Malayalam actor Shanavas, son of legendary star Prem Nazir, passed away at the age of 71 in Thiruvananthapuram late Monday night.As reported by Manorama Online, he had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at a private hospital and breathed his last around midnight, a few hours after being admitted. Shanavas was living in a flat near Akashvani, Vazhuthacaud.
Carving a path of his own
Shanavas entered the film industry in 1981 with ‘Premageethangal’, directed by Balachandra Menon, while pursuing his MA in English Literature at New College, Chennai. He was then just a student with a famous surname, but over time, he carved out his own identity. Shanavas acted in 96 films across Malayalam and Tamil, with roles ranging from romantic leads to complex villains in a career spanning over four decades.
Some of his notable performances were in the films ‘Premageethangal’, ‘Mylanji’, ‘Mouna Raagam’ ‘Manithali’, ‘Gaanam’, Aazhi’, ‘Maharajavu’ ‘Himam’, ‘Chithram’, ‘Koritharicha Naal’ and many more. The film ‘China Town’ marked his comeback in 2011 after a long hiatus. The Mohanlal starrer ‘China Town’ turned out to be a superhit.Shanavas also shared screen space with his father Prem Nazir in seven films, starting with ‘Ivan Oru Simham’. In addition to his film roles, Shanavas appeared in several television serials. His passing marks not just the end of a career but the quiet fading of a link to Malayalam cinema’s golden era.His final film, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, starring Prithviraj, showed that his screen charisma remained undiminished. The thriller drama movie was directed by Dijo Jose Antony and was released in the year 2022.Educated in Chirayinkeezhu, Yercaud, and Chennai, Shanawas remained rooted in both academics and the arts. A calm, thoughtful personality off-screen, he was remembered by those who worked with him as humble and sincere.