Prem Nazir’s first heroine Neyyattinkara Komalam passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Neyyattinkara Komalam (Komala Menon), an early Malayalam actress and Prem Nazir’s first heroine, passed away at 98 on Thursday.

In 1952, she acted as Prem Nazir's first heroine in the film ‘Marumakal’. In 1955, she played a notable role in ‘Newspaper Boy’, directed by P Ramadas, the first neorealistic film in Malayalam.

She was the daughter of Pankajaksha Menon and Kunjiamma of Ravimandiram at Vazhuthur. Her husband was late M Chandrasekhara Menon.

The funeral will take place on Friday at 12.30 pm in the courtyard of her house in Vazhuthur.

Final tribute to 'heroine of lost dreams'  

  
As the golden jubilee celebrations of ‘Newspaper Boy’ are being held, half a century has passed since Neyyattinkara Komalam, who acted in the movie, bid farewell to acting. Just like P K Rosy in ‘Vigathakumaran’, Devaki Bhai in ‘Marthandavarma’, M K Kamalam in ‘Balan’, Miss Kumari in ‘Nallathanga’, and B S Saroja in ‘Jeevitha Nauka’, Neyyattinkara Komalam is among the actresses who faded into the curtains of time without securing the rightful place in history. She was the last in that line of actresses.

With the demise of Neyyattinkara Komalam, a chapter of old Malayalam cinema fades away. Neyyattinkara Komalam, who entered the film industry in the 1950s as a heroine, rose to fame when she acted as the leading lady opposite Chirayinkeezhu Abdul Khader in ‘Marumakal’. Later, she earned the distinction of being Prem Nazir’s first heroine. When she acted in P Ramadas's ‘Newspaper Boy’, she also became recognised as the heroine of Malayalam’s first neorealistic film.

Komalam had a few opportunities to watch films in those days. Her brother-in-law Kochalam Krishnan Nair was the manager of Neyyattinkara Sreekrishna Talkies. Komalam and her family used to visit the theatre to watch films, and it was during one such visit that Kunchacko, the owner of Neela Pictures, who was then looking for a heroine for ‘Nallathanga’, noticed her. After seeing her in the theatre, he considered casting her in the film. Komalam and her family visited Udaya Studio for a makeup trial, but due to opposition from relatives, she had to decline the offer.

However, another opportunity soon came through her brother-in-law, and she was cast in ‘Vanamala’, directed by Viswanathan. The film was shot at Pechippara. Komalam played the role of Mala, the daughter of a landlord, opposite P A Thomas, with S P Pillai also featuring in the cast. In 1952, she acted in ‘Aathmashanthi’, which starred Vanchiyoor Madhavan Nair, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, S P Pillai and Aranmula Ponnamma. After ‘Marumakal’, she acted in ‘Sandehi’ in 1954, a film produced and directed by S Nagoor in four languages, including Malayalam and Tamil. In her fifth film, ‘Newspaper Boy’, she portrayed the character of Kalyani Amma. Komalam played the lead female role in the film, written by Nagavalli R S Kurup.

Though great achievements did not come her way in life, she always held the presence of an actress in her memories.