Sukumaran

Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Parameswaran Sukumaran Nair (10 June 1948 – 16 June 1997), known mononymously as Sukumaran, was an Indian actor and producer of Malayalam films. Sukumaran became a popular film star in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s. He was considered one of the superstar trios of Malayalam cinema during the late 1970s and early 1980s along with Soman and Jayan.

Later, he became known for his character roles and antagonistic roles during the 1980s and 1990s, notably the villain in CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. (1994) and Onnaam Muhurtham (1991), playing character roles in films like Souhrudam (1990). In 1978, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in M. T. Vasudevan Nair's Bandhanam. As a producer, he produced such films as Irakal and Padayani.

On 16 June 1997, Sukumaran suffered a massive heart attack and died. He was 49 at the time of his death.

Early life Sukumaran was born at Edappal, Ponnani taluk, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Malappuram District, Kerala) in the year 1948 as the eldest son of Parameshwaran Nair and Subhadra P. Nair. He had two younger brothers and a sister. (Dr. Sethumadhavan, Dr. Sivadasan, and Sathee Devi).

Sukumaran was educated at St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Pala and at Church Mission Society Higher Secondary School, Thrissur. After completing his master's degree in English literature from University College, Thiruvananthapuram, with a gold medal, he began a job as a college lecturer for three years at Government College, Kasaragod, and at Scott Christian College, Nagercoil.

Career

During his tenure teaching English at Scott Christian College in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, Sukumaran got an offer to act in the Malayalam movie Nirmalyam, directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. He accepted the role of a defiant youngster in the film. The film went on to win accolades from all over and won a couple of National Film Awards as well. Despite being noted as a talented actor, Sukumaran did not receive any offers for some time after. He was thinking of returning to the teaching profession, when he was offered a role in Shankupushpam. With that film, Sukumaran carved a niche for himself in the Malayalam film industry. He worked with director P. Venu in the film Thacholi Thankappan (1983). Thakilu Kottampuram, directed by Balukiriyath was one of his Best films in the 80s, He then went on to act in substantial roles in films such as Avalude Ravukal, Angadi, Bandhanam, Etho Oru Swapnam, Manasa Vacha Karmana, Ahimsha, Spodanam, Shalini Ente Koottukari, Angakkuri, Kolilakkam, Theekkadal, Sandarbam, Witness and Kottayam Kunjachanan. By the year 1985, he had stopped playing hero roles. His role as a defiant police officer in Oru CBI Diary Kurippu and its sequel Jagratha, directed by K. Madhu, was noted for its characterisation and earned cult status when the third sequel in the series, Sethurama Iyer CBI, had Sai Kumar portraying the son of the police officer, with the mannerisms and voice tone of Sukumaran. Sukumaran won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in 1978 for his role in Bandhanam. His last film was Shibiram, directed by T. S. Suresh Babu.

Personal life Sukumaran married actress Mallika Sukumaran on 17 October 1978. They have two sons who both work in Malayalam film industry; Indrajith Sukumaran and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Actress Poornima Mohan and journalist Supriya Menon are his daughters-in-law. His grand daughter Prarthana Indrajith is a playback singer. Sukumaran died due to a massive heart attack on 16 June 1997.

Awards

Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor – 1978 – Bandhanam (directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair)

Filmography 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1973 Nirmalyam Appu 1974 Neelakannukal Sreedharan 1975 Ayodhya Guest role Chumaduthangi Reghu Omanakkunju Priye Ninakku Vendi Ullasa Yaathra Utsavam Nanu Utharayanam Premkumar 1976 Lakshmi Vijayam 1977 Amme Anupame Angeekaaram Ravi Innale Innu Santha Oru Devatha Sankhupushpam Venu Sooryakanthi 1978 Aazhi Alayaazhi Bandhanam Unnikrishnan Menon Bhrashtu Ee Manohara Theeram Chandrashekhara Menon Etho Oru Swapnam Divakaran Nair Gaandharvam Ini Aval Urangatte Jayikkaanaay Janichavan Kalpavriksham Ajayan/Vasu Kaathirunna Nimisham Raghu Madaalasa Pattalam Vasu Mannu Rajan Pichipoo Rajan Paranja Kadha Randilonnu Mohan Randu Penkuttikal Sathrathil Oru Raathri Soothrakkaari 1979 Agnivyooham Angakkuri Balakrishnan Ente Neelakaasham Shekharan Ente Sneham Ninakku Mathram Hridayathil Nee Mathram Ival Oru Naadody Kannukal Damu Kazhukan Gopi Lilly Pookkal Lovely Maalika Paniyunnavar Kuttappan Manasa Vacha Karmana Sukumaran Mochanam Soman Neeyo Njaano Prasad Radha Enna Pennkutti Sandhyaragam Thuramukham Vadaka Veedu

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Aagamanam George Thomas Adhikaram Rajendran Aambal Poovu Angaadi Gopi Aniyatha Valakkal Ganesh Chaakara Devarajan Dooram Arike James Idi Muzhakkam Krishnan Thirumeni Ishtamanu Pakshe Ithile Vannavar Venu Ivar Raghavan Nair Kalika Joseph Kaavalmaadam Rajasekharan Thampi Kochu Kochu Thettukal Pralayam Vishwan Shalini Ente Koottukari Jayadevan Sishirathil Oru Vasantham Soorya Daaham Thaliritta Kinakkal Theekkadal Varghese Theeram Thedunnavar Vedikkettu Jayan Vilkkanundu Swapnangal Rajagopal 1981 Aarathi Simon Peter Agni Saram Agni Yudham Ahimsa Devan Aambal Poovu Anthiveyilile Ponnu Arangum Aniyarayum Raghu Arayannam Madhu Asthamikkatha Pakalukal Suku Avatharam Shivan Dantha Gopuram Dhruvasangamam Ellam Ninakku Vendi Mohan Enne Snehikkoo Enne Maathram Greeshma Jwala Hari Itha Oru Dhikkari Suku Ithihasam Kathayariyathe Vishnu Kaattu Kallan Ravindran Kolilakkam Nizhalyudham Orikkal Koodi Soman Sankharsham Jagadeesh Sneham Oru Pravaaham Sphodanam Gopi Thakilu Kottampuram Unnikrsihna Kurup Swarnappakshikal Valarthumrugangal Daredevil Bhaskaran 1982 Aa Divasam Dr. Rajan Anguram Babu Ayudham Rajan Dheera Vinod Aarambham Rajan Ethiraalikal Gopi Ivan Oru Simham Gopi Kazhumaram Ajayan Kurukkante Kalyanam Sivasubrahmania Hariramachandran Marupacha Sukumaran Mazhu Ponnum Poovum Balan Nair Post Mortem Peter Sara Varsham Dr. K. Sumesh Sharam Sunil Sooryan Gopinadhan Nair Thuranna Jail Gopi Varikuzhi 1983 Belt Mathai Belt Mathai/Mathews Ee Yugam Soman Kattaruvi Munni Kinnaram Sethu Mandanmmar Londanil Raghu Pourusham Sreeni Sandhya Vandanam Ramachandran Thacholi Thankappan Thankappan Vaashi Swapname Ninakku Nandi Madhavankutty 1984 Attahaasam Aayiram Abhilashangal Inakkilly The Priest Ivide Ingane Raju Karimbu Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha Aravindan Mainakam Sathyan NH 47 Rahim Nethavu Nishedhi Raju Onnum Mindatha Bharya Sethu Pilla Oru Sumangaliyude Katha Rajendran Rakshassu Sukumaran Sandarbham Shabadham Sathyaseelan Unaroo Janardanan 1985 Aarodum Parayaruthu Choodatha Pookal Mohan Irakal Sibi Mathews Janakeeya Kodathi Chennikal Velayudhan Mounanombaram 1986 Aavanazhi Jayachandran Annoru Ravil Indrajith Nyayavidhi Makforce Saayippu Padayani Sahadevan 1987 Achuvettante Veedu Prabhakaran Sarvakalashala Jayadevan/Kurup Sir 1988 August 1 K G Ramachandran Ayitham Abukka Moonnam Mura D. I. G. Menon Oozham Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Dy SP Devadas Oru Muthassi Katha Rajasekharan Ulsavapittennu Ravi Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas Paul Kallookkaran Witness Thomas Mathew 1989 Aayiram Chirakulla Moham Aazhikkoru Muthu Prabhakaran Adhipan SP Nambiar Adikkurippu Chief Minister Bhadrachitta Sivan Carnival Chandrappan aka Bhai Dasharatham Dr. Hameed Jaathakam Somasekharan Nair Jagratha Devadas Kaalal Pada Income Tax Officer Raveendranath Mudra Sugunan New Year Circle Inspector Stephen Utharam Mathew Joseph Eenam Thettatha Kattaru Jayan

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Crime Branch SI Susheelan Kottayam Kunjachan Uppukandam Korah Marupuram Issac Thomas Mukham Minnal Madhavan Vasavadatha Naale Ennundengil Jayan Oliyampukal M. Thomas Randam Varavu Hariprasad Vyhooham Mohan 1991 Arangu Adv. Robert Pereira Vallokkaran Chakravarthy Shivaraman Koodikazhca Thommichan Onnaam Muhurtham Ananthan Nambiar Souhrudam John Samuel Mahassar MG Panikkar 1992 Police Diary 1993 Janam Lukose Sainyam Air Vice Marshal Nambiar Uppukandam Brothers Uppukandam Kora 1994 Cabinet Madhava Menon CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Ananthapadmanabhan Pingami George Mathew Rajadhani C.K. Radhakrishnan Bharanakoodam Commissioner Venugopal 1995 Boxer John Samuel Indian Military Intelligence Major B. Rajaraja Varma Prayikkara Pappan DFO James Antony Kidilol Kidilam Superintendent of Police 1997 Shibiram Vamsam

Producer Irakal (1985) Padayani (1986)

Trivia Director KR Mohanan shot Ashwathama (1979) with Sukumaran in a lead role for six days. Thereafter, the actor's schedule clashed with that of another movie, and Madampu Kunjukuttan replaced him in Ashwathama.