THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: He apologised that he could not remember things well, but as he started talking, his memory was clear as crystal. Weak and feeble, with the support of two pillows sat Jose Prakash, Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated antagonist in his home in Vaduthala. But his mind was sharp and he had a precise idea about everything related to the world of cinema. He recollected scenes from the film ‘Gandhi’ directed by Richard Attenborough. He said that his eyes turn moist when he thinks about the great man whom he got to meet during a parade when serving in the British army.And that is Jose Prakash, the man who enacted the role of the vicious underworld don for more than two decades in Malayalam cinema. He was one reel villain whose name itself created panic among the crowd. He was laughing aloud when we reminded him of his punch dialogue that sent shock waves among the cinegoers. He was warm and modest when he recollected the bygone days when he entered the film industry as a singer-turned-actor. Jose Prakash who left home when his father slammed him one day for watching films, joined the British army in which he served for nearly nine years. When he returned home for good, he started a wholesale tea business on Kottayam-Kumali Road which is now run by his younger brother, Prem Prakash. He formed a club at his hometown with his friends called Kottayam Arts Club in which he was the lead singer. He made his entry into the film industry as a singer in the film ‘Seriyo Thetto’. It happened the day when Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair saw his performance during a meeting at Thirunakkara ground. He had sung only because his friend Kottayam Joseph had compelled him to. Thikkurissi called him for an audition in Madras. He was introduced to V Dakshinamoorthy, the music director of the film, who liked his voice.The philosophical number ‘Paadu pettu paadangalil...’ was sung by Jose Prakash along with P. Leela. Through this title song, he introduced a new trend in Malayan cinema. The title was repeated at the end of almost each couplet of this song and was used right through the film. ‘Seriyo Thetto’ was a land mark in Malayalam film industry in many ways. The film, released in 1953, was the first directorial venture of actor-producer-director-scriptwriter-lyricist Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair. It will also be remembered as the debut film of Adoor Bhavani, Meena Sulochana, Jose Prakash as a singer and actor (he had also done a small role), and dance director N Damodaran. His singing career extended till the 1960s when he did cameo roles and guest appearances as well. He had also lent his voice to actors like Prem Nazir, Sathyan and many other leading actors. Gradually major roles came his way. He got a good role in ‘Snapakayohannan’, directed by Sasikumar. From the 60s to 2003, he donned more than 300 roles. His characters such as Joseph Chacko in ‘Lisa’, Major Nair in ‘Raktham’, ‘K G Menon’ in ‘Manushya Mrugam’ won him wide applause. He and K P Ummer had chilled the audience with their portrayal of villains, who were a gruelling targets for heroes. Reminiscing about his good old days he said he was not reluctant to do the meaty roles for he felt that at that time actors were committed to roles considering their possibility of character; no other motives ruled them. The then super stars, Prem Nazir or Sathyan never considered acting as a means of making money. He said there is no actor, even now, who can substitute Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and Bahadur. The range of the characters charmed the actors then. Each actor had his own place in the industry and no others could replace them. Soon his thoughts shifted to Thilakan whom he fondly remembers. They both were dramatists of National Theatres. They had acted together in plays like ‘Sathan Urangunnilla’, ‘Police station’, etc. “Thilakan is a genuine person with an outspoken mind. Caste and creed never was a criterion in those times. The audience, too, had been sensible enough to differentiate the actor from the character.” He attributed the deteriorating standards of Malayalam cinema to the flaws in the screenplay. When queried about the dominance of senior actors, he said they should play their age. Jose Prakash who made a comeback with a cameo role in ‘Traffic’ early this year, which was a hit and trendsetter in Malayalam cinema, said the subject itself is the most important success formula. Though he cannot watch films these days, owing to health issues, he is fully aware of happenings in filmdom, thanks to his younger brother Prem Prakash, actor and producer and his sons, Bobby and Sanjay who did the screenplay of many hit films including ‘Traffic’.
Comments
0 comment