Sathyan

Sathyan (born Cheruvilakathu Veetil Manuel Sathyanesan Nadar; 9 November 1912 – 15 June 1971) was an Indian actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. Known for his own style and versatility in acting, Satyan was one of the pioneers of realistic acting in Indian film industry. He is respectfully called Sathyan Master. He was also a soldier in the British Indian Army and later a police officer with the Travancore State Police.

Sathyan served as an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II. After the war he joined the Travancore state police as an inspector in late 1940s. During this time he got interested in acting and acted in amateur stage plays. He made his debut film in 1952 film Athmasakhi and rose to stardom with the critically acclaimed film Neelakuyil in 1954. He dominated the Malayalam film industry over two decades ( 1952 – 1971) along with his contemporary Prem Nazir.

He is remembered for his performances in Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968), Odayilninnu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Veettu Mrugam (1969), Vazhvemayam (1970), Oru Penninte Kadha (1971), Karakanakadal (1971), Pakalkinavu (1966), Ningalenne Communist Akki (1970), Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966), Sarasayya (1971), Rowdy (1966), Mooladhanam (1969),Chemmeen (1965), Ammayenna Sthree (1970), Kuttavali (1970), Crossbelt (1970), Adimakal (1969), Thacholi Othenan (1964), Aadyakiranangal (1964) and Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961).

Sathyan won the Best Actor Award at the inaugural Kerala State Film Award ceremony for his double role in Kadalpalam. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor again in 1971 for his film Karakanakadal.

Personal life

Sathyan was born in Aramada, Thiruvananthapuram on 9 November 1912. His parents' names were Manuel and Emily. The eldest of five sons, his younger brothers were Chellayya, Neshan, Devadas, and Jacob. His family were Nadar Christians who belonged to the Anglican Church (C.I.B.C.) (later Church of South India (C.S.I.). Their family home in Aramada was called Cheruvilakathu Veettil.

Entry to films

Sathyan's entry into the field of acting started during his tenure as the police officer. At that time he acted in several amateur plays and that experience made him more interested in acting. His entry to film industry was accidental. He got introduced to a film musician Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar during his tenure as Inspector in Alappuzha North Police Station. The musician introduced Sathyan to various film personalities and one producer promised to cast him in a film; however, Sathyan did not get any calls from the producer. Sathyan came to know about a film that Kaumudi Chief Editor and his neighbour K. Balakrishnan were planning. He met Balakrishnan and the latter was impressed by Sathyan. Balakrishnan cast him as the protagonist in the film written and produced by him, titled Thyagaseema. The then Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mary Arputham, objected to Sathyan acting in the film. Sathyan resigned from his job to act in this film and shortened his name to Sathyan from Sathyaneshan. However, the film was dropped. Thyagaseema was also incidentally the first film for Prem Nazir.

In 1952 P. Subramaniam established Neela Productions. He happened to see the rushes of Thyagaseema and was impressed by Sathyan's performance. Subramaniam invited Sathyan to act as hero in his first film Athmasakhi (1952) which was Sathyan's first release.

Film career

Rise to stardom

In 1952, Sathyan's first film got released. The film was titled Athmasakhi and it earned him recognition in the industry. Sathyan rose to fame with the legendary Neelakkuyil (1954). The film was also a milestone in Malayalam film history. It was the first film to have an authentic Malayalam story. The film was written by renowned literary figure Uroob and directed by Ramu Karyat-P. Bhaskaran duo. The songs in the film written by P. Bhaskaran and set to tunes by K. Raghavan were superhits. The film became the first Malayalam film to win national recognition when it was awarded the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus Award). The film's success at the box office raised Sathyan and his co-star Miss Kumari to stardom. During the late 1950s and the whole of the 1960s, he and Prem Nazir formed a bipolar industry with a considerable number of films starring at least one of them. He won the inaugural Kerala State Film Award for best actor in 1969 & again posthumously in 1971. There is a Sathyan Memorial Art Gallery in Thiruvananthapuram.

Awards and recognition Kerala State Film Awards: 1969: Best Actor – Kadalpalam (First State Award receiver) 1971: Best Actor – Karakanakkadal

Film Film Awards: 1969: Adimakal

Popular roles Below are a few of the most popular & critically praised characters played by Sathyan: Neelakuyil (1954) – Sreedharan Nair Thacholi Othenan (1964) – Othenan Odayil Ninnu (1965) – Pappu Chemmeen (1965) – Palani Yakshi (1968) – Sreeni Kadalpalam (1969) – Double Role Mooladhanam (1969) – multistarrer with Nazeer Vazhve Mayam (1970) – Sudhi Karinizhal (1970) – Colonel Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971) – Chellappan Karakanakadal (1971) – posthumous state award winner

Memorials

Awards established in his name Sathyan National Film Award (Sathyan Foundation) : An award instituted by the "Sathyan Foundation" a charitable organization formed with the basic objective of perpetuating the memory of veteran actor Sathyan by his children and grand child. The "Sathyan National Film Award" is presented annually to an eminent personality of Indian cinema. Memento, certificate and Rs. 25000/- are given as award for the awardees. Winners: Murali, Thilakan, P. Bhaskaran, Balachandra Menon, Kalabhavan Mani, Sheela, Nedumudi Venu, Dileep, K. S. Chithra, K.J Yesudas, Kalabhavan Mani, Madhu, Sharada, Suresh Gopi, M. Jayachandran, Sreekumaran Thampi, Jerry Amaldev.

Sathyan Award: An award instituted by the Kerala Cultural Forum. The award carries a sum of Rs. 10000 and a plaque. Winner: Innocent (2007)

Sathyan Memorial Film Award: An award instituted by the Sathyan Memorial Arts and Sports Club. The award is given in various fields including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Anti-Hero, Best Comedian, Best Newcomer and Best Singers (male and female), taking the last year's performances into consideration.

Filmography Malayalam 1950s Year Title Role Notes 1951 Thyaagaseema Unreleased film 1952 Aathmasakhi 1953 Thiramala Vijayan Lokaneethi Ashadeepam Chandran 1954 Snehaseema Johny Neelakuyil Sreedharan Nair 1955 Kalam Marunnu 1956 Avar Unarunnu 1957 Deva Sundari Thaskaraveeran Kumar/Maayavi/Khan Sahib Achanum Makanum Reghu Minnunnathellam Ponnalla Rajan 1958 Lilly Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu Chandran 1959 Chathurangam Minnalppadayaali

1960s Year Title Role Notes 1961 Unniyarcha Aromal Chekavar Mudiyanaya Puthran Rajasekharan Pilla Arappavan Vettukaaran Ramu Krishna Kuchela 1962 Bhaarya Benny Viyarppinte Vila Gopi Kannum Karalum Mohan Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi Sukumaran Sreekovil Vidhi Thanna Vilakku Laila Majnu Baqthum Bhagyajathakam Palattu Koman Palattu Koman 1963 Kadalamma Neelan Moodupadam Ammaye Kaanaan Chandran Doctor Rajendran Nithyakanyaka Rebecca Johny 1964 Pazhassi Raja Baber Kalanjukittiya Thankam Sugathan Thacholi Othenan Thacholi Othenan Anna Manavaatti Omanakuttan Aayisha Abubacker Sahib Aadyakiranangal Kunjukutty 1965 Ammu Shekharan Kattuthulasi Chettathi Premachandran Odayil Ninnu Pappu Devatha Shyamala Chechi Inapraavugal Anthony Kadathukaran Ramu Daaham Jayaraj Shakuntala Chemmeen Palani Thommante Makkal Pappachan 1966 Koottukaar Jail Pakalkkinavu Babu Kayamkulam Kochunni Kayamkulam Kochunni Kallipennu Station Master Tharavattamma Gopi Thilothama Anarkali Akbar Rowdy 1967 Arakkillam Pavappettaval Gopi Kudumbam Ashwamedham Dr. Thomas Naadan Pennu Chacko Chekuthante Kotta Lawrence Ollathumathi Postman Udhyogastha Rajan Anweshichu Kandethiyilla Thomas Sheelavathi Ugrathapassu Kavalam Chundan Swapnabhoomi N. G. O. Mynatharuvi Kolakase Khadeeja Thalirukal Sahadharmini 1968 Karthika Kunju Midumidukki Ravi Vazhi Pizhacha Santhathi Pengal Kaliyalla Kalyanam Thokkukal Kadha Parayunnu Raghu Velutha Kathreena Chellappan Yakshi Prof. Sreenivasan Agni Pareeksha Dr. Mohan Manaswini Aparadhini 1969 Kuruthykkalam Vilakkapetta Bendhangal Kattukurangu Prabhakaran Koottukudumbam Appukkuttan Chattambikkavala John Joseph Mooladhanam Ravi Velliyazhcha Ravi Adimakal Appukuttan Urangatha Sundari Vikraman Kartha Kadalpalam Narayana Kaimal, Raghu Sandhya Veettu Mrugam

1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Vivahitha Ashok Vazhve Mayam Sudhindharan Nair Nilakkatha Chalanangal Thara Balakrishna Pilla Kuttavaali Kedi Krishnan Kalpana Balan Thriveni Damodaran Muthalali Ningalenne Communistaakki Paramu Pilla Othenente Makan Othenan Kurup Cross Belt Rajasekharan Nair Bheekara Nimishangal Mancheri Raghavan Dathuputhran Kunjachan Ammayenna Sthree Advocate Nishagandhi Aranazhika Neram Mathukkutty Sthree Kurukshethram Balakrishnan 1971 Kalithozhi Dr. Issac Matthew Vimochanasamaram Karinizhal Colonel Rajasekharan Oru Penninte Katha Madhavan Thampi Karakanakadal Thoma C.I.D. In Jungle Shiksha Surendran Moonnupookkal Panchavan Kaadu Ananda Kurup Anubhavangal Paalichakal Chellappan/Prabhakaran Sarasayya Dr. Thomas Thettu Johny Kuttyedathi Appunni Agnimrigam Mukundan 1972 Lakshyam Kalippava Akkarapacha Vasudevan Baalyaprathijna Chandran 1973 Thenaruvi Rajan's brother Aashachakram Ravichandran 1974 Checkpost

Tamil

Year Title Role Notes 1960 Aalukkoru Veedu 1967 Pesum Deivam