Bahadoor


Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu, known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor and comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in the Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema. Bahadoor also appeared in some serious roles and in professional plays. His last film was Joker which was released shortly after his death.

Early life

Bahadoor was born as P. K. Kunjalu in 1930 in Kodungalloor, near Thrissur in Kingdom of Cochin. As one of the nine children of Padiyath Blangachalil Kochumoideen and Khadeeja. Out of his eight siblings, seven were sisters. His family was financially poor and the seven young women added to the burden as the Kerala social system openly supported dowry at that time. He had affinity towards plays from very young age itself. He passed 10th Standard with First Class and joined Farook College, Calicut for Intermediate. He could not complete his studies due to financial troubles and had to start working for a living. He found his first job in a private bus as the bus conductor. He still wished to be an actor. He met Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair through a relative. Thikkurussi gave him the chance to act in films and renamed him Bahadoor.

Family

He was married to Jameela. The couple have three children, Siddhiq, Muhammed and Rukiya.

Career

Bahadoor made his debut with a minor role in Avakasi. At that time he also acted in Akashavani and amateur-professional plays and got established as a good actor. Bahadoor got his first break with his role as Chakkaravakkan in Neela Production's Padatha Painkili. The film, which went on to become a big hit, marked Bahadoor's presence in the industry. He along with Adoor Bhasi formed a box office ruling combination and the duo is being compared to Laurel and Hardy. Bahadoor became the hero in Neelisali and Mucheettu Kalikkarante Makal. Bahadoor found time for acting in plays as well. He partnered a play production theatre which made blockbuster plays like Manikyakkottaram and Ballatha Pahayan. These plays were later made into feature films by him. In his entire career he appeared in a Tamil film Sathya starring Kamal Haasan, which was his only appearance in a non-Malayalam film to date, he played a supporting role as the father of Haasan's character.
Bahadoor started a black and white processing studio in Trivandrum named K. C. Lab. But the studio's establishment was ill-timed as films were shifting to colour. This caused financial troubles for Bahadoor and finally the studio was taken over by people to whom Bahadoor was indebted. Bahdoor also started a film distribution company only to face failures. He produced few films all of which failed at the box office. Even with his commercial debacles from the industry, he could meet his family's monetary requirements and mark his presence in the field of acting.
Bahadoor was last seen in Lohithadas's Joker. He did the role of a mentally ill veteran joker in a circus camp. In the film, he commits suicide by letting himself into the lion's cage in the circus den.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:
During his final days, Bahadoor suffered various health ailments, like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Failing health made him leave the film industry. But, he returned through the film Joker, only to leave the world soon later. On 22 May 2000 around 10 am, Bahadoor felt severe chest pain at his home in Chennai and was taken to Vijaya Hospital nearby. He died at the hospital by 3 pm due to internal bleeding in his brain caused by a heart attack.

Selected filmography

  1. Avakashi
  2. Baalyasakhi... Pachu Pilla
  3. Aniyathi... Bhasi
  4. Padatha Painkili... Chakkara Vakkan
  5. Jailppulli... Muthu
  6. Mariakutty... Kasim
  7. Nairu Pidicha Pulivaalu... Keshu
  8. Umma... Mammooj
  9. Kandam Bacha Kotte... Khader
  10. Jnaanasundari... John
  11. Unniyarcha... Kittu
  12. Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi... Sankaran/Gopakumar
  13. Ammaye Kaanaan... Naanu
  14. Ninamaninja Kalpadukal... Mammooju
  15. School Master... Damodharan
  16. Aadyakiranangal... Velu
  17. Kutti Kuppayam... Avuran Mullakka
  18. Kalanju Kittiya Thankam... K. Ramachandran Maithanam
  19. Porter Kunjali... Pareed
  20. Daham... Aliyar
  21. Jeevithayaathra... Kochappan
  22. Kuppivala... Poker/Chellathodu
  23. Subaida... Mammu
  24. Tharavattamma
  25. Kasavuthattam... Pokker
  26. Chitra Mela...
  27. Balyakalasakhi
  28. Ashwamedam... Krishnandaji
  29. Agniputhri... Appunni Nair
  30. Viplavakarikal... Govindan
  31. Velutha Kathreena... Appayi
  32. Punnapra Vayalar... Paappi mooppan
  33. Kadal... Paul
  34. Yakshi... Paramu
  35. Ballatha Pahayan... Aliyar
  36. Kadalpalam... Appu
  37. Adimakal... Bhargavan
  38. Urangatha Sundary... Panicker
  39. Velliyazhcha... Madanan
  40. Vazhve Mayam... Kuttappan
  41. Aranazhikaneram... Kunjucherukkan
  42. Nizhalattam... Kurup
  43. Cross Belt... Thilakan
  44. Bheekara Nimishangal... Sankaran
  45. Mindapennu... Unnikrishanan
  46. Oonjal... Appu Nair
  47. Thurakkatha Vathil... Narayanankutty
  48. C.I.D. Nazir... Pappu
  49. Rathri Vandi
  50. Sindooracheppu... Mammad
  51. Achante Bharya... Balan Nair
  52. Line Bus... Vareed
  53. Anadha Shilpangal... Balakrishnan
  54. Sumangali... Keeri Keshava Kuruppu
  55. Vilakku Vangiya Veena.... Prathapan
  56. Ernakulam Junction... Kunjali
  57. Thettu... Kochappi
  58. Anubhavangal Paalichakal... Hamsa
  59. Miss Mary... Raju
  60. Kandavarundo... Venu
  61. Omana... Lonappan
  62. Professor... Magician
  63. Chembarathi... Vasu
  64. Taxi Car... Nadathara Rajappan
  65. Achanum Bappayum... Abdulla
  66. Aradimanninte Janmi... Ouseppu
  67. Adyathe Kadha... Kuttan Pilla
  68. Panimudakku... Salim/Ummer
  69. Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka... Puncture Antony
  70. Panitheeratha Veedu
  71. Interview... Kuttappan
  72. Nakhangal... Pappu
  73. Kapalika... Gopalan
  74. Azhakulla Saleena... Daiman Mathai
  75. Chuzhi... Abbas
  76. Dharmayudham... Vikraman
  77. Maram... Mollakka
  78. Manushyaputhran... Kochu Govindan
  79. Achani... Appu
  80. Panitheeratha Veedu... Moideen Kakka, Hameed
  81. Kaadu... Sekhar
  82. Padmavyooham... Paulose
  83. Kalachakram... Prabha
  84. Divya Darshanam... Velappan Panikkar
  85. Yamini... Doc Chandran
  86. Ladies Hostel... Kuttan Pilla
  87. Udayam... Ittiyavara
  88. Swargaputhri... Kunjali
  89. Panchavadi... Keshava Pilla
  90. Rajahamsam... Keshavan Nair
  91. Chattakkari... Rahim
  92. College Girl... Damu
  93. Panchathanthram... Guptha
  94. Poonthenaruvi... Poovan
  95. Thacholi Marumakan Chandu... Pokkan
  96. Manyasree Viswamithran... Balachandran
  97. Night Duty ... Readymade Krishnankutty
  98. Pattabhishekam... Bahadoor
  99. Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi... Appunni
  100. Ayalathe Sundari... Pappu Pilla
  101. Nellu... Seythali
  102. Neela Ponman... Paappi
  103. Thomashleeha
  104. Alibabayum 41 Kallanmarum... Shukkur
  105. Ayodhya... Jayaraman
  106. Babumon... Panikkar
  107. Penpada... Vasu
  108. Love Marriage... Gopi
  109. Hello Darling... Appukuttan
  110. Picnic... Venu
  111. Pravaham... Kunnel Raghavan
  112. Themmadi Velappan... Kuttappan
  113. Thulavarsham... Ayappan
  114. Ayiram Janmagal... A. Krishnan
  115. Aalinganam... Rajashekharan
  116. Chirikudukka... Babu, Paraman
  117. Ayalkkari... Varghese
  118. Panchami... Philippose
  119. Prasadam
  120. Light House... Damu
  121. Randu Lokam... Govindan
  122. Angeekaram... Gangadharan
  123. Abhinivesham... Rajan
  124. Samudram... Shekhardas
  125. Aparadhi... Ouseppachan
  126. Anugraham... Madhavan Pilla
  127. Shankupushppam... Mammad
  128. Poojakkedukkatha Pookkal... Kuttan Pilla
  129. Rathi Nirvedham... Kochammani
  130. Itha Oru Manushyan... Nanu
  131. Agni
  132. Kanyaka... Aliyar
  133. Ee Manohara Theeram... Mathai
  134. Arum Anyaralla... Pralokam Pappu
  135. Neelathamara... Achuthan Nair
  136. Ezhunirangal... Pappachan
  137. Ivide Kattinu Sugandam... Raman Pilla
  138. Itha Oru Theeram... Sankara Pilla
  139. Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum... Hakkim Moulavi Sahib
  140. Theekkadal... Shekharan Pillai
  141. Sakthi... Paramu Pillai
  142. Lava... Govindan
  143. Aravam... Murukayya
  144. Prakadanam... Master
  145. Vilkkanundu Swapnangal... Mammukka
  146. Palangal... Varkey
  147. Sanchari... Sankaran
  148. Grihalakshmi... Raman Pilla
  149. Greeshmajwaala... Unnithan
  150. Guha... Chandrasekhara Kaimal
  151. Kathayariyathe... Raman Nair
  152. Sara Varsham... Ravunni Nair
  153. Ponnum Poovum... Khadir
  154. Beedikunjamma... Velu Nair
  155. Anuraagakkodathi... Gopalan
  156. Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal... Kakka
  157. Eettillam... Njodi Vasu
  158. Visa... Kuttyalikka
  159. Mandanmmar Londanil... Choyi Mooppan
  160. Swapname Ninakku Nandi... Bakker
  161. Maniyara... Hassanali
  162. Naseema... School Master
  163. Kurukkante Kalyanam... Soopi Hajiyar
  164. Veena Poovu... Kudayaani
  165. Mazha Nilaavu... Abdulla
  166. Piriyilla Naam... Vareechan
  167. Ivide Thudangunnu... Kurup
  168. Appunni... Hajiyar
  169. Vellam... Kuttan Nair
  170. Manithali... Kunjanikka
  171. Kaliyil Alpam Karyam... Rarichan Nair
  172. Oru Sumangaliyude Katha... Kumaradas
  173. Thacholi Thankappan... Abu
  174. Kudumbam Oru Swargam Bharya Oru Devatha... Krishna Pilla
  175. Adiyozhukkukal... Muni Kakka
  176. Koodum Thedi... Judy's Father
  177. Janakeeya Kodathi... Suma's Father
  178. Azhiyatha Bandhangal... Easwara Pillai
  179. Adhyayam Onnu Muthal... Maash
  180. Makan Ente Makan... Sankan Nair
  181. Anu Bandham... Madhavan
  182. Ente Kanakkuyil... Sankara Pillai
  183. Oru Sandesham Koodi... Rajasekharan Nair
  184. Kathodu Kathoram... Paily
  185. Kiratham... Musliyar
  186. Pappan Priyappetta Pappan... Padmanaban/Pappan
  187. Revathikkoru Pavakkutty... Ayyappan Pillai
  188. Oppam Oppathinoppam
  189. Oru Yugasandhya... Pappu Pilla
  190. Kochu Themmadi... Kelappan Nair
  191. Katturumbinum Kathu Kuthu... Minister
  192. Adukkan Entheluppam... Peter
  193. Kaalathinte Sabhdam... Nanu Pilla
  194. Naradhan Keralathil... Kuttan Pillai
  195. Anantaram... Mathai
  196. Neeyallengil Njan... Pilla
  197. Ithrayum Kalam... Khader
  198. Aranyakam... Nanu
  199. Sathya... Rajarathinam Mudaliyar
  200. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu... Thomachan
  201. Bhadrachitta
  202. Devadas... Raman Nair
  203. ... Mukundan Nair
  204. Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam... Kunju Krishna Kaimal
  205. Orukkam... Kumaran
  206. Thoovalsparsham... Nair
  207. Oliyampukal... T. P. Chackochan
  208. Kilukkampetti... Muthachan
  209. Soorya Gayathri... Kunjali
  210. Malootty... Kuttan Pillai
  211. Ghoshayathra... Saidukka
  212. Varanamaalyam... Kunjunni
  213. Parinayam... Kizhakkedam
  214. Sphadikam... Kurup
  215. Vanarasena... Lambodaran
  216. Man of the Match
  217. Joker... Abookka