A Great Villan is DEAD!

Rajan P Dev was born in Cherthala in Alappuzha district and was 58 years old.

Veteran actor Rajan P Dev, who won critical acclaim for the ease with which he portrayed villainous roles in Malayalam and Tamil cinema, is no more.

Rajan suffered due to diabetus for a long time.

Dev was shifted to a hospital on the morning of July 26 after he vomited blood. However, his condition remained serious and he later slipped into a coma. His body will be laid to rest in Angamaly on Thursday (30^th July 2009 ) morning.

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With his sneering expression and eyes which reflected disdain in any frame, Dev was a familiar villain in Tamil cinema. Debuting in the Pavithran-directed Suriyan' (released in the early 1990s), Dev slipped into the role of villain with ease. Wearing big spectacles and clad in a dhoti' he symbolised the corrupt politician or a powerful don, as the role demanded. Dev has acted in over 100 Tamil films, with both big and small actors. His last Tamil film was Malayan', starring Karan, which was released a few days ago.

A born actor, theatre was Rajan's first love. His character Kochu Vava' in the play Kaatukuthira' (wild horse) struck a chord with the audience and won him the best theatre actor award in 1984 and 1986. But though it was Dev who immortalized Kochu Vava', he did not get a chance to play the role when the drama was made into a movie. He was hurt at being denied the role and carried it though the rest of his life.

Once initiated into the world of cinema, the intensity of performance and inimitable style catapulted him to top grade. In no time, Dev, whose characters oozed life, became a familiar face in the crowd. His reel life villain roles were so realistic that people actually began to hate him, but friends vouch that Dev was just the opposite in real life. But then he was no stereotype and also took up many comedy and Good Samaritan roles which too were well received by the people.

Dominating the silver screen for more than two decades, Dev acted in about 180 films including in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada besides Malayalam. The versatile actor also tried his luck behind the camera and directed two Malayalam films Achammakkuttiyude Achayan' and Achante Kochu Molku.'

His latest release was Ee Pattanathil Bhootham' with Malayalam superstar Mammotty in the lead role. Mammotty termed his death "a personal loss", saying another actor like him was yet to be born.