Versatile genius
MADHU ERAVANKARA
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Narendra Prasad enriched the many fields he worked in as teacher, critic and artiste.
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Narendra Prasad
It was on November 3, 2003 that Narendra Prasad passed away leaving behind a rich legacy as a teacher, literary critic, playwright, theatre director, cine artiste and social critic .
He started his literary career as a novelist. However he often felt that his maiden work `Alanjavar Anweshichavar' was not up to mark.
Literary criticism
He entered the arena of literary criticism at a crucial juncture when modernism had begun to take root in Malayalam. `Bhavukatvam Marunnu,' `Nishedhikale Manassilakkuka,' and `Adhunikadhayude Madhyannam' were his titles that came out during the period.
Later, even as a busy actor, he found the time to pen his works such as `Ente Sahitya Niroopanangal' and his last title, `Unni Pokunnu.'
His entry into the arena of theatre was through a theatre group called Natyagraham. They staged a play, `Souparnika,' which he penned and directed. The play, won him laurels including the Sangeeta Nataka Akademi Award. He went on to write plays such as `Ira,' `Velliyazcha' and `Padipurra.' The plays `Kumaran Varunnilla' and `Satheerthyan' were well received by the audience. Fascinated by the intricacies of theatre, he wrote essays on the aesthetics of theatre, which were compiled in a book called `Arangum Porulum.'
He made his debut in tinsel town in 1988 in `Asthikal Pookkunnu.' His acting prowess came to the fore through Shyama Prasad's telefilm `Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal.' Though `Utsavamelam' gave him a break, it was the political leader in `Thalasthanam' that made him an integral part of Malayalam cinema. Each movie, be it `Paithrukam,' `Kathapurushan' or `Kaliyattam' saw him handling his role with flair. Towards the end of his life, he had worked for the mini screen too.
He was also an academician. Starting as a lecturer in English, he rose to the level of the Director, School of Letters in M.G. University, Kottayam. He had served in many university bodies too. He made his mark as a social critic through his book `Jathi Paranjalenthu'
In honour of his memory, friends and relatives formed a `Narendra Prasad Foundation,' which is based in Mavelikara.
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