Payyannur: In front of the camera for the first time at the age of 76. National recognition in the first film itself. After a handful of movies. Many of them with superstars. He transcended language and acted with the star kings of Tamil. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri’s acting career has no parallel. It was during his leisure time that he stepped into the hustle and bustle of cinema. He became a star with his debut. It shone for more than two decades. The Malayalees were teasing the grandfather who was laughing and grinning with a toothless grin. Unnikrishnan met Namboothiri by chance while director Jayaraj was looking for someone to play his grandfather in his film ‘Desadanam’. Lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran, the husband of Unnikrishnan Namboothiri’s daughter, met Namboothiri Namboothiri on his birthday. Later more than 20 movies. All in the role of grandfather. The Unnikrishnan Namboothiri-Subbalakshmi duo, who starred in Kalyanaraman, won the hearts of the audience in other films. There is no cinematic tradition to speak of. No acting experience. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri, 76, was the only villager to have worked as a sepoy in a school and worked as a farmer. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri and his family were still communist comrades, despite being an orthodox family with a long history of worship. AKG, EK. Nayanar, K.A. Keralite, KPR Gopalan, K.P. Namboothiri’s Pulleri Vadhyarillam was a refuge for leaders like Gopalan. It was this landlord family that sheltered and protected the leaders when the Communist Party banned them. AKG has described Unnikrishnan Namboothiri’s mother Devaki Antarjan as her own mother. AKG Unnikrishnan Namboothiri was his own younger brother. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri’s house is still hosted by CPM leaders. Pinarayi often came home with Vijayan to eat his birthday. This is how actor Mammootty described Unnikrishnan Namboothiri as a ‘communist among believers and a believer in communist’. The grandfather of Malayalam cinema is returning after completing his role. photo: kng unnikrishnan namboodiri രാഘവൻ കടന്നപ്പള്ളി
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