Prof. Narendra Prasad’s film roles | My favourites | Two

It’s been 8 years since the Professor left us. His anniversary falls on 3rd November.

Prof Narendra Prasad in Pavithram

The Professor seems to have been given a raw deal, though it was, according to me, the most prolific phase of his career. As he had carved a niche for himself in the ‘pantheon of villains in Malayalam cinema’ with his unique portrayal of roles that dispensed menace with a cold, calculated sneer, the producers were falling over themselves in getting him roles that looked straight off the factory conveyor belt. Everything looked, smelt, felt the same. Only some didn’t have his signature beard for company. The steely menace was milked dry for all it was worth. His mannerisms were all too familiar, and got even predictive.

Prof. Narendra Prasad’s film roles | My favourites | One

December 26th was Prof Narendra Prasad’s birthday.

Prof Narendra Prasad made his celluloid debut in P Sreekumar‘s Asthikal Pookkunnu (1988), for which the Professor himself had written the screenplay. There were no songs in the movie from what I could gather and the background score was by Raveendran Master. But what really pulled you into his magic circle of inimitable talent and charisma was the tele-film Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal (1988? ), directed by Shyama Prasad, first telecast on Doordarshan. The role that ‘made’ Narendra Prasad was his role as GP in Thalasthanam (1992). From there on, the Professor was on a  roll.

Remembering Prof.Narendra Prasad, the Actor

Its hard to put in oh-so-finite-words and figures when it comes to someone like Prof. Narendra Prasad. he was one of those few divinely talented ones who had known, learned and mastered every nuance of art and performing arts before letting it translate on to the silver screen. From the illustrious expanses of his progressive and path-breaking theater group Natyagriham to the silver screen was an easy transition for the Professor, as the calibre and talent associated with it would go to earn the State its finest honors in Cinema in the coming years, be it Bharat Murali, Gopakumar or Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri for starters.