Thilakan

Biography:

Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan, who performed in over 200 Malayalam films, was an Indian actor and stage director who lived from July 15, 1935, until September 24, 2012. Thilakan was renowned for his intricate acting techniques and his genuine, on-the-spot appearances. He is regarded as one of the all-time great actors.

Of the six children born to Palapurath T. S. Keshavan and Devayani, Thilakan was the second. Plankamon, Ayroor Panchayat, in the modern-day Keralan district of Pathanamthitta is where Thilakan was born. He completed his elementary schooling at Sree Narayana College in Kollam, Asan Pallikoodam in Manikkal, and St. Louis Catholic School in Nalamvayal. Prior to moving to Ernakulam to begin acting in films, Thilakan resided in Plankamon.

In 1956, Thilakan graduated from college and began a full-time acting career. At this time, he and a few friends established the Mundakayam Nataka Samithy, a theatre group, in Mundakayam, the town where his father worked as an estate superintendent. After serving as the Kerala People’s Arts Club’s employee till 1966, he worked with P. J. Antony’s troupe, Changanacherry Geetha, and Kalidasa Kala Kendra. Additionally, he appeared in other radio plays that All India Radio broadcasted.