu Hridhayam Oru Kshethram (1976) as Nanu Madhuram Thirumaduram (1976) Thulavarsham (1976) as Chenkeeri Kamadhenu (1976) as Kunjiraman Aalinganam (1976) as Peethambharan Guruvayoor Kesavan (1977) Vidarunna Mottukal (1977) as Madhupan Shankupushppam (1977) as Rajesh Angeekaram (1977) as Neelambharan Oonjal (1977) as Sankaran Avalude Ravukal (1978) Eeta (1978) as Paramu Lisa (1978) as Gopalan Arum Anyaralla (1978) as Bhargavan Itha Oru Manushyan (1978) as Bharathan Ee Manohara Theeram (1978) as Appukuttan Kaathirunna Nimisham (1978) as Harischandran Nair Angakkuri (1979) Kayalum Kayarum (1979) Maamaankam (1979) Neelathamara (1979) as Kuttishankara Menon Jeevitham Oru Gaanam (1979) as Zachariah/Rappel (double role) Itha Oru Theeram (1979) as Chellappan Agnivyuham (1979) as Appu Sugathinu Pinnale (1979) as Kunjuvareed Anupallavi (1979) as Sundaran Ivide Kattinu Sugandam (1979) as Pushkaran Ambalavilakku (1979) as Lonachan Manasa Vacha Karmana (1979) Moorkhan (1980) as Kuttappan Swantham Enna Padam (1980) as Manmadan Karimpana (1980) as Palayyan Chaakara (1980) as Kuttan Pillai Sathyam (1980) as Sankaran Angaadi (1980) as Abu Benz Vasu (1980) as Pappu Theekkadal (1980) as Pappan Aswaratham (1980) as Velayyan Meen (1980) as Pappy Prakadanam (1980) as Kamalahasanan Rajaneegandhi (1980) as Raagam Thaanam Pallavi (1980) as Gopalankutty Mr Michael (1980) as Pappu Kaavalmaadam (1980) as Kunjali Arikkari Ammu (1981) Attimari (1981) as Salim, Hameed Sphodanam (1981) as Narayana Pilla Ahimsa as Muthu (1981) Garjanam (1981) Dwanthayudham (1981) Vayal (1981) as Sankunni Kaahalam (1981) Greeshmajwaala (1981) as Chothi Kodumudikal (1981) as Nanappan Asthamikkatha Pakalukal (1981) as Gopalan Poochasanyasi (1981) Ee Nadu (1982) as Khader Mattuvin Chattangale (1982) Thadakam (1982) Postmortem (1982) Veedu (1982) as Prabhakaran Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam (1982) as Chandran Pooviriyum Pulari (1982) as Nanu John Jaffer Janardhanan (1982) as Charlie Innalenkil Nale (1982) Anuraagakkodathi(1982) as Gopi Varanmare Avashyamundu(1982) Hello Madras Girl (1983) Gurudakshina (1983) as Pappu Eettappuli (1983) as Pappan Mortuary (1983) as Gopalan Thavalam (1983) as Thommi Thimingalam (1983) Aadhipathyam (1983) as Kunjiraman Enne Njan Thedunnu (1983) as Unni Belt Mathai (1983) as Pachu Pillai Thathamme Poocha Poocha (1984) as Ananthan Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984) as Kuttan Mainakam (1984) as Vasu Shabadham (1984) as Kunjan Nair Aalkoottathil Thaniye (1984) as Kuttikrishnan Onnum Mindatha Bharya (1984) as Bapputti Appunni (1984) as Karunakaran Adiyozhukkukal (1984) as Sivan Kutti Rakshassu (1984) as Mammad Theere Pratheekshikkathe(1984) as Achu Kodathi (1984) as Antonym Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984) as Pachu Pillai Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985) as Raman Mutharamkunnu P.O. (1985) as K. P. K. Thankappan Kaiyum Thalayum Purathidaruthu (1985) as Appu Jeevante Jeevan (1985) as Peter Angadikkappurathu (1985) as Pappu Ottayan (1985) as Korappan Shathru (1985) as Kurup Idanilangal (1985) as Swami Pilla Pachavelicham (1985) Chorakku Chora (1985) as Velu Mukhyamanthri (1985) as Kuttappan Principal Olivil (1985) Vartha (1986) Vivahithare Ithile (1986) T. P. Balagopalan M.A. (1986) as Chandrankutty Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (1986) as Velu Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986) as Koma Kurup Annoru Ravil (1986) as Antony Nair Nandi Veendum Varika (1986) as Mukundan Karinagam (1986) Nakhakshathangal (1986) Ithramathram (1986) as Pappan Naradhan Keralathil (1987) as Police Constable Ithrayum Kalam (1987) as Sankunni Nair Janangalude Sradhakku (1987) as Balan Amrutham Gamaya (1987) as Kumaran Vellanakalude Nadu (1988) as Sulaiman Anuragi (1988) as Kunjappan Aryan (1988) Kanakambarangal (1988) as Nanappan Oru Muthassi Katha (1988) as Koyammedkka Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) as Aussapachen Loose Loose Arappiri Loose (1988) as Pappu Janmandharam (1988) as Kuruppilli Kuriakose Abkari (1988) as Kumaran 1921 (1988) Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikkunnu (1989) as Mathai Ulsavapittennu (1989) as Pushpangadan Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal (1989) as Pushpangadan Naduvazhikal (1989) as K. C. Mahayanam (1989) as Kunjappan Vandhanam (1989) V.I.P. (1989) as Khaderkutty Aazhikkoru Muthu (1989) as Kuttan Pilla Pradeshika Varthakal (1989) as Velichappadu Saandhram (1990) as Caesar Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam (1990) Dr. Pasupathy (1990) as Uthpalakshan Aye Auto (1990) as Moidu Nammude Nadu (1990) as Musthafa Midhya (1990) as Ezhuthachan Oliyampukal (1990) as Thankan Anaswaram (1991) as Tool/Ambady Ramakrishnan Amina Tailors (1991) as Kunjalavi Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) as Mariyappan Parallel College (1991) as Sanathan Pillai Kadinjool Kalyanam (1991) as Mathai Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty (1991) as Paulose Advaitham (1991) as Kaiyathan Amaram (1991) as Raman Kutty Eagle (1991) as Azeez Mookkillarajyathu (1991) as Vasu/Sundaran Pillai Neelagiri (1991) as Arumukhan Utsava Melam (1992) Radhachakram (1992) as Ponnan Kizhakkan Pathrose (1992) as Devassia/Marangodan (nickname) Naadody (1992) as Kutty Johnnie Walker (1992) Vietnam Colony (1993) as Erumeli Midhunam (1993) as Palisha Peethambaran Manichithrathazhu (1993) as Kattuparamban Ekalavyan (1993) as Govindan Kutty Customs Diary (1993) as Vishwanathan Akashadoothu (1993) as Chandy Arthana (1993) Aayirappara (1993) Pingami (1994) as Achuthan Thenmavin Kombathu (1994) as Ammavan Chakoram (1994) as Ammama Chukkan (1994) as Beeranikka Gamanam (1994) as Kunjiraman Minnaram (1994) as Tutor Cleetus Nirnayam (1995) as Servant Kakkakum Poochakkum Kalyanam (1995) Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka (1995) as Sundaresan Nair Tom & Jerry (1995) as Kesava Kaimal Thovalapookkal (1995) Kokkarakko (1995) Thirumanassu(1995) as Raman Highway (1995) as Rajappan Alancherry Thambrakkal (1995) as Kariyathen Indian Military Intelligence (1995) as Aroodam Anandan Kidilol Kidilam (1995) as Hassan Kaattile Thadi Thevarude Ana (1995) as Veerappan The King (1995) as Krishnan Thooval Kottaram (1996) as Kunjuraman Menon Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan (1996) as Koyakka Mr. Clean (1996) as Bhargavan Pillai Madamma (1996) as Politician Hitlist (1996) as Sankar Das Sugavaasam (1996) as Venkidi Kudamattom (1997) as Nanu Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Sub Inspector C.T.R Kurup Kalyana Unnikal (1997) as Kuttappi Kalyanappittannu (1997) Mayaponman (1997) as Motor Doctor Mathai Hitler Brothers (1997) as Nanappan Ekkareyanente Manasam (1997) as Sumathi's Uncle Chandralekha (1997) as Accountant Aaraam Thampuran (1997) as Mangalam Magician Mahendralal from Delhi (1998) as Sivan Pillai Pranayavarnangal (1998) Sundarakilladi (1998) Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998) as Achuthan Mayajalam (1998) as Paramanandan Nair Summer in Bethleham (1998) Replaced Kalabhavan Mani Gloria Fernades From USA (1998) Thirakkalkkapuram (1998) as Kittunni Charlie Chaplin (1999) Garshom (1999) as Damodaran Pallavur Devanarayanan (1999) as Kunjuraman Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999) Chandranudikkunna Dikkil (1999) Narasimham (2000) Mr. Butler (2000) (posthumously) Korappan The Great (2001) (posthumously) Njan Rajavu (2002) (Posthumously)

Series Akashadoothu Chirikkam Namukku Chirikkam