{{short description|Indian film actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = P. J. Antony | image = pjantony.jpg | image_size = | caption = Antony in ''Nirmalyam'' | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date text|1 January 1925}}<ref>Uncertain, IMDB states 1923, www.pjantonyfoundation.com 1 January 1925.</ref> | birth_place = Eranakulam, Cochin State, British Raj (now Kerala, India) | death_date = {{Death date and age|14 March 1979|1 January 1925}}<ref>Uncertain, IMDB states 4 April www.pjantonyfoundation 14 March.</ref> | death_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | occupation = Soldier, Actor, Director, Script Writer, Lyricist, Novelist | years_active = 1958–1979 | spouse = Smt. Mary (1954–1979) (his death) | partner = | children = 2 | parents = | awards = National Film Award for Best Actor '''Kerala State Film Awards'''<br />1973 - ''Nirmalyam'' }}
'''P. J. Antony''' (1 January 1925 – 14 March 1979) was an Indian stage and film actor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/15/stories/2004031502010300.htm|title=P.J. Antony remembered|date=15 March 2004|website=The Hindu|access-date=13 February 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''Nirmalyam'' in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award.<ref>[http://pjantonyfoundation.org/aboutus.htm# Official website: About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727175108/http://pjantonyfoundation.org/aboutus.htm |date=27 July 2011 }}</ref> Antony was also a respected figure in the professional theatre field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malayalam.webdunia.com/entertainment/film/profile/0803/14/1080314063_1.htm|title=പി.ജെ.ആന്റണി - മഹാനടനും മനുഷ്യസ്നേഹിയും|date=14 March 2008|website=WebDunia|language=ml|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
He also established his own theatre, named Prathibha Theatres, in Kochi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/pj-antonys-socrates-today/article3163904.ece|title=P.J. Antony's 'Socrates' today|date=14 March 2006|website=The Hindu|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
==Biography== In his early 20s, Antony served in the Royal Navy during World War II. Post-war, he returned home and joined a workshop as an officer. It was in this period that Antony got a chance to work with professional theatre artists. Soon he established himself as a prominent figure in Malayalam plays with his skills in acting, writing and direction. He was directly associated with the K.P.A.C., a major political drama theater at that time. He later established two theaters of his own, namely P. J. Theatres and Prathibha Theatres (which is still active).{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}
Building on his expertise in stage plays, Antony began his film acting career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13634095&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Breaking News, Kerala news, latest news, India, Kerala politics, sports, movies, celebrities, lifestyle, E-paper, Photos & Videos |publisher=Manorama Online |access-date=2016-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011415/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13634095&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> His debut film was ''Randidangazhi'' (1957), a film adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's novel of the same title. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor (known then, in 1974, as the Bharath Award) for his performance as a ''velichappadu'' (an oracle or medium between the Goddess and the worshipper in a Hindu temple) in ''Nirmalyam'', directed by prominent literary figure M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Antony was the lyricist and screenwriter for a small number of films. He also directed a film titled ''Periyar''.<ref>[http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/atony.htm Weblokam profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050910072634/http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/atony.htm |date=10 September 2005 }}</ref>
In a historical drama, Amal Neerad's Iyobinte Pusthakam had the famous director Aashiq Abu playing the role of P. J. Antony, though in a guest appearance.
==Awards== '''National Film Awards:'''
*Best Actor - 1974 - ''Nirmalyam''
'''Kerala State Film Awards:'''
*Best Actor - 1973 - ''Nirmalyam''
'''Filmfare Awards South:'''
*Best Actor - 1974 - ''Nirmalyam''
==Filmography==
=== As actor ===
==== 1950s ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1958 || ''Randidangazhi'' || Koran || |- |}
==== 1960s ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1961 || ''Mudiyanaya Puthran'' || Vasu || |- | 1962 || ''Kalpadukal'' || || |- | rowspan=2 | 1963 || ''Ninamanija Kalpadukal'' || Thankamma's husband || |- | ''Ammaye Kaanaan'' || Sukumaran Nair || |- | rowspan=6 | 1964 || ''Kalanjukittiya Thankam'' || Kuttan Nair || |- | ''Oral Koodi Kallanayi'' || || |- | ''Ore Bhoomi Ore Raktham'' || || |- | ''Aadyakiranangal'' || Kariyachan || |- | ''Thacholi Othenan'' || Kathiroor Gurukkal || |- | ''Bhargavi Nilayam'' || Narayanan Nair (Nanukuttan) ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Makers release statement regarding Neelavelicham songs copyright claims |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/apr/02/opm-cinemas-releases-statement-regarding-neelavelicham-film-songs-copyright-claims-41830.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Cinema Express |date=2 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2 | 1965 || ''Rosie'' || || |- | ''Murappennu'' || Kunjikrishana Menon || |- | rowspan=2 | 1966 || ''Kunjali Marakkar'' || Zamorin's nephew || |- | ''Tharavattamma'' || Govinda Pilla || |- | rowspan=11 | 1967 || ''Balyakalasakhi'' || || |- | ''Ashwamedham '' || Keshavan Swamy || |- | ''Anweshichu Kandethiyilla'' || Unnunnichayan || |- | ''Kavalam Chundan'' || || |- | ''Sheelavathi'' || Athri Maharshi || |- | ''Iruttinte Athmavu'' || Gopalan Nair || |- | ''Kamuki'' || || |- | ''Pareeksha'' || Neelakanda Pilla || |- | ''Mulkireedam'' || || |- | ''Nagarame Nandi'' || Anandan Pillai || |- | ''Chekuthante Kotta'' || || |- | rowspan=5 | 1968 || ''Manaswini'' || || |- | ''Punnapra Vayalar'' || Kochu Naanu || |- | '' Kayalkkarayil'' || || |- | ''Lakshaprabhu'' || || |- | ''Asuravithu'' || Kunjarikkar || |- | rowspan=4 | 1969 || ''Veettumriam'' || || |- | ''Virunnukari'' || Raghava Menon || |- | ''Kattukurangu'' || Vasavan || |- | ''Nadhi'' || Mullakkal Varkey || |- |}
==== 1970s ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan=6 | 1970 || ''Dathuputhran'' || Maanichan || |- | ''Kurukshethram'' || || |- | ''Kakkathamburatti'' || Kochupaappu || |- | ''Cross Belt'' || Sekhara Panikkar || |- | ''Pearl View'' || Xavier || |- | ''Moodalmanju'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Jalakanyaka'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Manushyabandhangal'' || Sanku Pilla || |- | rowspan=4 | 1973 || ''Ragging'' || || |- | '' Dharmayudham'' || Naanu || |- | ''Periyar'' || || |- | ''Nirmalyam'' || Velichapad || |- | rowspan=2 | 1975 || ''Athithi'' || || |- | ''Odakkuzhal'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Nurayum Pathayum'' || || |- | 1978 || ''Paadasaram'' || Pulluvan || |- | rowspan=2 | 1979 || ''Choola'' || || |- | ''Manninte Maril'' || || |- |}
==== 2020s ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2022 || ''Bheeshma Parvam'' || Paily Anjoottikkaran (Paily Chettayi) (deceased) || Photo presence |- |}
===Director=== *''Periyar'' (1973)
===Screenwriter=== *''Sheelavathi'' (1968) * C.I.D. Nazir (1971) * Rosie (1965)
==Literary works== P. J. Antony has authored 30 short stories, 100 songs, 41 dramas, 2 autobiographies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/pj-antony-national-award-winner-actor-death-anniversary-40-years-nirmalyam-movie-bharat-award-1.3649761|title=ശവക്കല്ലറയില് രേഖപ്പെടുത്താനുള്ള വരികള് കുറിച്ചുവച്ചാണ് പി.ജെ ആന്റണി യാത്രയായത്|website=Mathrubhumi|date=15 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>
===Short stories=== *''Pukachurulukal'' *''Kalakavan'' *''Naludivasangal'' *''Ennayillaatha vilakku'' *''Chilampoli'' *''Thakarnna veena'' *''Aa moksham ningalkku venda''
===Novels=== *''Itha manushyan'' *''Orugramathinte Athmavu''
===Poems=== *''Prabhatha geetham''
===Song collections=== *''Onappattukal'' *''Thakarnna veena'' *''Prema sangheetham'' *''Keralam Unarunnu''
===Memories=== *''Ente nadaka smaranakal'' *''Natakame Ulakam''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=PJ%20Antony&limit=48 PJ Antony at MSI] *{{IMDb name|30973}}
{{FilmfareMalayalamBestActor}} {{NationalFilmAwardBestActor}} {{Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{authority control}} {{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Antony, P. J.}} Category:Best Actor National Film Award winners Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors from Kochi Category:1925 births Category:Kerala State Film Award winners Category:1979 deaths Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights Category:Indian male stage actors Category:Malayalam film directors Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:Writers from Kochi Category:Male actors in Malayalam theatre Category:Film directors from Kochi Category:20th-century Indian short story writers Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:20th-century Indian poets Category:Poets from Kerala Category:Indian lyricists Category:20th-century Indian memoirists Category:Malayalam screenwriters Category:Military personnel from Kerala Category:Screenwriters from Kochi Category:Novelists from Kerala Category:20th-century Indian male writers Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters