Kunnel Joseph Joseph, better known by his stage name, Jose Prakash (14 April 1925 – 24 March 2012) was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Malayalam cinema. He was a singer turned actor who had appeared in more than 300 films mostly in antagonist roles. He was given the J. C. Daniel Award in 2011, a day before he died aged 86.J C Daniel award for Jose Prakash, 24 March 2012 In a career spanning around 40 years, he was known for portraying some of the iconic villain characters in the Malayalam film industry. Later, he switched to character roles in the mid-1990s.
Personal life
He was born as K. J. Joseph (Jr.) on 14 April 1925 as the eldest of the eight children of Eliyamma and K. J. Joseph (Sr.) of the Kunnel house at Changanassery, Kottayam. He had four younger brothers and three sisters, among whom the youngest brother, Prem Prakash, is also an actor. Originally named after his father, he came to be known as 'Baby' among his family and friends. He had his primary education from Sacred Heart Public School, Kottayam. He was settled in Madras for around 30 years and later moved to Kochi. In 2003, his right leg had to be amputated due to Diabetes. He was married to Philomina (Chinnamma), who predeceased him in 1991. They had 6 children, 2 sons and 4 daughters: Elsamma Thomas (née Joseph), Rajan Joseph, Gracy Maliakal, Shaji Joseph, Jasmine Joseph, and Susan Joseph. He lived with his youngest son, Shaji Joseph, in Kochi till his death on 24 March 2012.
Script writers Bobby-Sanjay and Malayalam movie director Dennis Joseph are his nephews.
Early career
Jose Prakash was in the Indian army before entering the film industry. While in the army he had the rare distinction to serve as the body guard of Mahatma Gandhi during the time of partition. Like other actors of that age he was not a theatre or stage artist. He had served for Indian army for 8 years.Veteran actor Jose Prakash is dead Malayalam thespian Jose Prakash dead He later left army and return to his homeland and start small business. Having interest in cinema and music from childhood he started a small club with his friends called Kottayam Arts Club in which he was the lead singer.he was the lead singer Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair once saw his performance and called him as a singer for his debut directorial film Sheriyo Thetto. It was Thikkurissy who gave him the name Jose Prakash.
Film career
Singer
Jose Prakash started his early career as a singer who lend his voice for Prem Nazir, Sathyaneshan Nadar etc. Malayalam industry was not professional at early 1950s usually actors sing for themselves. Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair introduced him to V. Dakshinamoorthy who liked his voice and lend his voice for the film Sheriyo Thetto in 1953 directed by Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair.Mathrubhumi, Jose Prakash laid to rest In this film philosophical number "Paadu pettu paadangalil" sung by Jose Prakash introduced a new trend in Malayan cinema. He also did a small role in the movie. He was not at all a professional singer and does not attend any musical class. In the early 1960s Malayalam film industry became professional and the introduction of talented singers like A. M. Rajah, K. J. Yesudas ended the careers of all non professional singers. Up to the 1960s he had sung around 60 songs for various actors like Prem Nazir etc.
Actor
During his singing career he had done small roles and cameos for films. His first break as an actor was Bhakta Kuchela in 1961. But his major break as a villain was Olavum Theravum in 1969 and he later went on to do many films mostly in villain roles. In 1971, he acted in the first ever investigative sequel C.I.D. Nazir (1971) directed by P. Venu. Later he worked with P. Venu in many of his films. He and K. P. Ummer dominated Malayalam film industry in the role of Antagonist and was a hard target for Heroes. He acted in more than 350 films in Malayalam language and retired from film industry in 2003 for health reasons. His last film was Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum directed by Sibi Malayil. After a long gap of 8 years, he did a small cameo role in Traffic.
Awards Kerala State Television Awards 1993:Kerala State Television Award For Best Actor - Mikhayelinte Santhathikal 2006 Bahadoor Award 2011 J C Daniel Award
Filmography
As an actor 1950s Year Title Role Notes 1952 Premalekha Alphonsa 1953 Sheriyo Thetto Debut Film as singer 1954 Manasakshi Balyasakhi 1955 Aniyathi Doctor C.I.D. Mukunda Menon Harishchandra Minister Sathyakeerthi 1956 Manthravadi Veeravarman 1957 Padatha Painkili Pothachan Deva Sundari 1958 Mariakutty Ponnappachan 1959 Chathurangam
1960s Year Title Role Notes 1961 Bhaktha Kuchela Nandagopan 1963 Ammaye Kaanaan Advocate Snapaka Yohannan Snapaka Yohannan Kaattumaina 1964 Aadyakiranangal Damodaran Karutha Kai Madhava Menon 1965 Subaidha 1967 Agniputhri 1968 Love in Kerala Velutha Kathreena Superintend Manoharan 1969 Kumara Sambhavam Devendran Chattambikkavala Man at beach Rahasyam Karadi Damodharan Kannur Deluxe Gopalakrishnan Kattukurangu Das
1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Olavum Theeravum Kunjali Aranazhika Neram Priest Madhuvidhu Sathi's father Lottery Ticket Inspector Abhayam Vikraman Nizhalattam Bhaskaran Nilakkatha Chalanangal 1971 C.I.D. Nazir Shivaram Lankadahanam Das Muthassi Unnikrishnan Achante Bharya Rajan Vilakkyu Vaangiya Veena K.R.Das Thapaswini Makane Ninakku Vendi Pappachan Jalakanyaka Avalalppam Vaikipoyi 1972 Prathikaram Sreedharan Thampi Brahmachari Venugopal Manthrakodi S. R. Nair/Swamiji Sakthi Aaradi Manninte Janmi Dr. Menon Nrithasala Dayananthan Taxi Car Shivaram Anweshanam Sambhavami Yuge Yuge Balaram Sree Guruvayoorappan Pushpanjali Damu 1973 Thekkan Kattu Sebastain Raakuyil Veendum Prabhatham Madhu Masappady Mathupillai Swapnam Viswanathan's brother Prethangalude Thazhvara Pacha Nottukal Mathews Muthalali Police Ariyaruthe Alex Thaniniram Mathai/Mathew Philip Bhadradeepam Dr. Venugopal Panitheeratha Veedu Hari's father Kaapalika Priest Ajnathavasam Jayaraj Padmavyooham Mathachan Panchavadi Shekhar Jesus Annas 1974 Rahasyarathri Kurupu Angathattu Pattabhishekam Poonthenaruvi Priest Shapamoksham College Girl Nanu Honeymoon Sapthaswaragal Madhava Das Pancha Thanthram Prasad 1975 Priye Ninakku Vendi Sooryavamsham Odakkuzhal Chandanachola Love Letter Love Marriage Prakash Mattoru Seetha Pravaham Bhaskaran Ullasa Yaathra Raagam Dr. Jayachandran Makkal Pulivalu Thomasleeha Omanakkunju Hello Darling Krishna Kumar Babumon Puli Naanu Chumaduthangi RK Menon Picnic Mooppan 1976 Amma Nee Ente Lahari Chirikkudukka Kumar Light House Jayaprakash Themmadi Velappan Balakrishnan Amba Ambika Ambalika Bheeshmar Neela Sari Rajaankanam Ozhukkinethire Paarijatham Agni Pushpam Seemantha Puthran Udyaanalakshmi 1977 Sakhakkale Munnoottu Muttathe Mulla Thampi Sreemad Bhagavad Geetha Abhinivesham C. P. Menon Santha Oru Devatha Sukradasa Sankhupushpam Dr. Jose Innale Innu Achutha Kuruppu Vezhambal Sangamam Minimol Parivarthanam Fr. Zacharia Madhura Swapanam Sujatha Aadhya Paadam Rajaparambara Nirakudam Prabhakaran Satyavan Savithri Ashwapathi Aval Oru Devaalayam Randu Lokam Thamarasheri Gopala Kurup 1978 Aarum Anyaralla Priest Urakkam Varaatha Raathrikal Balagangadhara Menon Ee Ganam Marakkumo Raman Nair Ashokavanam Karimpuli Aval Kanda Lokam Padmatheertham Achutha Kurup Kanalkattakal Vikraman/Prasad Rowdy Ramu Panchayat President Raghavan Nair Aanakkalari Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Dharmapalan Avakaasham Ithaanente Vazhi Menon Rajan Paranja Kadha Lisa Joseph Chacko Aalmaaraattam Ithaa Oru Manushyan Narayanan Thampi Amarsham Yagaswam Vishvanathan Pilla Velluvili Minnal Moidu Aval Viswasthayayirunnu Psychiatrist Beena Eeta Narayanan 1979 Prabhu Gauri Sankar Prasad Peruvazhiyambalam Paramu Nair Vijayam Nammude Senani Rakthamillatha Manushyan Menon Vaaleduthaven Vaalaal Sarpam Dr. Fernandez Ward No.7 Kathirmandapam Thuramukham Rosario Sayipu Indradhanussu Rappai Tharangam Gopalan Vijayanum Veeranum Surendran Nair Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Grand Sorcerer Pichathy Kuttappan Raman Muthalali Irumbazhikal Swami Yakshi Paaru Thampi Maamaankam Manavikraman Avano Atho Avalo Surendran Puthiya Velicham John Agniparvatham Kaduva Ramu
1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Aagamanam Issac Bhaktha Hanuman Vibhishana Ival Ee Vazhi Ithu Vare Avan Oru Ahankaari Eden Thottam Anthappuram Prakadanam Damodharan Kadalkkaattu Vasu chettambi Sakthi Sreedharan Manushya Mrugam K. G. Menon Agni Kshethram Vishwanathan Chandrahasam Rathnakaran Air Hostess Menon Love In Singapore Rowdy Sethu Love In Singapore Telugu film 1981 Ariyappedatha Rahasyam Sreedharan Thampi Prema Geethangal P K Panikkar Agni Yudham Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla Parameshwaran Pilla Adima Changala Swarnappakshikal Sambhavam Karimpoocha Cheriyachan Thadavara Kollakkaran Agnisharam Ahimsa R. K. Raktham Major Nair Thrishna K V S Panikkar Aarathi Major Prathapa Chandran Choothattam Nizhal Yudham Unnithan Kilungaatha Changalakal Rajaram Saahasam 1982 Oru Vilippadakale Dr. Cheriyan Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam John Jaffer Janardhanan Kaaliya Mardhanam DSP Menon Ithu Njangalude Katha Mathachan Shaari Alla Sharada Dheera Fernandez Aasha Mathew Cheriyan Sharam Paanjajanyam Madhavan Thampi Chilanti Vala Dhrohi Shila Aranjaanam Colonel Aarambham Sebastian Raktha Sakshi Saravarsham Sumathi's father 1983 Koodevide Enne Njan Thedunnu Doctor Earadi Maniyara Angam Chacko Kodungattu DSP Jayadevan IPS Belt Mathai Alexander Oru Mukham Pala Mukham Rajasekharan Thampi Ahangaaram Rajan Passport Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare Thampi Himam Jaykkal Koodevide Xavier Puthooran 1984 Kurishuyudham Fr. Fernandez Shabadham Viswanadhan Thampi Swanthamevide Bandhamevide Madhavan Nair Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha Katha Advocate Manithali Thacholi Thankappan Guptha Paavam Poornima Thampi Jeevitham Piriyilla Naam Koottinilamkili Raman Nair Parannu Parannu Parannu Sreekantan Nair 1985 Nirakkoottu M. K. Abraham Aa Neram Alppa Dooram Muthalali Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam MP Nandan Menon Madhuvidhu Theerum Mumbe Sammelanam Ananthan Nambiar Upaharam Fernandez Akkacheyude Kunjuvava Akalathe Ambili Kurichan Eeran Sandhya Krishna Menon Ente Kaanakkuyil Madhavan Thampi 1986 Aayiram Kannukal Dr. K. G. Varma Rajavinte Makan Chief Minister Balagopal Adukkan Entheluppam Menon Niramulla Ravulkal Sudevan Snehamulla Simham Menon Sayam Sandhya Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku Judge 1987 Aalippazhangal Sekharan Thampi Oru Sindoora Pottinte Ormaykku Alexander Aankiliyude Tharattu Ramachandra Menon Vrutham Jailor 1988 Loose Loose Arappiri Loose Dhinarathrangal Commissioner Unnithan 1989 Kodugallur Bagavathi Adharvam Thirumeni Adikkurippu Menon
1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Ee Kanni Koodi Philip Kottayam Kunjachan Veena Meettiya Vilangukal Kadathanadan Ambadi Chandrappan's uncle Orukkam Fr. Francis Arakkal Indrajaalam Baba 1991 Kadalora Kattu Ragam Anuragam 1992 Maanthrika Cheppu 1993 Maya Mayooram Nanda's father Devaasuram Ezhuthachan Akashadoothu Fr. Baby 1994 Chukkan Narayanan Bheesmacharya Puthran Michael 1995 Highway Kartha Agrajan Priest Thumboli Kadappuram Antony 1996 Man of the Match 1998 Meenathil Thalikettu Company Manager 1999 Vazhunnor Bishop Pathram Madhavan
2000s Year Title Role Notes 2002 The Gift of God Kanalkkireedam 2003 Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum Judge Mr. Brahmachari Sukumaran 2006 Highway Police Fr. John
2010s Year Title Role Notes 2011 Traffic Dr. Simon D Souza Guest appearance
As a singer "Om Namashivaaya" - Love in Kerala (1968) "Oronnoro Chenchorathan" - Avan Varunnu (1954) "Neelippenne" - Manasakshi (1954) "Kannuneer Nee Choriyaathe" - Sheriyo Thetto (1953) "Paadupettu Paadangalil" - Sheriyo Thetto (1953) "Thaarame Thaanuvaru" - Sheriyo Thetto (1953) "Vaarmazhaville Va" - Sheriyo Thetto (1953) "Pokaam Pokaam" - Sheriyo Thetto (1953) "Kelkuka Ha" - Alphonsa (1952) "Chinthayil Neerunna" - Visappinte Vili (1952) "Ramanan" - Visappinte Vili (1952)
As a Television actor