Tag Archives: Prem Nazir (aka) Abdul Khader – Malayalam Actor

Prem Nazir is unstoppable in digital age too

KERALA :

Old documentary an instant online hit

A short documentary on Malayalam cinema’s evergreen star Prem Nazir, which surfaced online a couple of days ago, has garnered thousands of views, in testimony to the actor’s enduring popularity, thirty-two years after his passing away. On his death anniversary on Saturday, the video, which was made for Doordarshan back then, was shared across social media platforms, providing a glimpse of the actor to many from the younger generation too.

The documentary titled Nithyavasantham Nithyavismayam, converted from an old VHS tape, was uploaded on Facebook by Orbit Videovision. It was directed by Baiju Chandran, presently head of programmes, Doordarshan, Thiruvananthapuram. The film has interviews with actors, filmmakers, and producers who have worked with him, recollecting their memories.

Actor Mammootty speaks of how he, as a youngster unaware of the technicalities of filmmaking, assumed that Nazir was the same larger-than-life persona in real life as he was shown on screen.

Poignant memories

One of the poignant recollections is made by veteran script-writer Sarangapani about the special relationship the actor shared with Udaya studio, having starred in many a film produced under the banner. “He was not just a cinematic hero for the employees here. He used to enquire after each of the employees here, including the sweepers and the light boys and financially helped them out during difficulties,” he says. Actor Jose Prakash echoes these sentiments and says that Nazir was particular that whatever he is doing to help others should not be known to anyone else.

The documentary looks at how he became the romantic hero of the masses, how he was sometimes limited in his experimentation owing to that image, and of the instances when he successfully broke out of that mould and stunned everyone.

Rare camaradarie

His camaradarie with actor Sathyan, with whom he acted in several films, also becomes a point of discussion. Actors Saradha and Kaviyoor Ponnamma speak of how he was gracious enough to make everyone around comfortable, and treated everyone equally. There are rare interviews with his family members too.

The documentary ends with some rare visuals of his last journey, and of the multitudes waiting on both sides of the road, to catch a last glimpse of the star.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – January 17th, 2021

‘Meeting of three Abdul Khaders’

KERALA :

Writer U.A. Khader shares a lighter moment with lyricist Poovachal Khader during a meeting to commemorate actor Prem Nazir in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: S_RAMESHKURUP
Writer U.A. Khader shares a lighter moment with lyricist Poovachal Khader during a meeting to commemorate actor Prem Nazir in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: S_RAMESHKURUP

Prem Nazir Samskarika Vedi’s award presented to lyricist Poovachal Khader

“The coincidental meeting of three Abdul Khaders” was how writer U.A. Khader described the 29th death anniversary commemoration meet of actor Prem Nazir in Kozhikode on Tuesday. The first being the actor whose real name was Abdul Khader, the second, the writer himself and the third Poovachal Khader, noted lyricist and poet who bagged the Prem Nazir Samskarika Vedi’s 10th anniversary award on Tuesday.

‘Memories still alive’

Prem Nazir, who holds many a record in Malayalam cinema, passed away in 1989 at the age of 62. “It is not for nothing that his memories are still alive in the minds of cinema viewers,” said the writer, adding that Prem Nazir had immortalised many of his characters. He cited the actor’s performance as Bhranthan Velayudhan in Iruttinte Athmavu as a classical one.

Film producer P.V. Gangadharan, who presented the award to Poovachal Khader, recalled how Prem Nazir supported him in his early days as a producer.

The Prem Nazir Samskarika Vedi has been presenting the award to many known and lesser known personalities in cinema over the last 10 years. Actors T.R. Omana, Shantha Devi and Sreelatha Namboothiri were some of the recipients of the award in previous years. Poovachal Khader, a relative of Prem Nazir, is also the president of Thiruvananthapuram-based Prem Nazir Foundation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – January 17th, 2018