https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Thomas_BerlyThomas Berly - Revision history2026-11-15T20:05:18ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Berly&diff=541075&oldid=prevBharatpediatrist: adding new pg - done2026-02-12T03:14:20Z<p>adding new pg - done</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian actor (1932–2024)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Thomas Berly<br />
| birth_name = Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal<br />
| image = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|1|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Fort Kochi|Fort Cochin]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|16|1932|9|1|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = [[Ernakulam]], [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], India<br />
| occupation = Actor<br />
| spouse = Sophy<br />
| children = 3<br />
| parents = K. J. Burleigh, Annie<br />
| years_active = 1938–1984; 2015<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal''' (1 September 1932<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/mollywood-actor-thomas-burleigh-kurishingal-one-of-indias-earliest-exports-to-hollywood-dies-at-92/articleshow/116389627.cms|title=Mollywood actor Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal, one of India's earliest exports to Hollywood, dies at 92 - The Economic Times|website=m.economictimes.com}}</ref> – 16 December 2024), better known as '''Thomas Berly''', was an Indian actor, director, producer, script writer, music composer in [[Malayalam cinema]], and author in English.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/Thomas%20Berly-8823 |title=Thomas Berly:Profile and Biography, Malayalam Movie Director Thomas Berly latest Photo Gallery &#124; Video Gallery, Malayalam Movie Director Thomas Berly, Thomas Berly Filimography, Thomas Berly Films and Cinemas, Thomas Berly Awards and Nominations |access-date=14 August 2014 |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814194959/http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/Thomas%20Berly-8823 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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==Life and career==<br />
Berly was born at [[Fort Kochi|Fort Cochin]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] on 1 September 1932. His parents were Kurishingal K. J. Burleigh, an independence activist, and Annie Burleigh, a leader of the pre-independence era who led a [[Satyagraha movement in Goa|satyagraha]] against toddy shops in [[Fort Kochi|Fort Cochin]]. His debut movie was ''Thiramala'' in 1953 as a 21 year old perhaps becoming one of the youngest heroes in Malayalam film industry at that time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=S |first=Priyadershini |date=2022-09-04 |title=Malayalam cinema's 'youngest' hero turns 90 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/malayalam-cinemas-hero-turns-90/article65830177.ece |access-date=2022-09-13 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=1559|title = Thomas Berly}}</ref> He later went to do a course on acting in [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. There he acted in a few English movies and television series in small roles. He acted in a Hollywood movie ''[[Never So Few]]'' in 1959. He produced an English movie, ''Maya'' for children. He was also interested in magic, violin, Madeleine instrumental music and painting. His painting ''Galiyan'' was selected and shown on International festivals.<br />
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Later in 1969 he came back and started seafood exporting business. In 1973 he directed a movie, ''Ithu Manushyano?''. Popular song ''Sughamoru bindu dukhamoru bindu'' is from this movie.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=MarunadanMalayalee.com |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=www.marunadanmalayalee.com}}</ref> Then he directed ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' in 1985 with veteran actor [[Prem Nazir]] as hero. He published a collection of English writings to his credit ''Beyond Heart'' (published 2000), which is prose-poetry, ''Fragrant Petals'' (2004), in memory of his father. He has also published a cartoon book, ''O Kerala'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Thomas+Berly&category=director|title=Profile of Malayalam Director Thomas Berly|website=en.msidb.org}}</ref> and ''Sacred Savage'', a historical novel (2017). He was married to Sophy. They have three children, Tanya, Tarun and Tamina and three grandchildren Tahir, Kiara and Kayaan. He was residing at his family home in [[Fort Kochi]], Kerala.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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Berly died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in [[Ernakulam]], on 16 December 2024, at the age of 92.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=1444500&u=obit-ernakulam|title=തോമസ് ബെർളി നിര്യാതനായി|access-date=2024-12-17|last=Daily|first=Keralakaumudi|language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Actor Thomas Berly passes away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Dec/17/actor-thomas-berly-passes-away-4 |access-date=17 December 2024 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=17 December 2024}}</ref><br />
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==Filmography==<br />
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===As an actor===<br />
* ''[[Thiramala|Thiramaala]]'' (1953)<br />
* ''[[Double Barrel (2015 film)|Double Barrel]]'' (2015)<br />
<br />
===Direction===<br />
* ''[[Ithu Manushyano]]'' (1973)<br />
* ''[[Vellarikka Pattanam|Vellarikkaappattanam]]'' (1985)<br />
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===Story===<br />
* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973)<br />
* ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)<br />
<br />
===Screenplay===<br />
* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973)<br />
* ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)<br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973)<br />
* ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985)<br />
<br />
===Dialogue===<br />
* ''Ithu Manushyano?'' (1973)<br />
<br />
===Music===<br />
* "Mangalangal"... ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' (1985) <br />
* "Romaancham Poothirangum"... ''Vellarikkaappattanam'' <br />
* "Hemantha Kalam" ... ''Vellarikkaappattanam''<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* {{IMDb name|0055179}}<br />
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{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Berly, Thomas}}<br />
[[Category:1932 births]]<br />
[[Category:2024 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Male actors from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam film directors]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam screenwriters]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam film producers]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam film score composers]]<br />
[[Category:Film producers from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Film directors from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Musicians from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]<br />
[[Category:Screenwriters from Kochi]]</div>Bharatpediatrist