Kalasala Babu Explained

Kalasala Babu
Death Place:Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:19772018
Spouse:Lalitha
Children:2

Kalasala Babu (1950 14 May 2018) was an Indian actor who performed on stage, and in television serials and films.

On stage

Babu had been acting in radio plays while at college. Following his graduation in 1973, Babu acted in Paanchajanyam, yielding a good performance. Babu acted at Kalidasa Kala Kendram for two years, and was offered roles by the late O. Madhavan and K. T. Muhammed.[1]

After acting in his first film Inayethedi in 1977, Babu started his drama troupe 'Kalasala' in Thripunithura, after which he was called as Kalasala Babu, and had artists such as Thilakan and Surasu, amongst others. The troupe began with the play Thalavattom, scripted by Surasu, which became a big hit. In total, nine plays were conducted and scripted by renowned personalities such as P. J. Antony, Sreemoolanagaram Vijayan, N. N. Pillai and others. The troupe operated until 1980.

Later on, he also worked with theatre company Chalakudy Sarathy for a few years.

Film and television

Babu got his first opportunity in film in 1977, in Inayethedi, the first venture of John Paul, George Kitho, Kaloor Dennis and Antony Eastman. He was cast alongside Silk Smitha for this film, which became a flop.

Towards the end of 1999, Babu was cast in Kala, a 13-episode television serial. His role of the character, Rowdy Dasappan, was well received by viewers. Following this, Babu acted in around 28 mega-serials over the next three years.

Babu made his way back into cinema with Kasthooriman in 2003, afterwards acting in character and villain roles in many movies, and achieved recognition for his performances, comfortably filling the acting space left vacant by late character actors such as N. F. Varghese and Narendra Prasad.He became more popular in the film Lion as father of Dileep. Babu acted in the popular Malayalam serial Amma as retired judge Poomankalathe Gopinatha Menon, which was daily telecast on Asianet channel from 2012 to 2015. He was paired with Kanya Bharathi and later replaced by Mammootty's brother. He also did a Malayalam serial named Sooryakaladi, which is telecasting on Amrita.

Deadline (2021) was his last film. Movie was shot in 2017 but released through OTT Platform Moviflex on 16 February 2021, and also through Theater Play OTT Platform on 1 June 2021. As an actor it is his last movie release.

Personal life

Babu was born to Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Mohiniyattam exponent Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. He belonged to a family of artists. His sisters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan, and his niece Smitha Rajan are Mohiniyattam artists.

He was married to Lalitha and had a son named Viswanathan and a daughter named Sreedevi.

On 18 January 2018, the 68-year old Babu was admitted at Amrita Hospital in Kochi after suffering a heart attack. As per reports, he became critical when he had a stroke during the emergency surgery, followed by the heart attack.[2] Later, he was admitted to Medical Trust Hospital, where he died at 12:35 AM on 14 May 2018.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Inaye Thedi
Sreemurukan Sukumaran
1980 Kochu Kochu Thettukal
1984 Ariyaatha Veethikal Raghavan
1988 Pattanapravesham Sub-Inspector
1994 Varaphalam
2002 Chathurangam
2003 Ivar
Kasthooriman Lonappan
Varum Varunnu Vannu Narendra Varma
Balettan Raghavan
Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum Meera's father
2004 Sasneham Sumithra Kurup
Freedom
Vajram Shankaran
Runway Varkey Chinnadan
Mampazhakkalam "Blade" Varkey
Perumazhakkalam Krishna Iyer
Nothing But Life Fr. Daniel
2005 Ullam Raman Nair
The Campus Fr. David Pulikkattil
Thommanum Makkalum Thevar
Kalyana Kurimanam Shiva Sankaran
Made in USA
Rappakal Shekharan
Lokanathan IAS Koya
Ben Johnson Chandranthodi Madhava Menon
Anandabhadram Raman Panikker
Sarkar Dada Adv. Damodaran Nambiar
2006 Lion Balagangadhara Menon
Madhuchandralekha Ramu
Thuruppu Gulan Sreedharan Unnithan
Kisan Education Minister
Mahasamudram Mattakara Velu Pillai
Pachakuthira Sugunan
Chess Doctor
Pothan Vava Priest
Kanaka Simhasanam Indrasena Reddy
2007 Avan Chandiyude Makan Kunjukochan
Inspector Garud Achuthan
Nanma
Rakshakan Aswathy's father
Mission 90 Days Commissioner
2008 College Kumaran Public Prosecutor
Mayakazhcha Vadakkemadam Thirumeni
2009 Puthiya Mukham Sreenivasan
Black Dalia Sunny Kuruvila
Thirunakkara Perumal
Chattambinadu Kattapilli Kuruppachen
2010 Chaverpada
Kaaryasthan
Koottukar Adv. Chandradas
Neelambari
Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu
Nayakan Raman Kutty Master
Pokkiri Raja Achuthan Nair
Chekavar Shekharan
2011 The Metro Louis
Collector Minister Kurishumoottil Mathachan
Payyans
Sevenes
Manushyamrugam Andrews
Koratty Pattanam Railway Gate
2012 Mallu Singh Adv. Chellappan
Rasaleela
Mullamottum Munthiricharum Thankappan
Naughty Professor
Chattakkari
Nadabrahmam
Lakshmi Vilasam Renuka Makan Reghuraman
Asuravithu
2013 Sound Thoma Vikariyachan
Aattakatha Ravunni Nair
Isaac Newton S/O Philipose Fr. Alphonse
Lisammayude Veedu
Housefull Janardhanan Nair
Dolls Raghava Kaimal
Progress Report Govindan Nair
Teens
Cowboy Vinay's father
Malayala Nadu
Ayaal Vaasu
ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi Chief Minister
Ginger Pappachan
2014 Life
Njaanannu Party
Kuruthamkettavan
Flat No.4B Military Retired
2015 Ariyathe Ishtamayi
One Day Sivan Pillai
Two Countries Ullas's father
Bomb Bhaskaran
Ithinumappuram Rugmini's father
Tharakangale Saakshi
2016 Noolpalam
Oppam
Sivapuram
Paulettante Veedu
2017 Sunday Holiday Unni's father
Nee Maathram Saakshi
Nilavariyathe
2018 Queen Judge
Ashiq Vanna Divasam Chacko
Shirkh
Parole Judge
2019 Arayakadavil
Kalippu
2021 Deadline

Television serials (partial)

ProgramChannelRolesNotes
Kala Rowdy Dasappan
Kadamattath KathanarAsianetChathukutty Melan
Swamy AyyapanAsianetMoopan
LipstickAsianet
Police Story
Alona
Kudumbayogam Sakkayi Mappila
Vava
MattoruvalSurya TV
DevimahatmyamAsianetKannappan
AmmaAsianetretired judge Poomankalathe Gopinatha Menon
RamayanamMazhavil ManoramaBrahmarshi Vishvamitra
VallarpadathammaShalom TV
IndiraMazhavil Manorama
ShivakamiSurya TV
SooryakaladiAmrita TV
Parassini Shri MuthappanJaiHind TVAyyankara Illathu Vazhunnor
Sathyam Shivam SundaramAmrita TVThampuran
JagrathaAmrita TVNair

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: From stage to screen . https://web.archive.org/web/20070519205814/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/23/stories/2005092300910200.htm . dead . 19 May 2007 . 23 September 2005. 7 May 2011 . . Chennai, India.
  2. Web site: Actor Kalasala Babu in serious condition. mangalam.com.
  3. Web site: ചലച്ചിത്ര നടൻ കലാശാല ബാബു അന്തരിച്ചു.