N. Sreedharan Nair (11 September 1922 – 19 October 1986), popularly known as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair or just Kottarakkara, was an Indian actor, born as the son of Narayana Pillai and Ummini Amma in Kollam district, Kerala. He appeared in Malayalam movies. He is regarded as one of the original actors of all time in Malayalam movies.
Sreedharan Nair won two Kerala state film awards. In 1970, he won the best actor award and in 1969 the second best actor award.
He is best remembered for his role as Chempankunju in the national award winning film Chemmeen directed by Ramu Kariat. Other impressive performances were in the films Veluthampi Dalava (as Veluthampi Dalava), Thommante Makkal (1965) as Thomman, and Pazhassi Raja (1964) as Pazhassi Raja, Viruthan Shanku (1968) by P. Venu. Sreedharan Nair is also known for playing the role of devil magician in the 1984 fantasy film My Dear Kuttichathan. Popular Malayalam actor Saikumar is his son.
Personal life Sreedharan Nair was born in 1922 to Padinjattinkara Korattiyode Narayana Pillai and Ummini Amma. He had his primary education from Eswara vilasam higher secondary school. He started acting in dramas at the age of 10. He owned drama troupes Jayasree and Kalamandiram.
He was known to be a very outspoken, stubborn man with a short temper. Once, he walked out of the set of Ara Nazhika Neram due to some disputes. He did not allow anyone seeking compromise to open the gate and enter into his house compound to discuss with him. When everyone was afraid to talk to him, someone suggested that actor Sathyan should approach Sreedharan Nair to resolve the issue. After talking with Sathyan, Sreedharan Nair set aside the disputes & agreed to act in the movie.
Sreedharan Nair married Vijayalakshmi Amma. They had eight children, Jaysree, Geetha, Laila, Shobha, Kala, Sai Kumar, Beena, and Shaila. His son Sai Kumar, daughters Shobha Mohan, and Sylaja, son-in-law Mohan Kumar, grandchildren Anil Pappan, Vinu Mohan, Anu Mohan, Vaishnavi Saikumar and great-grandson Kailasveswar S Nair are all film/TV actors.
Awards
1970 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor -Ara Nazhika Neram 1969 Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor – Koottukudumbam
Filmography
Malayalam Year Title Role Notes 1950 Prasanna Sasidharan Rajasekharan Chechi 1951 Yachakan 1952 Aathmasanthi 1953 Lokaneethi 1954 Snehaseema Dr. Baby Kidappadam Manasakshi Avan Varunnu Avakashi Prathapan 1955 Aniyathi Pachu Kurup Kalam Marunnu C.I.D. Vallabhan 1956 Manthravadi Mahedran Aathmaarpanam 1957 Jailppulli Madhu Padatha Painkili Vendor Kutti 1958 Thaskaraveeran Vijayan Randidangazhi Mariakutty Kora 1959 Minnalppadayaali Nadodikal 1960 Sthree Hridayam Poothali 1961 Shri Sabarimalai Shri Ayaappan Umminithanka Marthanda Varma Bhakta Kuchela Sisupala Christmas Rathri Valyedathu Vareechan 1962 Laila Majnu Snehadeepam Sankar Bhagyajathakam Sreekovil Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi Johnson Sreerama Pattabhishekam Ravanan Veluthambi Dalawa Veluthambi Dalawa 1963 Kadalamma Jayarajan Snapaka Yohannan Naman Sathyabhama Rebecca Nithyakanyaka 1964 Devalayam Anna Althaara Pazhassi Raja Pazhassi Raja 1965 Sarpakadu Temple Priest Mayavi Prathapan Kattuthulasi Pattuthoovaala Francis Shyamala Chechi Thommante Makkal Thomachan Chemmeen Chembankunju Shakuntala Inapraavugal Kuncheria Kalyana Photo 1966 Jail Mayor Nair Kanmanikal Anarkali Mana Singhan Koottukar Mammootty Kalyana Rathriyil KB Nair Pennmakkal Thilottama Kunjali Marakkar Kunjali Marakkar Rowdy 1967 Collector Malathy Thirumeni Jeevikkan Anuvadikku Lady Doctor Cochin Express Gangster Mynatharuvi Kolakase Balyakalasakhi Pooja Kasavuthattam Abdukarim Musaliar Kottayam Kolacase Ollathumathi 1968 Hotel High Range Dhanesh Midumidukki Kodungallooramma Pandya Rajavu Thirichadi Venu's father Viruthan Shanku Ukkannanunni Nair Adhyapika Punnapra Vayalar Neelakandan 1969 Jwala Kunjomana's father Janmabhoomi Mathai Koottukudumbam Ilanjikkal Rama Kurup Nurse Vilakuranja Manushyan Aalmaram Kesava Pillai Soosi Chacko Sir Kumara Sambhavam Dakshan 1970 Detective 909 Keralathil Cross Belt D.Y.S.P. Kakkathamburatti Kunju Panikkan Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha Kurukshethram Aranazhikaneram Kunjenachan Pearl View Mariyan 1971 Gangasangamam Makane Ninakku Vendi Mathachan Jalakanyaka Puthenveedu 1972 Pulliman Panimudakku Sethuraman Chhayam Ananthasayanam Professor Vasumathi's Father Sree Guruvayoorappan Chembarathi Sankaran Thottilla Karamachandran Achanum Bappayum Krishnan 1973 Mazhakaaru Panikkar Dharmayudham Puthumadam KR Iyyer Driksakshi Menon Swargaputhri Thomachan Achani Raghavan Muthalali Swapnam Nirmalyam Variyar Yamini Indira's Father Padmavyooham Ummachan Checkpost Pacha Nottukal Rappael Chenda Enippadikal Thottavadi Vaasu Pilla Darsanam Chuzhi Kaadu Menon Thekkan Kattu Chacko Vakeel Gayathri 1974 Athidhi Devi Kanyakumari Padmavathi's husband Chanchala Nellu Chundeli 1975 Prayanam Bharathan Akkaldaama Kaamam Krodham Moham 1976 Panchami Rangan Mooppan Amba Ambika Ambalika Parashuraman Colonel And Collector Paalkkadal PN Menon 1977 Vezhambal Stanley Jose Sreemurukan Nambi Rajavu 1978 Priyadarshini Peruvarum Chandrasekhar Paadasaram Poomangalathu Unnithan 1979 Neeyo Njaano Maayyandi Radha Enna Pennkutti Radha's father 1980 Vedikettu Kadalkkaattu Fernandez Raagam Thaanam Pallavi Marar Kalika Appachan 1981 Parvathy Thampuran Manassinte Theerthayathra 1982 Ithum Oru Jeevitham Old man Kazhumaram Snehapoorvam Meera 1983 Purappadu 1984 Sabarimala Darshanam My Dear Kuttichathan The Cruel Magician 1985 Dheivatheyorthu 1986 Chilambu Grandfather Mizhineerppoovukal Priest
Kannada 1968 - Bangalore Mail
See also National Film Awards Kerala State Film Awards Chemmeen Sai Kumar
References
External links