Thilakan Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Full name	Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan
Other name	P. K. Surendranatha Thilakan
Profession	Actor, Retired Army Personnel
Famous for	Being one of the most renowned actors in the South Indian film industries
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 173 cm in meters- 1.73 m in feet & inches- 5’8”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Grey (semi-bald)
Career
Debut	Malayalam Film: Periyar (1973) Tamil Film: Chatriyan (1990) as Arumai Nayagam alias Annachi Kannada Film: Mother India (1995) Telugu Film: Samarasimha Reddy (1999) as Narasimha Reddy
Last Film	Ustad Hotel (2012) as the character Kareemikka
Awards & Honours	Civilian Awards • Padma Shri in 2009 National Awards • Best Supporting Actor Award for the film Rithubhedam in 1987 • Special Jury Mention Award for the film Eakantham in 2006 • Special Jury Mention Award for the film Ustad Hotel in 2012 Kerala State Awards • Second Best Actor Award for the film Yavanika in 1981 • Second Best Actor Award for the film Yathra in 1985 • Second Best Actor Award for the film Panchagni in 1986 • Second Best Actor Award for the film Thaniyavarthanam in 1987 • Second Best Actor Award for the films Mukthi and Dhwani in 1988 • Special Jury Award for various films in 1989 • Best Actor Award for the film Perumthachan in 1990 • Second Best Actor Award for the film Kattathoru Penpoovu in 1991 • Best Actor Award for the film Perumthachan in 1994 • Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2007 Filmfare Award South • Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the Malayalam film industry in 2006 • Best Supporting Actor Male Award for the film Indian Rupee in 2011 Other Awards • Asianet Film Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the Malayalam film industry in 2001 • Bharat Gopy Award instituted by the Manavaseva Welfare Society for his contributions in the Malayalam film industry in 2010
Personal Life
Date of Birth	15 July 1935 (Monday)
Birthplace	Ayiroor, Travancore, British India (now Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India)
Date of Death	24 September 2012
Place of Death	Thiruvananthapuram
Age (at the time of death)	77 Years
Death Cause	Cardiac Arrest [1]BBC
Zodiac sign	Cancer
Signature
Nationality	• British Indian (1935-1947) • Indian (1947-2012)
Hometown	Thiruvananthapuram
School	• St Louis L. P. School, Mundakayam • CMS High School, Mundakayam • MD Seminary Higher Secondary School, Kottayam
College/University	Sree Narayana College, Kollam
Educational Qualification	12th pass
Religious Views	Atheist
Caste	Ezhava-OBC
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Political Inclination	Communist Party of India [2]Malayala Manorama
Controversy	Difference of opinions with film associations: Thilakan alleged that his role in the film Christian Brothers was changed because of the intervention of Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) issued a show cause notice for his public outburst for which he never replied. He was suspended regarding this issue. [3]The Hindu
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Unmarried
Family
Wife/Spouse	• Santha • Sarojam
Children	Son(s)- 4 • Shaji Thilakan (deceased; actor) • Shammi Thilakan (actor) • Shobi Thilakan (actor, dubbing artiste) • Shibu Thilakan (politician) Daughter(s)- 2 • Sonia Thilakan (dentist) • Sofia Thilakan (physiotherapist)
Parents	Father- Palappurath T. S. Kesavan (1904-1972; ex-tea estate employee) Mother- P. S. Devayani (1912-2010; homemaker)
Siblings	Brother- 1 • Sasi Sister(s)- 4
Other relatives	Grandson- Abhimanyu S. Thilakan (actor)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Thilakan

• In an interview, he revealed that his second-grade school teacher, Mariyakutty, was the first to realise his artistic talent. Thilakan first appeared on stage as an actor in a play written by the teacher titled Kittunnathil Pathi, for a school annual function.

• Thilakan dropped out of college and joined the Indian Army, for a brief period.

• His army career came to an end after he met with a fatal accident and the army doctors decided to amputate his leg for which consent was not required during that time. It was an official visit by the prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, that helped him. He appealed to the Prime Minister for a mandatory consent form for such surgeries after which the rules were amended and his legs were saved.

• After his return, he and his friends, started a drama troupe called the Mundakayam Nataka Samithi.

• As a professional theatre artist, he was part of several leading theatre groups such as Kerala People’s Arts Club (KPAC), Kalidasa Kalakendram in Kollam, Changanasserry Geedha, and P. J. Antony’s drama troupe.
  

  Thilakan with the drama troupe

• His mother did not like the profession he chose, and they were not on talking terms with each other for a very long period.

• He considered the legendary actor and director, P. J. Antony, his guru and mentor. His debut film Periyar (1973) was P. J. Antony’s directorial.

• He also performed various plays for the All India Radio (AIR).

• Some of his evergreen characters apart from the award-winning roles are the grandfather in the film Moonnam Pakkam (1988), Ananthan Nambiar in the films Nadodikkattu (1987) and the sequel Pattanapravesham (1988), Paul Pailokkaran in Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal (1986), Kochuvava in Kattukuthira (1990), and the retired station master, Raghavan Nair, in Sandesham (1991).
  

  Thilakan in the film Kattukuthira

• In an interview, he alleged that his role in Perumthachan (1990) was considered for the Best actor, but it was changed at the last minute by a politician for some political gains. ^[4]Rediff

• His combination with Mohanlal was always well-appreciated by the audience, some of their notable films are Kireedam (1989), Chenkol (1993), Pavithram (1994), Spadikam (1995), and Evidam Swargamanu (2009).
  

  Thilakan with Mohanlal in the film Spadikam

• In an interview, he said that his popular character Chacko Maash in Spadikam had shades of his strict disciplinarian father.

• Thilakan acted in every South Indian film industry. He acted in over 200 films.

• He acted as the father of almost every lead actor in the Malayalam industry from Mammootty and Mohanlal to Kunchacko Boban and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

• He favoured the political party, Communist Party of India (CPI).

• He alleged that a Nair lobby was prevalent in the Malayalam film industry that worked behind the scenes to pass on prominent roles to the Savarna people. ^[5]The Quint

• Thilakan suffered from various ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease for quite a long time. He was hospitalised after he fainted while shooting for the film Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu. He was later shifted to KIMSHEALTH Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for further treatment. His health deteriorated due to pneumonia and multiple heart attacks. ^[6]BBC

• His cremation was held at Santhi Kavadam Electric Crematorium at Thycaud with full State honours.

• He had a particular liking for driving long distances.