Its 25th death anniversary of Prem Nazir. I fondly remember watching Nazir’s trademark “dishum-dishum” movies during my childhood in leaky “ola-pera” (coconut palm thatched countryside theatres). The first class having just about 3-4 rows of wooden seats while the larger chunk of the theatre would be taken by the second class (plain benches) and third class “thara” (seating on sand-spread ground).

I will never forget – Ithikkara Pakki, Velayani Paramu, Tholkkan enikku manasilla, Pattabhishekham, Thuruppu gulan, Vaaleduthavan vaalal, Chandrahaasam, Pitchathi kuttappan (superb titles, these ). Then the “thacholi” movies – Thumbolarcha, Tacholi marumakan chandu, Arakallan Mukkakallan, Tacholi Ambu, Pallattu Kunjikannan, Mamangam, Kannappan unni, Angathattu and Padayottam.

The intense anticipation, the sheer thrill and joy of watching his movies those days is beyond description. When Nazir first appears on the screen, the men instinctively clap and the women take a collective gasp.

I remember seeing tearjerkers like Ayodhya, Babu mon, Aval or devalayam, Kudumbam namakku sreekovil, Ayiram janmangal, Mini mol. The silence punctuated by muffled sobs all around.

Nazir-Jayan combo was yet another era - Panchami, Theekali, Thadavara, Nayattu, Sanchari (which also has Mohanlal), Randu Lokam, Sarpam and many more thrillers.

It is only much later that I got to see his black&white gems like CID Nazeer, Valavil thirivu sookshikkuka, Danger biscuit, Lottery ticket, Lanka Dhahanam, Marunattil malayali, Cochin Express, Pearl View…

And virtual classics like - Gandharva Shethram, Odayil ninnu, Kavyamela, Thulabaram, Thokkukal katha parayunnu, Punnapra vayalar, Ningal ennae communist aaki…

I guess, he more than fulfilled the requirements placed on him by his directors. The very fact that he acted in over 300 movies in the leading role - most of which were super hits like no other Malayalam movies hence (comparatively speaking) stands testimony to his charisma.

Some of his films I loved most were - Panitheeratha Vedu directed by K.S. Sethumadhavan, Kallichellamma directed by P. Bhaskaran, Odeyil Ninnu directed by K.S. Sethumadhavan, Ozhivukaalam directed by Bharathan, Prem Nazirine Kanumanilla directed by Lenin Rajendran, Charam directed by P.A.Backer, Kariyam Nissaram directed by Balachandra Menon – in which all Nazir gave rather restrained performances, forgoing his iconic mannerisms. And of course the romantic-sad Nadhi by Vincent.

Could I easily have seen 150 to 200 Nazir movies, like most Malayalees Just count and see how many you have!