Kollam Thulasi (L) has been there in film industry for the past 40 years.Veteran actor Kollam Thulasi is known mostly for his villain roles on screen. Though he may look a little rough, the 70-year-old actor has a cheerful side to his personality which he doesn’t reveal much. When asked whether he had received the recognition that he deserves, Thulasi replies in the negative. He, however, says that he is happy about what God has given him so far. “I began my career, 40 years ago, as a theatre artist. I was diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago and that drastically changed my attitude towards life,” says Thulasi.
Hospital days
It was during the usual medical checkup that the doctor noticed an unusual lump below Thulasi’s ears. Though the actor did not complaint of any pain, the biopsy report stated that it was lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. “I was not scared but I couldn’t believe that I had cancer. I tried to laugh it away by saying that the audience may have cursed me after seeing all my villain roles. I was determined I would destroy the disease that came to kill me. I returned to the movies after undergoing chemotherapy for 6 months. It was then I realised that I had become lonely in life. I was all alone while undergoing treatment. My relatives deserted me. Those who borrowed money from me couldn’t be found anymore, and the people from whom I had borrowed money started troubling me for their money. It was only actor Dileep who helped me from the film industry. He told, ‘Chetta, you just don’t bother about cancer’. He gave me a role in 'Sound Thoma' and gave me good remuneration as well,” Thulasi recalls his hospital days.
The theatre
Thulasi was born at Kanjaveli at Thrikaruva, Kollam. His father PS Nair, who was a Sanskrit scholar, taught him mythological plays. Thulasi’s uncles were theatre actors and also distributors of stage, curtain and mike set to professional drama troupes. The actor entered the movies after a stint as an artist in radio, amateur and professional plays, and a successful career on the mini screen.
‘Mukyamanthri’, which was released in 1979, was his debut movie. Thulasi, a government official at that time, took leave to act in the movies. He began his career in the government service as an LD clerk and retired in 2004 as a deputy secretary.
Prediction comes true
Thulasi has acted in almost 250 movies so far. He played the role of an SI in ace film aker Sreekumaran Thampi’s ‘Yuvajanotsavam’. The actor says, “After filming a scene, Thampi sir called me said, 'you are amazing…. You would do well'. Those words were one of the greatest awards in my life.”
Tamil foray
“Even though I got to play the role of minister in lots of movies, I am satisfied about it. In fact I got the chance to act as a panchayat member and even a central minister. I played the main antagonist in two Tamil movies, 'Arul' and 'Samurai', in which actor Vikram essayed the lead roles. It was Vikram who was interested in casting me in those films. The character ‘Kattithara Pappi’ in Lelam, for which I won the film critics’ award is definitely my favorite role,” says Kollam Thulasi.
Beyond acting
Thulasi is also a renowned writer and has published 12 books including many poems, short stories and snippets of jokes. He has dedicated his life to charity after recovering from cancer. The actor who is still active in the movies also works for the rehabilitation of cancer patients and orphans.
