19 Facts About Jayan

Master Chief Petty Officer Krishnan Madhavan Nair, better known by his stage name Jayan, born as the son of Madhavan Pillai and Bharathiyamma in Kollam, was an Indian actor, naval officer, and stunt performer of the 1970s and 1980s.

Jayan starred in over 150 Malayalam films, primarily as an action star.

Jayan was born in Quilon, Travancore as the first child of his father Thevalli Kottaram Veetil Madhavan Pillai and mother Bharathiyamma.

Jayan was a member of the Indian Navy team to travelled to Great Britain in 1961 for taking India's first war ship INS Vikrant.

Jayan's first accolades for his acting skills reached him when he was a naval sailor.

Jayan served in the Indian Navy for 16 years, culminating in the rank of Master CPO.

Jayan made a few uncredited appearances in some films during the early 1970s.

Jayan got his first major break appearing as a villain in Panchami, playing a forest ranger.

Jayan appeared in the 1978 horror film Lisa, in a supporting role.

Jayan catapulted to fame riding on machismo roles that endeared him to the masses, and he established himself as one of the most popular Malayalam film actors of his time with superhit movies like Chaakara, Love in Singapore, Paalattu Kunjikkannan, Naayattu, Manushya Mrugam and Angadi the latter of which was the highest-grossing film of the year.

Jayan is generally regarded as the first action hero in Malayalam cinema.

Jayan was known for his unique method of dialogue delivery and he has contributed many memorable lines to the Malayalam film history.

Jayan acted in several ensemble cast movies, mostly with Prem Nazir.

Jayan acted with other popular actors of the time, such as Soman, Sukumaran and Madhu in many films.

Jayan had agreed to do this as a token of friendship with Jayan and the director Sreekumaran Thambi.

Jayan was performing a stunt that involved him boarding an airborne Bell 47 from a moving motorbike driven by Sukumaran.

Jayan's body was taken to Trivandrum via aeroplane and later it was taken to his home in Quilon, where he was cremated.

Jayan is perhaps the only actor thus far in the history of Malayalam film industry who remains a marketable superstar decades after his demise, to this day.

Jayan was a high-risk taker and throughout his career, he was popular for stellar performances in a fight and stunt sequences.