Kuthiravattam Pappu


Panangat Padmadalakshan, better known by his stage name Kuthiravattam Pappu, 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

Series