When we hear the name of Babu Namboodiri, soon Thangal of ‘Thoovanathumbikal’ comes to our mind immediately. He played a very unconventional pimp in the film. Babu Namboodiri alias K N Neelakantan Namboodiri's acting in the film is no doubt the reason behind the character still in the minds of the people.

He was able to make his presence in Malayalam films through many roles he portrayed. He was in the film field for 38 years and has acted in almost 214 films.

More than a film actor, he has another image in his own place. He is the main priest of a temple and it is not a character portrayed in any film but it is a reality.

We can see Babu Namboodiri if we reach the Ganapathy Temple at Valiyaparachirayil Mannanakad near Kuravilangad in Kottayam. We cannot see him daily. Namboodiri turns the main priest when the priest of his family temple of 300 years old has any inconvenience. The main offerings of the temple are Ottayada, shodashadravya ganapathy homam and 108 pots of abhishekam.

‘I learnt the pooja rituals in my school days. When the priest has any inconvenience that minute I will take charge. That’s my duty. The temple has daily poojas. Only a few from the Namboodiri community knows it. The new generation is not at all interested,” he said.

In an interview to Flash Movies, he shared some of his memories. Read the full text in November edition’s Flash Movies.