Bharath Gopi

Bharath Gopi is considered one of the greatest film actors in India and has won many awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Sankarankutty in Kodiyettam (1977), and hence he got the name Bharath. His well known roles include Aiyappan in Yavanika, Vasu Menon in Palangal, Prof. "Shakespeare" Krishna Pillai in Kattathe Kilikoodu, Dushasana Kurup in Panchavadi Palam, Nandagopal in Ormakkayi, Mammachan in Adaminte Variyellu, Shankaran in Chidambaram, and Krishnan Raju in Aghaat.

As a filmmaker he is known for Ulsavapittennu (1989) and Yamanam (1991). And he produced Bharathan's Padheyam (1993). In 1991 the Government of India honored him with the Padmashri for his contributions towards Indian cinema.

Gopi began his acting career as a theatre actor. He became interested in cinema through the Chitralekha Film Society, founded by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. He made his movie debut in Adoor's Swayamvaram in 1972. He got the lead role in Adoor's next film, Kodiyettam (1977), a performance for which he won the National Award for Best Actor. He was also noted for his performances in movies like Ormakkayi, Yavanika, Panchavadi Palam and Aadaminte Vaariyell. Besides Malayalam movies, he acted in two Hindi movies, Aghat and Satah Se Udta Aadmi. Gopi was a film director and producer as well. Gopi was paralyzed by a stroke in 1986, at the peak of his career. His Yamanam, about a physically handicapped person, was awarded Best Film on social issues by the National Award Jury in 1991. He was an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until his death. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991. The recipient of several regional, national and international awards, he also wrote "Abhinayam Anubhvam", for which he got the National Award for the best book on cinema. On 24 January 2008, Gopi was hospitalized with chest pains. He died five days later following a cardiac arrest. His major role of the 2000s decade was in K. P. Kumaran's Aakasha Gopuram, starring Mohanlal which was released in 2008.

International Awards
Special Jury Award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Tokyo (1985)
A five-film retrospective of his films was held in Paris, France by the Government of France (1985); the only other Indian actors to be awarded this honour are Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Amitabh Bachchan.

National Awards
Best Actor - Kodiyettam - 1977
Best Film on Social Issues - Yamanam - 1991
Best Book on Cinema - Abhinayam Anubhavam - 1995
Padma Shri - 1991
V. Shantaram Award for Best Film - Padheyam - 1991 (as producer)

State awards
Best Actor - Kodiyettam - 1977
Best Actor - Ormakkayi - 1982
Best Actor - Ente Mamattukutti Ammakku, Eenam, Ettillam, Kattaththe Kilikoodu - 1983
Best Actor - Chidambaram - 1985

Regional awards
Four Filmfare awards
Four critics awards
Two Gulf Malayali association awards

Prepared by: Dr. Susie Pazhavarical