Jayan
Master Chief Petty Officer Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, naval officer, and stunt performer of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films, primarily as an action star. In 2010 he was referred to as the first and most successful action hero of Malayalam cinema.
Jayan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 July 1939 |
| Died | 16 November 1980 (aged 41) |
| Cause of death | Helicopter Crash (while filming Kolilakkam) at Sholavaram, Chennai |
| Other names | Krishnan Nair (കൃഷ്ണൻ നായർ) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972 – 1980 |
| Height | 5.9” |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Ajayan alias Soman Nair (brother) Jayabharathi (cousin) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Service/ | Indian Navy |
| Years of service | 1954 – 1970 |
| Rank | Master Chief Petty Officer |
His superhero image became a cartoon, email, and SMS phenomenon in the early 2000s, portraying him as a comic superhero with unique quotes of superhuman strength attributed to the action star becoming widespread. These movements were fuelled by a renewed fascination with his style of dialogue delivery and his machismo image. These were claimed to honour his memories, but were also criticised for parodying the actor years after his death.