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Paravoor Bharathan

Biography

Paravoor Bharathan was an Indian actor of Malayalam films. He started his career in movies during the 1950s. Bharathan is known as a versatile actor and has played a variety of roles including negative roles, character roles and comedy roles.

Bharathan was born to Vadakkekarayil Kochannan Koran and Kurumbakutty in 1928 at Vavakkad, Moothakunnam in North Paravoor, Cochin. He went to S.N.M. High School, Moothakunnam but, had to discontinue his studies when his father died. His father was a coconut plucker and mother was a coir maker. His father died when he was very young and his mother took care of him.

He used to act during his school days as well. On one occasion, he caught the eye of Kedamangalam Sadanandan, a noted Kathaprasangam artiste, who introduced him to the state troupe - Pushpitha during mid-1940s. He started acting in state shows in and around Paravoor. He has also performed dramas in actor Jose Prakash's drama troupe.

When the play Rakthabandham was being made into a film, Vijayabhanu recommended Bharathan's name for a role. The movie released in 1951 and was directed by Vel Swamy. It had Cherthala Vasudeva Kurup, Ambalapuzha Meenakshi, S. D. Subbiah and others in main roles. Bharathan went on to act in films like Kerala Kesari and Marumakal.

Bharathan spent a good amount of his early life as a stage actor. The turning point was his comic role in the play Maattoli in the early 50s. Acting alongside Bharathan in this play was Thankamani (she played a cameo in Neelakuyil), whom he later married. Parethante Vilapam was the last telefilm and Changathikoottam released in 2009 was the last film he acted.