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{{Short description|Indian actor (1922–1986)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair
| image = Kottarakkaraactor.png
| caption =
| birthname = N. Sreedharan Nair
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1922|9|11}}
| birth_place = [[Kottarakkara]], [[Quilon]], [[Travancore]] (present-day [[Kollam]], [[Kerala]]) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, the actor who immortalised historical figures on screen |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/09/12/kottarakkara-sreedharan-nair-birth-anniversary-malayalam.amp.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1986|10|19|1922|9|11}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| years active = 1950–1986
| spouse = Vijayalakshmi Amma
| children = 8, including [[Shobha Mohan]] and [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]]
| parents = Narayana Pillai<br /> Ummini Amma <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, the actor who immortalised historical figures on screen |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/09/12/kottarakkara-sreedharan-nair-birth-anniversary-malayalam.amp.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref>
}}

{{family name hatnote|Kottarakkara|Sreedharan Nair|Indian name|lang=Toponymic}}'''N. Sreedharan Nair''' (11 September 1922 – 19 October 1986<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.citwf.com/person315371.htm|title=KOTTARAKKARA SRIDHARAN NAIR: Film / Movie Information|website=www.citwf.com}}</ref>), popularly known as ''' Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair''' or just '''Kottarakkara''', was an Indian actor, born as the son of Narayana [[Pillai (Kerala title)|Pillai]] and Ummini Amma in [[Kollam district]], Kerala.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://cinidiary.com/peopleinfo.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=3&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=K|title=CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal|website=cinidiary.com|access-date=15 January 2011|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708155527/http://cinidiary.com/peopleinfo.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=3&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=K|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> He appeared in [[Malayalam]] movies. He is regarded as one of the original actors of all time in Malayalam movies.

Sreedharan Nair won two [[Kerala state film award]]s. In 1970, he won the best actor award and in 1969 the second best actor award.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.webdunia.com/article/celebrity-profile-in-malayalam/കൊട്ടാരക്കര-അഭിനയത്തിന്‍റെ-കരുത്ത്-107101900043_1.htm|title=കൊട്ടാരക്കര :അഭിനയത്തിന്‍റെ കരുത്ത്|website=malayalam.webdunia.com}}</ref>

He is best remembered for his role as ''Chempankunju'' in the [[National Film Awards|national award]] winning film ''[[Chemmeen]]'' directed by [[Ramu Kariat]]. Other impressive performances were in the films ''Veluthampi Dalava'' (as [[Velu Thampi Dalava|Veluthampi Dalava]]), ''Thommante Makkal'' (1965) as Thomman, and ''[[Pazhassi Raja (1964 film)|Pazhassi Raja]]'' (1964) as [[Pazhassi Raja]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/PAZHASSI-RAJA-1964/article16368176.ece|title=PAZHASSI RAJA 1964|newspaper=The Hindu |date=14 December 2009|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> ''[[Viruthan Shanku]]'' (1968) by [[P. Venu]]. Sreedharan Nair is also known for playing the role of devil magician in the 1984 fantasy film [[My Dear Kuttichathan]]. Popular Malayalam actor [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Saikumar]] is his son.<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==
Sreedharan Nair was born in 1922 to Padinjattinkara Korattiyode Narayana Pillai and Ummini Amma.<ref name="auto"/> He had his primary education from Eswara vilasam higher secondary school. He started acting in dramas at the age of 10. He owned drama troupes ''Jayasree'' and ''Kalamandiram''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cinidiary.com/people.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=26&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=|title=CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal|website=cinidiary.com}}</ref>

He was known to be a very outspoken, stubborn man with a short temper. Once, he walked out of the set of ''[[Ara Nazhika Neram]]'' due to some disputes. He did not allow anyone seeking compromise to open the gate and enter into his house compound to discuss with him. When everyone was afraid to talk to him, someone suggested that actor [[Sathyan (Malayalam actor)|Sathyan]] should approach Sreedharan Nair to resolve the issue. After talking with Sathyan, Sreedharan Nair set aside the disputes & agreed to act in the movie.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

Sreedharan Nair married Vijayalakshmi Amma. They had eight children, Jaysree, Geetha, Laila, [[Shobha Mohan|Shobha]], Kala, [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]], Beena, and Shaila. His son [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]], daughters [[Shobha Mohan]], [[Sylaja]] his son-in-law Mohan Kumar, his grandchildren Anil Pappan, [[Vinu Mohan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-vinu-mohan/20101116.htm|title=Rubbing shoulders with Dimple, Amar Singh|website=Rediff}}</ref> [[Anu Mohan (Malayalam actor)|Anu Mohan]], [[Vaishnavi Saikumar]] and his great-grandson Kailasveswar S Nair are all film/TV actors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, the actor who immortalised historical figures on screen |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/09/12/kottarakkara-sreedharan-nair-birth-anniversary-malayalam.amp.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref>

==Awards==

* 1970 [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor]] -[[Ara Nazhika Neram]]
* 1969 [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor]] – [[Koottukudumbam]]

==Filmography==

===Malayalam===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1950 || ''[[Prasanna (film)|Prasanna]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Sasidharan]]'' || Rajasekharan ||
|-
| ''[[Chechi (film)|Chechi]]'' || ||
|-
| 1951 || ''[[Yachakan]]'' || ||
|-
| 1952 || ''[[Aathmasanthi]]'' || ||
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Lokaneethi]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1954 || ''[[Snehaseema]]'' || Dr. Baby ||
|-
| ''[[Kidappadam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Manasakshi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Avan Varunnu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Avakashi]]'' || Prathapan ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1955 || ''[[Aniyathi (film)|Aniyathi]]'' || Pachu Kurup ||
|-
| ''[[Kalam Marunnu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[C.I.D. (1955 film)|C.I.D.]]'' || Vallabhan ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1956 || ''[[Manthravadi]]'' || Mahedran ||
|-
| ''[[Aathmaarpanam]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1957 || ''[[Jailppulli]]'' || Madhu ||
|-
| ''[[Padatha Painkili]]'' || Vendor Kutti ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1958 || ''[[Thaskaraveeran (1957 film)|Thaskaraveeran]]'' || Vijayan ||
|-
| ''[[Randidangazhi (film)|Randidangazhi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Mariakutty]]'' || Kora ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1959 || ''[[Minnalppadayaali]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Nadodikal'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1960 || ''Sthree Hridayam'' || ||
|-
| ''Poothali'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1961 || ''Shri Sabarimalai Shri Ayaappan'' || ||
|-
| ''Umminithanka'' || Marthanda Varma ||
|-
| ''Bhakta Kuchela'' || Sisupala ||
|-
| ''[[Christmas Rathri]]'' || Valyedathu Vareechan ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1962 || ''[[Laila Majnu (1962 film)|Laila Majnu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Snehadeepam]]'' || Sankar ||
|-
| ''[[Bhagyajathakam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Sreekovil (film)|Sreekovil]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi]]'' || Johnson ||
|-
| ''[[Sreerama Pattabhishekam]]'' || [[Ravana|Ravanan]] ||
|-
| ''[[Veluthambi Dalawa (film)|Veluthambi Dalawa]]'' || [[Velu Thampi Dalawa|Veluthambi Dalawa]] ||
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1963 || ''[[Kadalamma]]'' || Jayarajan ||
|-
| ''[[Snapaka Yohannan]]'' || Naman ||
|-
| ''[[Sathyabhama (1963 film)|Sathyabhama]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Rebecca (1963 film)|Rebecca]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Nithyakanyaka]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1964 || ''Devalayam'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Anna (1964 film)|Anna]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Althaara]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Pazhassi Raja (1964 film)|Pazhassi Raja]]'' || Pazhassi Raja ||
|-
| rowspan=10 | 1965 || ''[[Sarpakadu]]'' || Temple Priest ||
|-
| ''[[Mayavi (1965 film)|Mayavi]]'' || Prathapan ||
|-
| ''[[Kattuthulasi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Pattuthoovaala]]'' || Francis ||
|-
| ''[[Shyamala Chechi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Thommante Makkal]]'' || Thomachan ||
|-
| ''[[Chemmeen]]'' || Chembankunju ||
|-
| ''[[Shakuntala (1965 film)|Shakuntala]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Inapraavugal]]'' || Kuncheria ||
|-
| ''[[Kalyana Photo]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=10 | 1966 || ''Jail'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Mayor Nair]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kanmanikal]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Anarkali (1966 film)|Anarkali]]'' || [[Man Singh I|Mana Singhan]] ||
|-
| ''[[Koottukar (1966 film)|Koottukar]]'' || Mammootty ||
|-
| ''[[Kalyana Rathriyil]]'' || KB Nair ||
|-
| ''Pennmakkal'' || ||
|-
| ''Thilottama'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kunjali Marakkar (film)|Kunjali Marakkar]]'' || Kunjali Marakkar ||
|-
| ''Rowdy'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=10 | 1967 || ''[[Collector Malathy]]'' || Thirumeni ||
|-
| ''[[Jeevikkan Anuvadikku]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Lady Doctor]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Cochin Express]]'' || Gangster ||
|-
| ''[[Mynatharuvi Kolakase]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Balyakalasakhi (1967 film)|Balyakalasakhi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Pooja (1967 film)|Pooja]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kasavuthattam]]'' || Abdukarim Musaliar ||
|-
| ''[[Kottayam Kolacase]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Ollathumathi]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1968 || ''[[Hotel High Range]]'' || Dhanesh ||
|-
| ''[[Midumidukki]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kodungallooramma]]'' || Pandya Rajavu ||
|-
| ''[[Thirichadi]]'' || Venu's father ||
|-
| ''[[Viruthan Shanku]]'' || Ukkannanunni Nair ||
|-
| ''[[Adhyapika]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Punnapra Vayalar]]'' || Neelakandan ||
|-
| rowspan=8 | 1969 || ''[[Jwala (1969 film)|Jwala]]'' || Kunjomana's father ||
|-
| ''[[Janmabhoomi (1969 film)|Janmabhoomi]]'' || Mathai ||
|-
| ''[[Koottukudumbam]]'' || Ilanjikkal Rama Kurup ||
|-
| ''[[Nurse (film)|Nurse]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Vilakuranja Manushyan]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Aalmaram]]'' || Kesava Pillai ||
|-
| ''[[Soosi]]'' || Chacko Sir ||
|-
| ''[[Kumara Sambhavam]]'' || [[Daksha|Dakshan]] ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1970 || ''[[Detective 909 Keralathil]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Cross Belt (film)|Cross Belt]]'' || D.Y.S.P. ||
|-
| ''[[Kakkathamburatti]]'' || Kunju Panikkan ||
|-
| ''[[Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kurukshethram (1970 film)|Kurukshethram]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Aranazhika Neram|Aranazhikaneram]]'' || Kunjenachan ||
|-
| ''[[Pearl View]]'' || Mariyan ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1971 || ''[[Gangasangamam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Makane Ninakku Vendi]]'' || Mathachan ||
|-
| ''[[Jalakanyaka (film)|Jalakanyaka]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Puthenveedu]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=9 | 1972 || ''[[Pulliman (1972 film)|Pulliman]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Panimudakku]]'' || Sethuraman ||
|-
| ''Chhayam'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Ananthasayanam (1972 film)|Ananthasayanam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Professor (1972 film)|Professor]]'' || Vasumathi's Father ||
|-
| ''[[Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972 film)|Sree Guruvayoorappan]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Chembarathi]]'' || Sankaran ||
|-
| ''[[Thottilla]]'' || Karamachandran ||
|-
| ''[[Achanum Bappayum]]'' || Krishnan ||
|-
| rowspan= 19 | 1973 || ''[[Mazhakaaru]]'' || Panikkar ||
|-
| ''[[Dharmayudham]]'' || Puthumadam KR Iyyer ||
|-
| ''Driksakshi'' || Menon ||
|-
| ''[[Swargaputhri]]'' || Thomachan ||
|-
| ''[[Achani]]'' || Raghavan Muthalali ||
|-
| ''[[Swapnam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Nirmalyam]]'' || Variyar ||
|-
| ''[[Yamini (film)|Yamini]]'' || Indira's Father ||
|-
| ''[[Padmavyooham (1973 film)|Padmavyooham]]'' || Ummachan ||
|-
| ''[[Checkpost (film)|Checkpost]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Pacha Nottukal]]'' || Rappael ||
|-
| ''[[Chenda (film)|Chenda]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Enippadikal (film)|Enippadikal]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Thottavadi]]'' || Vaasu Pilla ||
|-
| ''[[Darsanam]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Chuzhi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kaadu (1973 Malayalam film)|Kaadu]]'' || Menon ||
|-
| ''[[Thekkan Kattu]]'' || Chacko Vakeel ||
|-
| ''[[Gayathri (1973 film)|Gayathri]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1974 || ''Athidhi'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Devi Kanyakumari (film)|Devi Kanyakumari]]'' || Padmavathi's husband ||
|-
| ''Chanchala'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Nellu (1974 film)|Nellu]]'' || Chundeli ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1975 || ''[[Prayanam (1975 film)|Prayanam]]'' || Bharathan ||
|-
| ''[[Akkaldaama]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kaamam Krodham Moham]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1976 || ''[[Panchami (film)|Panchami]]'' || Rangan Mooppan ||
|-
| ''[[Amba Ambika Ambalika]]'' || [[Parashurama|Parashuraman]] ||
|-
| ''Colonel And Collector'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Paalkkadal]]'' || PN Menon ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1977 || ''[[Vezhambal]]'' || Stanley Jose ||
|-
| ''[[Sreemurukan]]'' || Nambi Rajavu ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1978 || ''[[Priyadarshini (film)|Priyadarshini]]'' || Peruvarum Chandrasekhar ||
|-
| ''[[Paadasaram]]'' || Poomangalathu Unnithan ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1979 || ''[[Neeyo Njaano]]'' || Maayyandi ||
|-
| ''[[Radha Enna Pennkutti]]'' || Radha's father ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1980 || ''Vedikettu'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kadalkkaattu]]'' || Fernandez ||
|-
| ''[[Raagam Thaanam Pallavi]]'' || Marar ||
|-
| ''[[Kalika (film)|Kalika]]'' || Appachan ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1981 || Parvathy || Thampuran ||
|-
| ''[[Manassinte Theerthayathra]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1982 || ''[[Ithum Oru Jeevitham]]'' || Old man ||
|-
| ''[[Kazhumaram]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Snehapoorvam Meera'' || ||
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Purappadu (1983 film)|Purappadu]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1984 || ''Sabarimala Darshanam'' || ||
|-
| ''[[My Dear Kuttichathan]]'' || The Cruel Magician ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Dheivatheyorthu]]'' || ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Mizhineerppoovukal]]'' || Priest ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Chilambu]]'' || Grandfather ||
|-
|}

===Kannada===
* 1968 - [[Bangalore Mail]]

==See also==
*[[National Film Awards]]
*[[Kerala State Film Awards]]
*[[Chemmeen]]
*[[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0619758}}

{{Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Kottarakkara Sreedharan}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kollam]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]]

Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair - Revision history

WEMBruce20 at 03:34, 18 January 2026