Quick Facts
Biography
P. J. Antony (Malayalam: പി.ജെ. ആന്റണി; 1 January 1925 – 14 March 1979) was an Indian stage and film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Nirmalyam in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award. Antony is also a respectable figure in the professional play field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.
He also established his own theatre named Prathibha Theatres in Kochi.
Biography
In his early 20's Antony served in the Royal Navy during World War II. Post war, he returned home and joined a workshop as an officer. It was in this period in which Antony got chance to work with professional play artists. Soon he would establish himself as a prominent figure in Malayalam plays with his skills in acting, writing and direction. He was directly associated with the K.P.A.C., a major professional political play theatre at that time. He later established two play theatres namely P. J. Theatres and Prathibha Theatres (which is still active).
With the expertise in plays, Antony began his acting career. His debut film was Randidangazhi (1957), a film adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's novel with the same title. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor, (then known as the Bharath Award in 1974) for his performance as a velichappadu (an Oracle or medium between the Goddess and the worshipper in a Hindu temple) in Nirmalyam, directed by prominent literary figure, M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Antony was the lyricist and screenwriter for a small number of films. He also directed a film titled Periyar.
Amal Neerad's Iyobinte Pusthakam had the famous director Aashiq Abu playing the role of P. J Antony.
Awards
National Film Awards:
- Best Actor - 1974 - Nirmalyam
Kerala State Film Awards:
- Best Actor - 1973 - Nirmalyam
Filmography
Acting
- Manninte Maril (1979)
- Choola (1979)
- Padasaram (1978).... Pulluvan
- Nurayum Pathayum(1977)
- Odakuzhal(1975)
- Athithi (1975)
- Nirmalayam (1973) .... Velichapad
- Periyar (1973)
- Dharmayudham(1973) .... Naanu
- Ragging (1973)
- Manushyabandhaal (1972)
- Jalakanyaka (1971)
- Moodalmanju (1970)
- Pearl View (1970)...Xavier
- Crossbelt (1970).... Sekhara Panikkar
- Kakkathamburatti(1970)
- Kurukshethram (1970)
- Dathuputhran (1970)... Maanichan
- Nadhi (1969) .... Mullakkal Varkey
- Kattukuranu (1969)
- Virunnukari (1969) .... Raghava Menon
- Veettumriam (1969)
- Asuravithu (1968) .... Kunjarikkar
- Lakshaprabhu (1968)
- Kayalkkarayil(1968)
- Punnapra Vayalar(1968)...Kochu Naanu
- Manaswini (1968)
- Chekkuthante Kotta (1967)
- Naarame Nandi (1967)
- Mulkireedam (1967)
- Pareeksha (1967).... Neelakanda Pilla
- Kamuki (1967)
- Iruttinte Athmavu (1967)..... Gopalan Nair
- Sheelavathi(1967)
- Kavalam Chundan (1967)
- Anveshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
- Aswametham (1967).... Keshavan Swamy
- Balyakalasakhi (1967)
- Tharavattamma (1966).... Govinda Pilla
- Kunjali Marakkar (1966) .... Zamorin's Nephew
- Murappennu (1965) .... Kunjikrishana Menon
- Rosy(1965) .... (Hero)
- Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) .... Narayanan Nair (Nanukuttan)
- Thacholi Othenan (1964) ...Kathiroor Gurukkal
- Adyakiranagal (1964).... Kariyachan
- Ore Bhoomi Ore Raktham (1964)
- Oral Koodi Kallanayi (1964)
- Kalaju Kittiya Thankam (1964).... Kuttan Nair
- Ammaye Kaanaan (1963) .... Sukumaran Nair
- Ninamanija Kalpadukal (1963)...Thankamma's husband
- Kalpadukal (1962)
- Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961)..... Vasu
- Randidangazhi (1958)
Director
- Periyar (1973)
Screenwriter
- Sheelavathi (1968)
Literary works
Short stories
- Pukachurulukal
- Kalakavan
- Naludivasangal
- Ennayillaatha vilakku
- Chilampoli
- Thakarnna veena
- Aa moksham ningalkku venda
Novels
- Itha manushyan
- Orugramathinte Athmavu
Poems
- Prabhatha geetham
Song collections
- Onappattukal
- Thakarnna veena
- Prema sangheetham
- Keralam Unarunnu
Memories
- Ente nadaka smaranakal
- Natakame Ulakam