'Couldn't imbibe Prem Nazir's acting skills, but Shanawas inherited noble traits of that great father'

MP Abdussamad Samadani paid tribute to Shanawas, actor and son of evergreen actor Prem Nazir, who passed away on Monday. Samadani took to Facebook to pen down a heartfelt note on Shanawas and how Malayalees will remember him for years to come, thanks to the legacy of Prem Nazir.

SAMADANI:

“Another chapter of Prem Nazir’s story is bidding adieu with the passing of Shanawas. As the son of a great man who captivated the hearts of the Kerala community, Shanawas got the love and attention of Malayalees wholeheartedly. Despite his lacklustre stint as an actor, Shanawas remained a popular name in the industry and was highly respected, for the legacy owned by Prem Nazir.

Prem Nazir was respected and beloved by Malayalees because of his noble character and philanthropic works. Some of the characteristics of that venerable father were also reflected in Shanawas.

Whenever we got together, endless talks about Prem Nazir would happen. Like Prem Nazir, his children also led a modest life and stayed away from the limelight. When I talked to Prem Nazir's daughter Rita and granddaughter Jasmine, I got to know about the respect and love they carried for Shanawas.

When I visited him recently, despite his illness, Shanawas talked with me for hours. He might have felt happy during his last days for the love and care provided to him by his wife and family. It was never the films that attracted me to Prem Nazir or Shanawas. In my mind, Prem Nazir has always been a great and respected man, a personality full of many virtues. Similarly, his son was also a gentleman in all aspects.

Prem Nazir never wanted his son to be associated with cinema. Despite the objection of his father, Shanawas got into movies and did a few commendable works, but couldn’t make it big, mostly due to the pressure put on him due to his father’s larger-than-life image.”