Thirty years have passed since Shanawas’s dad, the evergreen hero of Mollywood,
Prem Nazir, bid adieu to this world. However, the family members who are trying to put together their memories of the star in the form of a biography, say they never missed him even for a day. “We see him every day on television. We hear songs featuring him every day no matter where we are. We meet his friends as well. And when it comes to new-gen artistes, we see them mimicking him always. He is eternally alive in peoples’ hearts,” says son and actor Shanawas.
He remembers his dad as a soft spoken and simple man not very different from the like the persona we are used to seeing on screen. “However, he could be strict when needed but only to the members of his family. I was scared of my dad and greatly respected him. I was the only son but he never pampered me but used to guide me with love. He was more soft and lenient towards my three sisters. But once I joined a boarding school, he showed more affection," he reminisces.
Nazir, who holds a Guinness record for acting in nearly 900 films, used to virtually live in the studios, Shanawas says. “He came home very rarely and when we got him, we used to have great time together. He would then be just our dad and not the actor. Once he came, he would leave his work behind and never discuss cinema at home,” he says. “Since I was studying in an International school, majority of students didn't know that my dad was a great actor but a few Malayalis knew about it, so I used to enjoy the special attention.”
Prem Nazir and wife Habeeba Beevi Shanawas with children Shanawas, Rita, Razia and Laila The doting son mentions
Iruttinte Athmavu, Murapennu, Achani and
Padayottam as his favourite movies. “There are lots of songs from his films that I enjoy, and I like his action films more than romantic ones. I used to have an adrenaline rush when I used to see him on screen doing action scenes,” he says. “When I used to come home for vacations, dad used to take me for previews. He never used to go to movie houses to watch his films. So, my sisters and I had to always go with our uncles to watch his movies in the theatre.”
When Shanawas told his father about his wish to act in films, Nazir was hesitant about the idea. “I was plaining to do my higher studies in English literature after my graduation. That is when director Balachandra Menon approached me. When I told him about it, he told me that it wasn’t an easy profession though it would seem so from a distance,” he recollects. He was worried that his son wouldn’t be able to cope with the challenges that were part of the cinema world. “When I told him that I learned to be independent from my boarding school experience, he agreed but added that he would have preferred that I concentrated on my studies.”
When Shanawas made his debut in 1981 through
Premageethangal, Nazir was happy with the movie and comfortable about his son’s decision. "I became quite busy but somewhere along the way, I made some wrong choices which proved a setback to my career. However, I have acted in more than hundred films. He never told me anything about it as he believed in individualism. I think he trusted me well."
One thing Nazir was particular about was that his son never compromised on punctuality and that he always honoured his dates. And respected the director. The duo also acted together in many films. “Our first movie together was
Ivan Oru Simham. I was a bit nervous on the first day and sensing this, he came to me and told me to remain relaxed. He asked me to look at him as a character in the film and not as my dad. That made things easier,” he says.
Prem Nazir with his son Shanawas, his dad Shahul Hameed and his grand child Sajith Khan Nazir was a staunch supporter of the Congress party during his college days. “During the 80s, he started thinking of leaving films and expressed a wish to be in politics. He was an amazing orator and voracious reader and always updated himself with current affairs and social issues. He was also a philanthropist and helped the needy,” he remembers. Nazir was associated with the activities of the Sarkara temple at Chirayinkeezhu as he had many childhood associations with that
temple.
When Prem Nazir fell ill and was admitted to the hospital, Shanawas was busy shooting. “I went to the hospital and in two days he was discharged but he was not his former self. He had to be admitted to hospital again,” he recalls.
As part of nurturing his political innings, he went on a national tour. “His diet and health went haywire. He developed ulcer and while in the hospital for it, he also got infected with measles. We tried out best and even thought of taking him aboard for treatment. But we couldn’t because his health was fragile. We arranged for some medicines to be brought from London. But nothing could save him,” he concludes.
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