Bharath Gopi

Gopynathan Velayudhan Nair, better known by his stage name, Bharath Gopi, is a well-known film actor, producer and director. One of the earliest actors to be associated with Kerala’s New Wave cinema movement during the 1970s, he is credited with infusing a new energy into Malayalam cinema. With an acting style that was influenced by new idioms and awareness of cinema movements the world over, he was a natural choice of filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mani Kaul, and Govind Nihalani. Bharath Gopi went on to win several awards in the course of his career including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Sankarankutty in Kodiyettam (1977). His other well-known roles include Aiyappan in Yavanika (1982), Vasu Menon in Palangal (1981), Nandagopal in Ormakkayi (1982), Prof. ‘Shakespeare’ Krishna Pillai in Kattathe Kilikoodu (1983), DushasanaKurup in Panchavadi Palam (1984), Mammachan in Adaminte Vaariyellu (1984), Shankaran in Chidambaram (1985), and Krishnan Raju in Aghaat (1985).Besides acting he is known for directing films like Ulsavapittennu (1989) and Yamanam (1991), also producing Padheyam (1993) directed by Bharathan. Honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri for his contributions towards the arts in 1991, also won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema for his book Abhinayam Anubhavam.

Born on 8 November, 1937 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, he was the youngest of four children born to Kochuveetil Velayudhan Pillai and Parvathyamma. Completing his BSc. degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram, he found employment as a Lower Division Clerk in the Kerala Electricity Board. However, his interest in theatre saw him begin his acting career at Prasadhana Little Theatres under G. Sankara Pillai. His first appearance on stage saw him play the role of Raaghavan in the play Abhayarthikal.Under Kaavalam Narayana Panicker, he went on to become associated with Thiruvarange. As his interest in theatre flourished, he went on to write five plays and direct three. Becoming interested in cinema through the Adoor Gopalakrishnan-founded Chitralekha Film Society, he made his film debut with a small role in Adoor’s Swayamvaram (1972). He went on to deliver a National Award-winning performance in Kodiyettam (1977). His performances in a slew of Malayalam films including Ormakkayi (1982), Yavanika (1982), Panchavadi Palam (1984) and Adaminte Vaariyellu (1983) saw him winning appreciation.

Developing his own unique style of acting, his rustic and earthy performances in a host of films including Kodiyettam (1977), Palangal (1981), Kattathe Kilikoodu (1983), Panchavadippalam (1984), and Chidambaram (1985), saw him mark himself out as an actor known for his variety and intensity. It is no wonder that he worked with some of the most gifted filmmakers of the period like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Govindan Aravindan, K G George, Bharathan, and P Padmarajan in Malayalam, as well as Mani Kaul and Govind Nihalani in Hindi cinema. Known to be exceedingly choosy about his roles, he never held back once he was committed to a film, thus managing to redefine the typical image of the male hero in Malayalam cinema.

Bharath Gopi also acted in two Hindi films—Mani Kaul’s Satah Se Uthata Aadmi (1980), and Aaghat (1985) directed by Govind Nihalani. 

While his acting career was put on pause due to a paralytic stroke suffered at the zenith of his career on 20 February 1986, he overcame his physical disability to a large extent, going on to direct five films: Njattadi (1979), Dheivatheyorthu (1985), Ulsavapittennu (1989), Yamanam (1991), and Ente Hridhayathinte Utama (2002). These films were a far cry from a commercial fare, as he delivered a shocking ending in Ulsavapittennu, and explored unusual narratives about life around us in Njattadi. Yamanam, about a physically handicapped person, was adjudged the Best Film on social issues by the National Award Jury.

He also authored two books—Abhinayam Anubhavam (Acting, Experience) which bagged the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema, and Nataka Niyogam, on drama which won the Kerala State Drama Awards for Best Book on Drama. Awarded the Padma Shri honour in 1991, he passed away on 29 January, 2008, his last film being Balachandra Menon's De Ingottu Nokkiye (2008).

Married to Jayalakshmy S. V, the couple had a son, writer-actor Murali Gopy, and a daughter, Dr Minu Gopy.