Kanakku Chembakarama Parameswara Chandrashekara Menon, better known by his screen name Sankaradi (14 July 1924 – 8 October 2001), was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artist, who had over 700 Malayalam films to his credit. He dominated the Malayalam film scene from the 1960s to the 1980s as a comedian along with Adoor Bhasi and Bahadoor. Later, he switched to character roles.
Early life He was born to Memana Parameswara Pillai and Chankaradiyil Thoppil Parambil Janaki Amma in 1924 at Cherai, Kochi, India. He had four siblings, Balan Menon, Sarojini, Lakshmikuty and Indira. Later on, he adopted the screen name 'Sankaradi' from the name of his matrilineal family name "Chankaradiyil" by discarding the "-yil" and changing "Chankaradi" to "Sankaradi".
Sankaradi passed intermediate from Maharajas College, Ernakulam. Before entering films, Sankaradi briefly dabbled in politics, journalism and theatre. He had earlier joined the Indian National Congress, but later became a cardholder of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI). However, he handed in his party card after the CPI split in 1964 and turned to theatre.
Sankaradi joined the trade union movement at Baroda Railways while he was studying Marine engineering at Baroda. He abandoned his studies to pursue a job as a journalist in The Literary Review, a newspaper based in Mumbai.
Film career A stint in theatre in the mid-1960s in Kerala prepared Sankaradi for his foray into films. After his debut in Kunchacko's Kadalamma, he remained an integral part of Malayalam cinema till his death.
In 1968, he acted in Viruthan Shanku, the first full-length comedy in Malayalam cinema, directed by P. Venu. Sankaradi won the state's best character artiste award in 1969–71. He holds the record for featuring in over 300 films with Prem Nazir.
Awards Kerala State Film Awards:
Second Best Actor - 1970 - Vazhve mayam, Ezhuthatha Kadha Second Best Actor - 1971 - Various Films
Personal life Sankaradi remained a bachelor for a long time till he married Sharada in the late 1980s; the couple had no children. He was known throughout his film career by his house name (Tharavadu) "Sankaradi". He died at his home in Cherai at 10 PM on 8 October 2001, aged 77. He was ailing for a while until his death. He was cremated with full state honours at the premises of his home the next day. Harikrishnans (1998), directed by Fazil, was his last film.
Filmography 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Thriveni Sankara Pilla Vazhve Mayam Neelakantappillai Nizhalattam Kumaran Rakthapushpam Pisharady Detective 909 Keralathil Nazhikakkallu Aa Chithrashalabham Parannotte Keshava Kurup Ezhuthatha Kadha Shanku Asan Abhayam Comrade Sankaran Bheekara Nimishangal Panikkar Lottery Ticket Velappan Priya Ambalapravu Dhamu Kakkathamburatti Kittuashan Aranazhika Neram Geevareeth 1971 Marunnattil Oru Malayali Sheshadri/Pathrose Vilakkyu Vaangiya Veena Sankara Pilla Poompatta Kelu Kaniyar Anadha Shilpangal Iyyer Oru Penninte Katha Manager Moonnupookkal Inqulab Zindabbad Neerkunnam Neelaambaran Bobanum Moliyum Mammad Sindooracheppu Sankaran Nair Anubhavangal Paalichakal Kochutty Lankadahanam Adiyodi Sumangali Aabhijathyam Vithukal Achuthan Nair P Bhaskaran Thapaswini Karakanakadal Philippose 1972 Omana Kunjumman Kochukoshi Maaya Velu Pilla Sambhavami Yuge Yuge Nagappan Nair Brahmachari Unnithan Punarjanmam Ashan Panimudakku George Baalyaprathijna Muthalali Chembarathi Manager Aadhyathe Katha Appu Pilla Theerthayathra Krishnan Ashan Sathi Aaradimanninte Janmi Sankara Kuruppu Nrithasala Sekhara/Durodana Panikkar Miss Mary Keshava Pilla Naadan Premam Gopalan Anweshanam Kandavarundo Kuttappan Mayiladumkunnu Outha Lakshyam Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku 1973 Mazhakaaru Krishnanda Swami Sasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu Kottu Kurup Raakuyil Thottavadi Kuttan Nair Madhavikutty Veendum Prabhatham Sarigama Kurup Nirmalyam Ravunni Nair Kaliyugam Interview Govinda Pilla Enippadikal Achani Banker Menon Azhakulla Saleena Agausthi Aashachakram Ramu Udayam Raman Pilla Manassu Football Champion Ramakrishna Pilla Ragging Pachanottukal Chukku Kammath Chenda Thaniniram Vaidyan Periyar Gayathri Darsanam Devi Ajnathavasam Kochuraman Chayam Divyadharsanam Kunju Kuttan Angathattu Kochukuruppu Nakhangal Achuthan Nair 1974 Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi Pachu Pilla Vrindavam Rahasyarathri Sankara Pilla Pattabhishekam Pothuval Pancha Thanthram Kuruppu Kanyakumari North Indian businessman Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum Night Duty Kuttan Pilla Nathoon Neelakannukal Mathew Sakhavu Thacholi Marumakan Chandu Kannoth Moothor Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree Panikker Ayalathe Sundari Kuttan Nair Manyasree Viswamithran Vakkeel College Girl Parakulam Raman Nair Poonthenaruvi Issac Chandrakantham Sreesankara Pilla Oru Pidi Ari Honeymoon Rajahamsam Radha's father Sapthaswaragal Kunju Panikkar Alakal Aswathy Nellu Damodhara Warrier Chattakkari Mr. Warrier 1975 Pravaham Damodhara Menon Kaamam Krodham Moham Sammanam Abhimaanam Damodharan Nair Chuvanna Sandhyakal Akkaldaama Hello Darling Pachu Pilla Ayodhya Sarasamma Kalyaanappanthal Raasaleela Aaranya Kandam Chandanachola Love Letter Love Marriage Major Nair Utsavam Sankaran Madhurappathinezhu Raagam Dharmapalan Makkal Babumon Pathiru Menon Cheenavala Konthi 1976 Kamadhenu Menon Priyamvada Paalkkadal Mesthiri Sindhooram Nee Ente Lahari Amba Ambika Ambalika Fishermen's King Anubhavam Press owner Chennaaya Valarthiya Kutty Appooppan Sankaran Menon Ayalkkaari Suku's Uncle Manimuzhakkam Mohiniyaattam Aruthu Chirikkudukka Keshavan Nair Light House Raghavan Pilla Surveykkallu Samasya Prasaadam Gopala Pilla Kanyaadaanam Pick Pocket Krishna Kurup Muthu Ponni Nanjan Ajayanum Vijayanum Pilla Amrithavaahini Madhava Kuruppu Swimming Pool Agni Pushpam Missi Udyaanalakshmi Ammini Ammaavan Ranger Paramupilla Theekkanal Panchami Yohannan 1977 Thaalappoli Anjali Yatheem Khader Haji Nurayum Pathayum Veedu Oru Swargam Agninakshathram Makam Piranna Manka Amme Anupame Madhura Swapanam Yudhakandam Sneha Yamuna Jagadguru Aadisankaran Moorkkathu Namboothiri Guruvayur Kesavan Komunni Nair Varadakshina Panchamrutham Avarachan Samudram Gopalan Nair Vezhambal Oonjaal Thirumeni Lakshmi Madhavan Thamphi Rathimanmadhan Kuruppu Kaduvaye Pidicha Kiduva Vishukkani Prabhakaran Pillai Niraparayum Nilavilakkum Ormakal Marikkumo Chandrasekharan's uncle Innale Innu Nanu Nair Minimol Aaraadhana Sreedevi P. K. Menon Chathurvedam Satyavan Savithri Rajaguru Sakhakkale Munnoottu Hridayame Sakshi Kurup Manassoru Mayil Ammaayi Amma Itha Ivide Vare Sivaraman Nair 1978 Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Swaminathan Aniyara Uthrada Rathri Vishwaroopam Mudramothiram Swami Eeta Annamma's father Prarthana Kanyaka Madanolsavam D'Cruz Agni Sathrusamhaaram Manoradham Adimakkachavadam Varkey Muthalali Tharoo Oru Janmam Koodi Anumodhanam Nakshathrangale Kaaval Nivedyam Kuruppu Avalude Ravukal Damodaran Njaan Njaan Maathram Snehikkan Samayamilla Aarum Anyaralla Naanu Pilla Avakaasham Premashilpi Raghuvamsham Aval Viswasthayayirunnu Thomachan Rajan Paranja Kadha Adavukal Pathinettu Shekharan Kutty's father Snehikkan Oru Pennu Yagaswam Govinda Marar Asthamayam Swami Ninakku Njaanum Enikku Neeyum Kurup Vadakakku Oru Hridayam Iniyum Puzhayozhukum Kurupu Ithaa Oru Manushyan Krishnan Potti Bandhanam Achumman Randilonnu Kuttappan 1979 Agni Vyooham Shekharan Pilla Kathirmandapam Thuramukham Vasu Mesthiri Shudhikalasham Vikraman Kartha Oru Raagam Pala Thaalam Aarattu Vareethu Neeyo Njaano Govindaswami Gounder Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Aboobakkar's father Kaalam Kaathu Ninnilla Ivide Kattinu Sugandam Sreedharan Anubhavangale Nanni Jimmy Paulose Radha Enna Pennkutti Ente Neelakaasham Raghava Panikker Rakthamillatha Manushyan Appayya/Mathai College Beauty Oolkatal Fr. Chenadan Angakkuri Ramachandhran's uncle Vellayani Paramu Swamikal Ezhunirangal Narendran Choola Prabhaathasandhya Thirumeni Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Sankaran Nair Puthiya Velicham Panikkar
1980s