Cine actor Bharat Gopi passes away

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29: Veteran film actor Bharat Gopi died today at a private hospital here, where he was undergoing treatment for cardiac arrest. He was 71. A winner of the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1977 for ''Kodiyettam,'' Gopi complained of chest pain while participating in a film shoot at Krishnapuram Palace near Kayamkulam last week and was admitted to a local hospital.

Later, he was shifted to a hospital here for advance treatment. Born in 1937 at Chirayinkil in this district, his maiden movie was well-known director Adoor Gopalakrishnian's 'Swayamvaram' in 1972. Gopi was a director as well as producer and his real name was V Gopinathan Nair. He had also acted in two Hindi movies, ''Aghat'' and ''Satah se udta admi.'' His ''Yamanam'' was awarded Best Film on Social Issues by the National Award Jury in 1991. He was awarded the Padmasri in the same year. Gopi was paralysed following a stroke in 1986, at the peak of his career.

Recipient of several regional, national and international awards, the thespian wrote ''Abhinayam Anubhvam,'' for which he got the National Award for the 'best book' on cinema.

Known for his performances in films like Kodiyettam, Ormakkayi, Yavanika, Panchavadippalam, Aadaminte vaariyell, Peruvazhiyambalam, Kallan Pavitran, Sandhya mayangum neram, Kaattaththe kilikkooodu, Aaghat, Satah se udtha aadmi and Chidambaram, his last movie was ''De Ingottu Onnu Nokkiye,'' directed by Balachandra Menon.

UNI