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KP Ummer, Malayalam Cinema’s Handsome Villain, Began on Stage
KP Ummer was an actor from Kerala who became famous for playing villains in Malayalam movies.
When he was young, he wanted to play football, but he later became interested in acting.
He started on stage by playing a woman named Jameela.
He then acted in many plays and became well known in theatre.
His first movie came out in 1956, but he became more widely noticed through later films.
People often remember him for playing villains, though he also acted in leading, character and funny roles.
He worked in films for about four decades.
He died in 2001.
Born in Kozhikode district on October 11, 1930, Ummer first pursued football before turning to performing arts.
His theatre career began with the role of Jameela, a woman, in the play Aaranu Aparadhi.
He joined theatre groups including Brothers Club and Kerala People’s Arts Club, earning recognition for roles in several plays.
Ummer made his film debut in P Bhaskaran’s Rarichan Enna Pauran (1956); Murappennu (1965) and Nagarame Nanni (1967) raised his profile.
Known especially for villain roles, he also played leads, character parts and comic roles during a film career spanning about four decades; he died in 2001.
- Who
- KP Ummer, a Malayalam film and theatre actor.
- What
- A profile of his theatre beginnings, film career and reputation as a prominent villain.
- Where
- Kozhikode district, Kerala; his acting career was in Malayalam theatre and cinema.
- When
- He was born on October 11, 1930, made his film debut in 1956, and died on October 29, 2001.
- Why
- His distinctive performances, including his work as a stage actor and film villain, made him a celebrated figure in Malayalam cinema.
Key facts
- Born
- October 11, 1930, in Kozhikode district
- Parents
- Thazhatheyil Muhammed Koya and Kachinamthodukayil Puthiyapurayil Mariyambiwi
- First notable stage role
- Jameela in Aaranu Aparadhi
- Film debut
- Rarichan Enna Pauran (1956), directed by P Bhaskaran
- Career breakthrough
- Murappennu (1965); Nagarame Nanni (1967) further raised his profile
- Career span
- About four decades on screen, with a golden era from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s
- Died
- October 29, 2001
Quotes
KP Ummer
Malayalam actor describing his early theatre experience
“I come from a purely orthodox Muslim background. There, if they heard the word ‘art,’ they immediately drew their swords. The MSA Dramatic Association, a Muslim organisation in our area, needed a heroine for a play. Thus, I was chosen as the heroine. That’s how it began… The stage is my school. The stage is what conferred upon me the degree of acting richness.”
indianexpress.com
“It is because I was part of Malayalam cinema that I was able to become a villain and a character actor at the same time. Otherwise, if it were in the Tamil industry or somewhere else, regardless of talent, I would have had to spend my entire life portraying villain roles alone like MN Nambiar.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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