Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad (26 December 1946 3 November 2003) was an Indian actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikkara in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. Appreciated for his body language and performance by the audience and critics, he is known for portraying character roles and villain characters in Malayalam films.

Personal life

He studied at N. S. S. College, Pandalam, for Pre-University and for his degree (in Mathematics). He moved to Institute of English, University of Kerala for his post-graduation in English Language and Literature. A voracious reader in Malayalam and English, Narendra Prasad distinguished himself as a potential man of letters even as a degree student. He used to take part in the Malayalam and English literary discussions, debates and competitions organised at the college and university levels, and won prizes. His play Souparnika won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985. Narendra Prasad started his career as a college teacher; he joined Bishop Moore College in 1967 as lecturer in English. He got into government service in 1968, and worked as lecturer at Government Victoria College, Palakkad, and Govt. Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, and as Professor at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1989 while working as Professor of English at University College, he was selected for the post of Director, School of Letters of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He continued in this post until his demise.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

Film

He earned recognition as an actor with his portrayal of semi-villainous characters. His hit films include Meleparambil Aanveedu,Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava,Thalastaanam, Utsavamelam, Paithrukam, Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Ekalavyan, Bharanakoodam, Yaadhavam, Aaram Thamburan, Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu, Njangal Santhushtaranu, Ustaad, Vazhunnor, One Man Show, and Susanna. He acted in over 150 films, winning the State Award for the 'Best Supporting Actor' for "Paithrukam."

Death

He died at PVS Hospital, Kozhikode on 3 November 2003, due to cardio-respiratory arrest. He had been admitted in Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam for apnea, caused by interstitial lung disease (ILD), a condition that caused disintegration of lungs. From there he was moved to PVS Hospital, where though he gained consciousness, he succumbed to the illness. He was aged 56 at the time of his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in Mavelikkara.

Filmography

As an actor

1980s

1990s

2000s

As a dubbing artist

Television

Towards the second half of the nineties he ventured into television. Shayama Prasad's tele-film Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal, was Prasad's first venture on the small screen

Documentary film