Thomas Berly

{{Infobox person

| name = Thomas Berly

| birth_name = Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal

| image =

| nationality = Indian

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Fort Cochin, Madras Presidency, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|16|1932|9|1|df=y}}

| death_place = Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala, India

| occupation = Actor

| spouse = Sophy

| children = 3

| parents = K. J. Burleigh, Annie

| years_active = 1938–1984; 2015

}}

Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal (1 September 1932{{Cite web|url=https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/mollywood-actor-thomas-burleigh-kurishingal-one-of-indias-earliest-exports-to-hollywood-dies-at-92/articleshow/116389627.cms|title=Mollywood actor Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal, one of India's earliest exports to Hollywood, dies at 92 - The Economic Times|website=m.economictimes.com}} – 16 December 2024), better known as Thomas Berly, was an Indian actor, director, producer, script writer, music composer in Malayalam cinema, and author in English.{{Cite web |url=http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/Thomas%20Berly-8823 |title=Thomas Berly:Profile and Biography, Malayalam Movie Director Thomas Berly latest Photo Gallery | Video Gallery, Malayalam Movie Director Thomas Berly, Thomas Berly Filimography, Thomas Berly Films and Cinemas, Thomas Berly Awards and Nominations |access-date=14 August 2014 |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814194959/http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/Thomas%20Berly-8823 |url-status=dead }}

Life and career

Berly was born at Fort Cochin, Madras Presidency, British India on 1 September 1932. His parents were Kurishingal K. J. Burleigh, an independence activist, and Annie Burleigh, a leader of the pre-independence era who led a satyagraha against toddy shops in Fort Cochin. His debut movie was Thiramala in 1953 as a 21 year old perhaps becoming one of the youngest heroes in Malayalam film industry at that time.{{Cite news |last=S |first=Priyadershini |date=2022-09-04 |title=Malayalam cinema's 'youngest' hero turns 90 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/malayalam-cinemas-hero-turns-90/article65830177.ece |access-date=2022-09-13 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=1559|title = Thomas Berly}} He later went to do a course on acting in University of California, Los Angeles. There he acted in a few English movies and television series in small roles. He acted in a Hollywood movie Never So Few in 1959. He produced an English movie, Maya for children. He was also interested in magic, violin, Madeleine instrumental music and painting. His painting Galiyan was selected and shown on International festivals.

Later in 1969 he came back and started seafood exporting business. In 1973 he directed a movie, Ithu Manushyano?. Popular song Sughamoru bindu dukhamoru bindu is from this movie.{{Cite web |title=MarunadanMalayalee.com |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=www.marunadanmalayalee.com}} Then he directed Vellarikkaappattanam in 1985 with veteran actor Prem Nazir as hero. He published a collection of English writings to his credit Beyond Heart (published 2000), which is prose-poetry, Fragrant Petals (2004), in memory of his father. He has also published a cartoon book, O Kerala (2007).{{Cite web|url=https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Thomas+Berly&category=director|title=Profile of Malayalam Director Thomas Berly|website=en.msidb.org}} and Sacred Savage, a historical novel (2017). He was married to Sophy. They have three children, Tanya, Tarun and Tamina and three grandchildren Tahir, Kiara and Kayaan. He was residing at his family home in Fort Kochi, Kerala.

Berly died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam, on 16 December 2024, at the age of 92.{{Cite web|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=1444500&u=obit-ernakulam|title=തോമസ് ബെർളി നിര്യാതനായി|access-date=2024-12-17|last=Daily|first=Keralakaumudi|language=ml}}{{cite news |title=Actor Thomas Berly passes away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Dec/17/actor-thomas-berly-passes-away-4 |access-date=17 December 2024 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=17 December 2024}}