Kalasala Babu (1950 14 May 2018) was an Indian actor who performed on stage, and acted in television serials and films.
Career
On stage Babu had been acting in radio plays while at college. Following his graduation in 1973, Babu acted in Paanchajanyam, yielding a good performance. Babu acted at Kalidasa Kala Kendram for two years, and was offered roles by the late O. Madhavan and K. T. Muhammed.
After acting in his first film Inayethedi in 1977, Babu started his drama troupe 'Kalasala' in Thripunithura, after which he was called as Kalasala Babu, and had artists such as Thilakan and Surasu, amongst others. The troupe began with the play Thalavattom, scripted by Surasu, which became a big hit. In total, nine plays were conducted and scripted by renowned personalities such as P. J. Antony, Sreemoolanagaram Vijayan, N. N. Pillai and others. The troupe operated until 1980.
Later on, he also worked with theatre company Chalakudy Sarathy for a few years.
Film and television Babu got his first opportunity in film in 1977, in Inayethedi, the first venture of John Paul, George Kitho, Kaloor Dennis and Antony Eastman. He was cast alongside Silk Smitha for this film, which became a flop.
Towards the end of 1999, Babu was cast in Kala, a 13-episode television serial. His role of the character, Rowdy Dasappan, was well received by viewers. Following this, Babu acted in around 28 mega-serials over the next three years.
Babu made his way back into cinema with Kasthooriman in 2003, afterwards acting in character and villain roles in many movies, and achieved recognition for his performances, comfortably filling the acting space left vacant by late character actors such as N. F. Varghese and Narendra Prasad. He became more popular in the film Lion as father of Dileep. Babu acted in the popular Malayalam serial Amma as retired judge Poomankalathe Gopinatha Menon, which was daily telecast on Asianet channel from 2012 to 2015. He was paired with Kanya Bharathi and later replaced by Mammootty's brother. He also did a Malayalam serial named Sooryakaladi, which is telecasting on Amrita.
Deadline (2021) was his last film. Movie was shot in 2017 but released through OTT Platform Moviflex on 16 February 2021, and also through Theater Play OTT Platform on 1 June 2021. As an actor it is his last movie release.
Personal life Babu was born to Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Mohiniyattam exponent Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. He belonged to a family of artists. His sisters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan, and his niece Smitha Rajan are Mohiniyattam artists.
He was married to Lalitha and had a son named Viswanathan and a daughter named Sreedevi.
Death On 18 January 2018, the 68-year old Babu was admitted at Amrita Hospital in Kochi after suffering a heart attack. As per reports, he became critical when he had a stroke during the emergency surgery, followed by the heart attack. Later, he was admitted to Medical Trust Hospital, where he died at 12:35 AM on 14 May 2018.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1977 Inaye Thedi Sreemurukan Sukumaran 1980 Kochu Kochu Thettukal 1984 Ariyaatha Veethikal Raghavan 1988 Pattanapravesham Sub-Inspector 1994 Varaphalam 2002 Chathurangam 2003 Ivar Kasthooriman Lonappan Varum Varunnu Vannu Narendra Varma Balettan Raghavan Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum Meera's father 2004 Sasneham Sumithra Kurup Freedom Vajram Shankaran Runway Varkey Chinnadan Mampazhakkalam "Blade" Varkey Perumazhakkalam Krishna Iyer Nothing But Life Fr. Daniel 2005 Ullam Raman Nair The Campus Fr. David Pulikkattil Thommanum Makkalum Thevar Kalyana Kurimanam Shiva Sankaran Made in USA Rappakal Shekharan Lokanathan IAS Koya Ben Johnson Chandranthodi Madhava Menon Anandabhadram Raman Panikker Sarkar Dada Adv. Damodaran Nambiar 2006 Lion Balagangadhara Menon Madhuchandralekha Ramu Thuruppu Gulan Sreedharan Unnithan Kisan Education Minister Mahasamudram Mattakara Velu Pillai Pachakuthira Sugunan Chess Doctor Pothan Vava Priest Kanaka Simhasanam Indrasena Reddy 2007 Avan Chandiyude Makan Kunjukochan Inspector Garud Achuthan Nanma Rakshakan Aswathy's father Mission 90 Days Commissioner 2008 College Kumaran Public Prosecutor Mayakazhcha Vadakkemadam Thirumeni 2009 Puthiya Mukham Sreenivasan Black Dalia Sunny Kuruvila Thirunakkara Perumal Chattambinadu Kattapilli Kuruppachen 2010 Chaverpada Kaaryasthan Koottukar Adv. Chandradas Neelambari Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu Nayakan Raman Kutty Master Pokkiri Raja Achuthan Nair Chekavar Shekharan 2011 The Metro Louis Collector Minister Kurishumoottil Mathachan Payyans Sevenes Manushyamrugam Andrews Koratty Pattanam Railway Gate 2012 Mallu Singh Adv. Chellappan Rasaleela Mullamottum Munthiricharum Thankappan Naughty Professor Chattakkari Nadabrahmam Lakshmi Vilasam Renuka Makan Reghuraman Asuravithu 2013 Sound Thoma Vikariyachan Aattakatha Ravunni Nair Isaac Newton S/O Philipose Fr. Alphonse Lisammayude Veedu Housefull Janardhanan Nair Dolls Raghava Kaimal Progress Report Govindan Nair Teens Cowboy Vinay's father Malayala Nadu Ayaal Vaasu ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi Chief Minister Ginger Pappachan 2014 Life Njaanannu Party Kuruthamkettavan Flat No.4B Military Retired 2015 Ariyathe Ishtamayi One Day Sivan Pillai Two Countries Ullas's father Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander Bomb Bhaskaran Ithinumappuram Rugmini's father Tharakangale Saakshi 2016 Noolpalam Oppam Sivapuram Paulettante Veedu 2017 Sunday Holiday Unni's father Nee Maathram Saakshi Nilavariyathe 2018 Queen Judge Ashiq Vanna Divasam Chacko Shirkh Parole Judge 2019 Arayakadavil Kalippu 2021 Deadline
Television serials (partial) Program Channel Roles NotesKala Doordarshan Rowdy Dasappan Kadamattath KathanarAsianetChathukutty MelanSwamy AyyapanAsianetMoopanLipstick Asianet Police Story Alona Kudumbayogam Surya TV Sakkayi Mappila Vava Surya TV MattoruvalSurya TV DevimahatmyamAsianetKannappanAmmaAsianetretired judge Poomankalathe Gopinatha MenonRamayanamMazhavil ManoramaBrahmarshi VishvamitraVallarpadathammaShalom TV IndiraMazhavil Manorama ShivakamiSurya TVSooryakaladiAmrita TVParassini Shri MuthappanJaiHind TVAyyankara Illathu VazhunnorSathyam Shivam SundaramAmrita TVThampuranJagrathaAmrita TVNair
References
External links
Kalasala Babu at MSI