P. J. Antony

P. J. Antony Biography

P. J. Antony was a Malayalam film actor and theatre artist known for his role as Velichappad in Nirmalyam. He received National award for best actor in the year 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award. He received Kerala State Film Awards for the same film. His association with theatre group KPAC was also equally worth. He has been associated with Communist party also. He also established his own theatre named Prathibha Theatres in Kochi and P J theatres and both are active still now. Spitting at the idol of a temple in the movie ‘Nirmalyam’ was quite controversial when the movie got released and Antony remained in news for a long time for the picturation of this single sequence. He has worked as a lyricist and screenwriter for a few movies and directed the movie Periyar as well.

P. J. Antony was born on 1 January 1925 in Ernakulam, Kerala. He was a multi-facet personality; he was an Actor, Director, Script Writer, Lyricist and Novelist. Before joining drama and movies, he was in the Royal Navy during World War II. He was at his twenties during this time. Once he returned back, he joined a workshop as an officer. It was during this time when he got involved in drama and theatre. He worked for professional drama and very soon established himself as a prominent figure in Malayalam theatre.

Then he stepped into film industry. Randidangazhi released in the year 1957, a film adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's novel with the same title was his debut movie. After that he appeared in numerous movies as a supporting actor as well as leading star. He died on 14 March 1979 aged 54. Manninte Maril (1980) was his last released movie. He has appeared in many landmark movies of Malayalam during the eras of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

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Updated: November 22, 2013