P. J. Antony

{{Infobox person

| name = P. J. Antony

| image = pjantony.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Antony in Nirmalyam

| birthname =

| birth_date = {{Birth-date|1 January 1925}}Uncertain, IMDB states 1923, www.pjantonyfoundation.com 1 January 1925.

| birth_place = Eranakulam, Cochin State, British Raj (now Kerala, India)

| death_date = {{Death-date and age|14 March 1979|1 January 1925}}Uncertain, IMDB states 4 April www.pjantonyfoundation 14 March.

| death_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India

| restingplace =

| restingplacecoordinates =

| othername =

| occupation = Soldier, Actor, Director, Script Writer, Lyricist, Novelist

| yearsactive = 1958–1979

| spouse = Smt. Mary (1954–1979) (his death)

| partner =

| children = 2

| parents =

| awards = National Film Award for Best Actor

Kerala State Film Awards
1973 - Nirmalyam

}}

P. J. Antony (1 January 1925 – 14 March 1979) was an Indian stage and film actor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/15/stories/2004031502010300.htm|title=P.J. Antony remembered|date=15 March 2004|website=The Hindu|access-date=13 February 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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.[http://pjantonyfoundation.org/aboutus.htm# Official website: About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727175108/http://pjantonyfoundation.org/aboutus.htm |date=27 July 2011 }} Antony was also a respected figure in the professional theatre field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.{{Cite web|url=http://malayalam.webdunia.com/entertainment/film/profile/0803/14/1080314063_1.htm|title=പി.ജെ.ആന്‍റണി - മഹാനടനും മനുഷ്യസ്നേഹിയും|date=14 March 2008|website=WebDunia|language=ml|access-date=13 February 2018}}

He also established his own theatre, named Prathibha Theatres, in Kochi.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/pj-antonys-socrates-today/article3163904.ece|title=P.J. Antony's 'Socrates' today|date=14 March 2006|website=The Hindu|access-date=13 February 2018}}

Biography

In his early 20s, 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 that Antony got chance to work with professional theatre artists. Soon he established 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 political drama theater at that time. He later established two theaters of his own, namely P. J. Theatres and Prathibha Theatres (which is still active).{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

Building on his expertise in stage plays, Antony began his film acting career.{{cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13634095&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Breaking News, Kerala news, latest news, India, Kerala politics, sports, movies, celebrities, lifestyle, E-paper, Photos & Videos |publisher=Manorama Online |access-date=2016-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011415/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13634095&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} His debut film was Randidangazhi (1957), a film adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's novel of the same title. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor (known then, in 1974, as the Bharath Award) 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.[http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/atony.htm Weblokam profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050910072634/http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/atony.htm |date=10 September 2005 }}

In a historical drama, Amal Neerad's Iyobinte Pusthakam had the famous director Aashiq Abu playing the role of P. J. Antony, though in a guest appearance.

Awards

National Film Awards:

Best Actor - 1974 - Nirmalyam

Kerala State Film Awards:

Best Actor - 1973 - Nirmalyam

Filmfare Awards South:

Best Actor - 1974 - Nirmalyam

Filmography

= As actor =

== 1950s ==

Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1958	Randidangazhi	Koran

== 1960s ==

Year	Title	Role
class="wikitable sortable"
1961	Mudiyanaya Puthran	Vasu
1962	Kalpadukal
rowspan=2 \| 1963	Ninamanija Kalpadukal	Thankamma's husband
Ammaye Kaanaan	Sukumaran Nair
rowspan=6 \| 1964	Kalanjukittiya Thankam	Kuttan Nair
Oral Koodi Kallanayi
Ore Bhoomi Ore Raktham
Aadyakiranangal	Kariyachan
Thacholi Othenan	Kathiroor Gurukkal
Bhargavi Nilayam	Narayanan Nair (Nanukuttan)	{{Cite web \|title=Makers release statement regarding Neelavelicham songs copyright claims \|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/apr/02/opm-cinemas-releases-statement-regarding-neelavelicham-film-songs-copyright-claims-41830.html \|access-date=2023-04-04 \|website=Cinema Express \|date=2 April 2023 \|language=en}}
rowspan=2 \| 1965	Rosie
Murappennu	Kunjikrishana Menon
rowspan=2 \| 1966	Kunjali Marakkar	Zamorin's nephew
Tharavattamma	Govinda Pilla
rowspan=11 \| 1967	Balyakalasakhi
Ashwamedham	Keshavan Swamy
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla	Unnunnichayan
Kavalam Chundan
Sheelavathi	Athri Maharshi
Iruttinte Athmavu	Gopalan Nair
Kamuki
Pareeksha	Neelakanda Pilla
Mulkireedam
Nagarame Nandi	Anandan Pillai
Chekuthante Kotta
rowspan=5 \| 1968	Manaswini
Punnapra Vayalar	Kochu Naanu
Kayalkkarayil
Lakshaprabhu
Asuravithu	Kunjarikkar
rowspan=4 \| 1969	Veettumriam
Virunnukari	Raghava Menon
Kattukurangu	Vasavan
Nadhi	Mullakkal Varkey

== 1970s ==

Year	Title	Role
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=6 \| 1970	Dathuputhran	Maanichan
Kurukshethram
Kakkathamburatti	Kochupaappu
Cross Belt	Sekhara Panikkar
Pearl View	Xavier
Moodalmanju
1971	Jalakanyaka
1972	Manushyabandhangal	Sanku Pilla
rowspan=4 \| 1973	Ragging
Dharmayudham	Naanu
Periyar
Nirmalyam	Velichapad
rowspan=2 \| 1975	Athithi
Odakkuzhal
1977	Nurayum Pathayum
1978	Paadasaram	Pulluvan
rowspan=2 \| 1979	Choola
Manninte Maril

== 2020s ==

Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
2022	Bheeshma Parvam	Paily Anjoottikkaran (Paily Chettayi) (deceased)	Photo presence

=Director=

Periyar (1973)

=Screenwriter=

Sheelavathi (1968)
C.I.D. Nazir (1971)
Rosie (1965)

Literary works

P. J. Antony has authored 30 short stories, 100 songs, 41 dramas, 2 autobiographies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/pj-antony-national-award-winner-actor-death-anniversary-40-years-nirmalyam-movie-bharat-award-1.3649761|title=ശവക്കല്ലറയില്‍ രേഖപ്പെടുത്താനുള്ള വരികള്‍ കുറിച്ചുവച്ചാണ് പി.ജെ ആന്റണി യാത്രയായത്|website=Mathrubhumi|date=15 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}