K. L. Antony & Leena Antony – the couple who made a late entry to Mollywood

by Sandy · August 14, 2016

Maheshinte Prathikaaram – one of the biggest films of Malayalam in 2016. After a series of flops, Fahadh Faasil made a comeback through this satire film with a powerful script. The movie also witnessed the brilliance showered by a handful of less-known character artists and it formed the real strength of the movie as well. Alencier Ley Lopez, K. L. Antony & Leena Antony, and the lead heroine Aparna Balamurali are those leading names who showcased their talents, and got big break in cine world. Many new faces were introduced through this film.

Senior real life couple who debut through a single film

Not many people know that K. L. Antony – who portrayed a photographer (Fahadh Faasil’s father) and Leena Antony – who essayed Aparna Balamurali’s mother roles are real life couples, and both made their film entry through Maheshinte Prathikaaram in 2016. Perhaps a rare phenomenon in the history of Malayalam cinema, where old couples debut silver screen through a single film, and got noticed for their respective roles also. Antony was 77 and Leena was 66 when they made their film debut, perhaps the old couple to make a film debut in world cinema. They didn’t have any combination scene in the film.

Long term experience with theater

It can be said that Antony has a lifelong experience with stage. He started off as a child artist, and has spent more than 5 decades in this field. Leena too started her stage career at the age of 12, and met Antony through amateur plays where they shared stage space. After marriage she got fully associated with Antony’s troupe. After the birth of three children the couple took a temporary break from the field and made a comeback through the play, Ammayum Thommanum in 2014. It was after a long break of 25 years, but it helped them to get the first film role.

Antony has exhibited his talents as a stage actor, playwright and play director and some of his successful plays include – Agni, Changala, Manushya Putran etc. During his younger days, his elder brother used to script plays for him. At one point of time, when his brother hesitated to do it he wrote one play – Jeevitham Aarambhikkunnu, which proved to be the turning point of his career. The play won first prize at district level, and Antony got fully active in Theatre field. ‘Chachan’ of recent Malayalam cinema passed away in 2018.

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