Premji

Mullamangalath Parameshwaran Bhattathiripad (23 September 1908 – 10 August 1998), commonly known as M. P. Bhatathirippad or Premji, was a social reformer, cultural leader and actor from Kerala state, India.[1] Premji joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with V. T. Bhattathiripad, E. M. S. Namboodiripad and his brother M. R. Bhattathiripad in the fight against the casteism and conservatism that existed in the Nambudiri community.[2] Premji was also a noted stage and film actor who won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Piravi.[3]

This article is about the social reformer and actor from Kerala. For the Chairman of Wipro, see Azim Premji. For the Tamil actor, see Premji Amaren.

Premji
Born
M. P. Bhatathirippad

23 September 1908
Ponnani, Madras Presidency, Indian Empire
Died10 August 1998(1998-08-10) (aged 89)
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation(s)Social reformer, writer, actor
Spouse
Arya Premji
​
(m. 1943)​
ChildrenKPAC M.P. Premachandran (late)
M.P. Neelakandan
Hareendranathan
M.P. Induchoodan
M.P. Sathi
AwardsNational Film Awards
1989 - Piravi
Kerala State Film Awards
1989 - Piravi
Filmfare Awards South
1989 - Piravi

Biography

Premji was born on 23 September 1908 in Vanneri, Malappuram, Kerala.[4] It was a time when Kerala was experiencing a social uprising. The effect of that was visible in Premji's family and life as well. His elder twin brother M. R. Bhattathiripad, popularly known as MRB was a prominent figure in Malayalam professional plays.[5][6] Premji joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with V. T. Bhattathiripad, E. M. S. Namboodiripad and MRB in the fight against the casteism and conservatism that existed in the Nambudiri community.[7] Premji got married at the age of 40 to Arya Antharjanam (28 years old) from Karuvat Illam, Kanjany, Trichur, who was a widow since the age of 17.[8] This was when widow-marriages were completely prohibited in Nambudiri community.[9][10] This was the second widow marriage in the modern Kerala history, after the marriage of his brother MRB with Uma Antharjanam nine years earlier.[11]

Premji started his professional life as a proof editor in Mangalodayam press Thrissur when he was 19. He soon launched his acting career with Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathakku, a play by eminent dramatist V. T. Bhattathiripad.[12] Later, he acted in various plays: MRB's Marakkudakkullile Mahaanarakam, Moothiringode Bhavathrathan Namboothiripad's Apphante Makal, Cherukad's Nammalonnu and Snehabimbangal and P. R. Warrier's Chavittikkuzhacha Mannu are some of them. He won gold medal from the Government of Kerala for his performance in the play Shah Jahan, produced by Kalakaumudi Nataka Koottayma. He was also awarded a fellowship by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.[12] With his expertise in plays, he ventured into film industry.

He debuted in Minnaminungu and went on to act in about 60 films including Thacholi Othenen, Kunjali Marakkar, Lisa, Yaagam, Uttarayanam and Piravi. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor as well as Kerala State Film Award and also won Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actor for his performance as a father in search of his missing son in Piravi (1989), directed by Shaji N. Karun.[13][14] In addition to the much acclaimed play Ritumathi Premji has 4 collected verses to his credit as well, namely Sapakthni, Nalkalikal, Raktha Sandesam and Premji Padunnu.[12] He died on 10 August 1998, aged 90.[15]

Awards

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Filmfare Awards South:

Filmography
  • Piravi (1988) as Chakyar
  • Padippura (1989)
  • Bhagavan (1986)
  • Kochu Themmadi (1986)
  • Anu Bandham (1985) as Valiya Nampoothiri
  • Mangalam Nerunnu (1984)
  • Sreekrishna Parundu (1984)
  • Oru Thira Pinneyum Thira (1982)
  • Yagam (1982)
  • Thrishna (1981) as Sankar Menon
  • Sanchari (1981) as Vaidyar
  • Sathyam (1980) as Sekharan Nair
  • Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980) as Sridevi's Valyammavan
  • Sandhyaragam (1979)
  • Lisa (1978) as Bhavithradan Namputhirippadu
  • Aanapappachan (1978)
  • Jagadguru Adisankaran (1977)
  • Thulavarsham (1976)
  • Chennay Valarthiya Kutti (1976)
  • Samasya (1976)
  • Niramala (1975)
  • Utharayanam (1975)
  • Thumbolarcha (1974)
  • Ponnapurakotta (1973)
  • Theerthayathra (1972)
  • Sindooracheppu (1970) as Thirumeni
  • Othenente Makan (1970) as Thacholi Valiya Kurup
  • Mindappennu (1970) as Kittunni Nair
  • Kunjali Marakkar (1966) as Zamorin of Calicut
  • Pakalkkinavu (1966)
  • Thacholi Othenan (1964) as Thacholi Valiya Kurup
  • Moodupadam (1963)
  • Shymala Chechi (1965)
  • Ammu (1965)
  • Thira, Veendum Oru Thira
  • Minnaminungu (1957)
  • Neelakuyil (1954)

References
  1. Praveen, S. r (19 November 2018). "A life that played with emotions". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. "Finding her voice". Frontline. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  3. "Thilakan, Jagathy, Seema, Jalaja and others: The long list of Mollywood's unsung stars". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. "Premji born on, 23 September". English News Portal. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  5. Basheer, K. P. M. "Arya Premji, an icon of struggle for Namboodiri widows' rights". @businessline. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. Venkiteswaran, C. S. (12 May 2016). "Fight for equality". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  7. Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788126018031.
  8. "ചരിത്രം ഉറങ്ങാത്ത പ്രേംജി വീട്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  9. Menon, Ramesh (15 July 1991). "Once-affluent Namboodiris of Kerala fall on hard days". India Today.
  10. "നടന്‍ പ്രേംജിയുടെ ഭാര്യ ആര്യ പ്രേംജി അന്തരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  11. "ആര്യ പ്രേംജി അന്തരിച്ചു". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  12. Weblokam profile Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "The all-seeing eye of director Shaji Karun". Deccan Herald. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  14. "The stillness in Shaji N Karun's Piravi". Cinema Express. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. "ആര്യ പ്രേംജി അന്തരിച്ചു | Kerala | Deshabhimani | Tuesday May 24, 2016". www.deshabhimani.com. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
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