My humble tribute to the second superstar of Malayalam on his 100th birth anniversary
Sathyan – his career is still a learning experience to many new actors of Mollywood. His full name is Satyanesan Nadar and he is considered as the second superstar after Malayalam, after Thikurussi Sukumaran Nair. When he left the world, Rajesh Khanna was just titled the first superstar of Indian cinema and it was a striking co-incidence that his life was somewhat similar to the blood cancer patient role played by the same actor, just 1 year before Sathyan’s death. Some appreciations and titles are given later, when their contributions are noted as whole! That’s the reason why he is unofficially named later as the superstar of Malayalam. He debut at his late 30’s and very soon rise to the stardom and till his death, he never looked back. By this time, he contributed his 20 valuable years to Malayalam film industry and was at the peak of his career.
He was aware of his limitations. His voice was not intense, he was short and black. He was suffering from blood cancer and fought against it for the last 20 years. Yet he overcame everything through his incredible acting skills and still, he is shining one among those rare twinkling stars of great actors Malayalam has ever seen onscreen. Today, November 9, 2012 is his 100th birthday. We are aware of the fact that he has left the world 40 years back. Yet, he is still alive in the hearts of millions of his fans for the memorable shades he has created on silver screen.
His most memorable roles
Those 20 years! He did many challenging roles that future stars are not able to reproduce with the same ampere or powerful screen performance. Sridharan Master of milestone movie, ‘Neela kuyil’, Pappu of ‘Odayail ninni’, Rajan of ‘Mudiyanaaya Puthran’, Palani of ‘Chemmeen’, Sudeendran of ‘Vaazvemaayam’, Appukuttan of ‘Kutyodathi’, Sreeni of ‘Yakshi’, Chellappan of ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’ – these are a few pearls among his 150 shades of his shining acting career. All these roles illuminated by lively performance of Sathyan are really remarkable milestones of Malayalam Cinema and still remain immortal in every Malayali’s heart.
He created a new magic on screen
When he entered the industry Malayalam movies were just an extension of drama, not movies. Silver screen was in a grip of overacting and over expressive actors and actresses. Through his silent and calm acting skills, Sathyan gave a new definition and direction to Malayalam cinema. He created a new path through which Malayalam industry is still walking ahead!
When many great literary works were translated to screen, Satyan was most benefited by those lively and realistic roles. He dared to cry before the camera without shyness and his remarkable performance as a rickshaw driver in the movie ‘Odayil Ninnu’, still wet eyes of its audience.
He was very plain in his character and never hesitated to respond if he saw foolishness around. In the last 5-10 years since his disease was detected, he kept himself alive through his busy schedule and daily shifts from studios to studios. But he kept his disease as a secret and never shared with anyone even if he was friendly with everyone in the studio, even a light boy.
He studied the characteristics of common man by looking around, either a rickshaw driver or a farmer working in the fields. He made use of those observations in the wide variety of roles he played. Though he was a big star he cared his light boys and makeup artists and he lived with his head held high, becoming a role model to many – both in reel life and real life.
He debut when he was 40!
He was born on November 9, 1912 in Aaramada near Thirumala of Thiruvananathapuram district in a Christian family as the son of Manuel and Lilli. His full name is Manuel Sathyanesan Nadar, but shortly called Sathyan. He passed Vidwan exam and became teacher in Thiruvananthapuram St.Joseph School. Very soon, he passed his SSLC exam and joined a clerical post in Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat. During Second World War, he became Subedar of British Army. When he returned he became the police inspector of Travancore. After Punnapra – Vayalar riots, he was appointed as the inspector in Alappuzha.
In 1951, he debut the silver screen through ‘Tyaga Seema’ and resigned his job to become full time actor. But his first movie was not released and it was ‘Aatma sakhi’ of 1952 which marked the entry of Satyaneshan as Sathyan to Mollywood. In 1952, when Uroob’s literary piece Neelakuyil was made a movie, it saw the rise of a new sun in Malayalam movies. That blockbuster movie is still considered as a milestone of Malayalam film industry.
His film journey after Neelakuyil
In Yakshi as a psychiatric patient, in Aswamedam and Doctor as doctor, in Tacholi Othenan as true warrier, in Bharya as a murderer of his wife, in Chemmeen as fisherman, in Karthika as rowman – he gave both positive and negative shades to his innumerable roles. The great directors of 50’s and 60’s, K.S.Sethu Madhavan, Vincent and Ramu Karyat made use of the caliber of this flexible actor to its perfection.
He never gave importance to his star image while choosing roles. If so, he would have never done the role of a father of three kids, in the movie Bharya, who kills his wife hearing his lover’s words. This movie was based on controversial Thiruvalla Ammalu murder case. He handled the roles of hero, anti-hero and old man and won everyone’s heart through his lively screen presence.
His achievements were at the later stage of his life
In 1969, when Kerala state announced film awards for the first time, he was selected as the best actor for his memorable role as Narayana Kaimal in the movie Kadal Palam. Actually, he did a double role in the movie – both the roles of father and son.
In 1971, he won his second and last award as best actor for his performance in the movies Sarasayya and Karakaana kadal. But the award was given posthumously. How many awards have he lost since them and how many characters lost by Malayalam film industry through his sudden death!
Vaazhvemaayam, Karakanakadal and Anubhavangal Paalichakal were his last movies and performances in these 3 movies were critically acclaimed. He died before the completion of Anubhavangal Paalichakal and hence the movie was picturised as hero hanged in the end, accused for a murder. His face was also not shown as the last scenes were done by a body double. The role he played as a communist rebel was entirely different from his previous roles and his performance was excellent. This film also marked the debut of Mega star Mammooty to silver screen, though it was a small role.
Chemmeen still ranked as classic among Indian movies
Each and every particle of this movie is treasured as a precious ruby by millions of its fans. This movie was released in 1962 and brought National awards to this small state for the first time. Still, if inflation figures are considered, no Malayalam movie is born till now to break its box office records. It’s a celluloid presentation of Thakazhy’s famous novel Chemmeen and still now this movie is considered to be the best with extra-ordinary performances, magical direction and wonderful music by Salil Chaudary.
The love triangle story revolves around three people - the fisherwoman Karuthamma, her Muslim lover Pareekutty and her husband Palany. Satyan did 100% justification to his role as a husband who knows well about his wife’s history. Though he knows well that his wife still can’t forget her lover he loves her a lot and buries his sorrows inside. In the end when sea takes his life and lovers suicide, it fills a strange feeling in the soul of audience. It gives a belief that a fisherwoman should be sacred even in her thoughts; otherwise her husband won’t return back from sea. Sheela did the role of Karuthamma and Madhu gave life to Pareekutty.
His last moments
All were just stories as he didn’t share any worries with anyone. Everyone in the film sets believed that he was fighting against blood cancer for the past 5-10 years and that he used to drive alone in his car to Chennai once in a week for blood transfusion. But it’s true, he was seen tired in the sets during his last days. Yet, when he hears the word ‘action’, he forgets everything and changes himself to another character. That was the secret mantra of Sathyan to overcome his disease. At last, in 1971 June 15 at 4.30 early morning, he died in Madras King George Hospital at the age of 61. So, it was exactly 20 years since he joined the film industry. But truth is that ‘those shining stars’ never die in the heart of their admirers and still alive through the shining roles they have played onscreen.
If someone asks, who the best actor of golden era of Malayalam movies was, no one will find difficulty in answering this question and through this article, I have just remembered the honourable contributions given by this great actor of Malayalam and it’s my humble effort to show my respect towards him.
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