40 years without Sathyan!

Sathyan was the ultimate superstar of his times through the numerous roles that he'd essayed in the world of Malayalam cinema.

After an initial career in the Army when he'd seen action during the II World War on the Burmese front, he became a Sub Inspector in the police force and finally, entered the Malayalam filmdom in 1952 through the film 'Atmasakhi' eventhough his first movie was 'Thyagaseema' which never saw light and remained in the can! The films that he'd acted in, were the rage of the times - the 50s and the 60s - as he lived his assigned roles and brought to life many brilliant characters. His celluloid personality was striking and awe inspiring, though he was comparatively short and dark. That, in itself, shows his perseverence, hard work and never-say-die attitude.

His movies have been my favourites without any exception but if I were to be asked to pick and choose any eleven out of them, I'd sadly(for constraining me) choose the following:-
(a) Neelakkuyil
(b) Ammaye kaanaan
(c) Bhaarya
(d) Ningalenne Communistaakki
(e) Chemmeen
(f) Adimakal
(g) Kattuthulasi
(h) Mooladhanam
(j) Odayilninnu
(k) Anubhavangal Paalichakal and
(l) Oru Penninte Katha.

He was one of the very few personalities who spoke and practised what he preached. The following incident proves my point. He was approached by a film producer and director to do the lead role of that of a 'comrade' in a movie centred on the Punnapra - Vayalar incidents of the mid 50s(the communists, who're considered renegades, had faced a lot of hardships from the police forces sent after them by the then government, in power, during the incidents). Sathyan refused the offer because he was in the police then and had sincerely carried out the orders of his superiors to take on the comrades and therefore, sure of the fact that he's morally not justified to play the role. That's the ethical aspect of the man!

The late Sarangapani(reknowned scriptwriter) who'd scripted a lot of movies of the 'vadakkanpaattu' genre was one of the guys who'd a taste of Sathyan in his 'avatar' as a policeman. Sathyan went on to immortalise the characters of 'Thacholi Othenan' and 'Aaromal Chekavar' etched by him in subsequent films!

Sathyan went through great pain and hardship towards his life's end thanks to the dreaded cancer and breathed his last, this day, 40 years ago. It was a sad day for Indian cinema as a whole and Malayalam cinema, in particular. Even to this day, the void left by him continues to remain unfilled.

Our families were friends and their admiration was mutual.

May his soul rest in peace and my salute to a great artiste!