Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Keralan Cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, Elippathayam won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, and Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 by the British Film Institute. Rajiv Anchal's Guru (1997), Salim Ahamed's Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) and Lijo Jose Pellissery's Jallikkattu (2019) were Malayalam films sent by India as its official entries for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards.
Abdul Hameed Muhammed Fazil, known mononymously as Fazil, is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who works in Malayalam cinema, in addition to directing a handful of Tamil films and a Telugu film. He made his directional debut with the 1980 film Manjil Virinja Pookkal. His popular films include Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983), Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1984), Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal (1986), Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987), Ente Sooryaputhrikku (1991), Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Harikrishnans (1998). His 1993 film Manichitrathazhu won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. He won the Best Director award at the 13th Kerala State Film Awards for his 1984 film Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku.
Prabhu means master or the Prince in Sanskrit and many of the Indian languages; it is a name sometimes applied to God. The term is also used by devotees of the Hindu God Lord Krishna/Vishnu as a title and form of address. It is also appended after a devotee's name, for example "Madhava Prabhu". In Indonesia, especially in Balinese, Javanese, and Sundanese culture, the term "Prabu" is used as a part of royal titles, especially to address Kings such as Prabhu Siliwangi, Prabu Kiansantang, etc.
Panicker is a title or last name. Panicker is a title of nobility surname / subcaste of the Nair and Ezhava communities. Although the Ezhava community stopped using Titles and Surnames after social reformations done by Sri Narayana Guru, some prominent families still use it
Azhagiya Tamil Magan is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language psychological action thriller film written and directed by Bharathan, written by S. K. Jeeva and produced by Swargachitra Appachan. The film stars actor Vijay in a dual role for the first time in his career as an MBA student and a money-minded, womanizing look-alike while Shriya Saran, Namitha, and N. Santhanam play in supporting roles. With cinematography by K. Balasubramaniam and editing by Anthony, the film's score and the soundtrack are composed by A. R. Rahman. The film revolves around an excelling athlete who has the ability to predict future events. With his unique ability, he identifies several tragic future events, including the attempted murder of his lover by a look-alike.
Maliampurackal Chacko Punnoose, known as Navodaya Appachan was an Indian film producer, director and entrepreneur. He is best known for his work in Malayalam cinema, especially as the founder of Navodaya Studio.
My Dear Kuttichathan is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language fantasy film directed by Jijo Punnoose and produced by his father Navodaya Appachan under Navodaya Studio. It was the first Indian film to be filmed in 3D format. With screenplay by Raghunath Paleri, the story revolves around a mystical indigenous Indian goblin called "Kuttichathan" who is under the spell of an evil sorcerer, however it gets released by three children and then befriends them. The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, while cinematography and editing was done by Ashok Kumar and T. R. Shekhar, respectively. It was the debut of actors Jagadish and Zainuddin.
Kurien is a male given name and family name common amongst the traditional aristocratic Saint Thomas Christians and Syrian Christians in Kerala, India.
Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Fazil. The film stars Mammootty and Suresh Gopi. It features Sujitha, Nadiya Moidu, Babu Antony, Thilakan, Lalu Alex, Maniyanpilla Raju, Sukumari and Siddique in supporting roles. The film was produced by Swargachitra Appachan under the banner of Swargachitra. It revolves around a drunkard widower who helps a deaf and mute boy find his parent's killers. The film features original songs composed by Kannur Rajan, cinematography was done by Anandakuttan.
Bible Ki Kahaniyan is an Indian Hindi-language television program based upon scriptures from the Bible. The production aspired to complete both Old Testament and New Testament narratives of the Bible but was later discontinued after covering the Patriarch narrative in the Book of Genesis. It was produced by Appachan through his Navodaya Studio and was broadcast on DD National from 1992 to mid 1993 and again, concluding with the remaining episodes, in 1996.
Navodaya Studio is an Indian film studio headquartered at Kochi, Kerala. It is one of the earliest film studios in Kerala, established in 1976 by Navodaya Appachan. Navodaya is known for producing some of the landmark films in Indian cinema.
Kuruvila or Kuruvilla is a given masculine name, among the Syriac Christian community of Kerala. The Western equivalent is Cyril, also used as a masculine given name. It is derived from the Greek name Κύριλλος (Kýrillos) meaning "Lordly, Masterful", which in turn derives from Greek κυριος (kýrios) "lord". So Kuruvila means "the one belonging to the lord."
Poykayil Yohannan, known as Poykayil Appachan or Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan, was a dalit activist, poet and the founder of the socio-religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha. His father was Kandan and mother Lachi. His original name was Kumaran.
Pinakkatt D. Abraham, better known as Swargachitra Appachan is an Indian film producer, distributor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of production and distribution company Swargachitra, best known for producing Godfather.
Cherian/Cheriyan is a Syrian Christian surname of West Asian (Hebrew-Aramaic) origin, presumed to be a derivative of Zecharya and a variant of Zacharias popular among the Christian community of Kerala, southern India. The final -n is the Malayalam third-person masculine singular suffix.
Kaloor Dennis is an Indian film scriptwriter and novelist in Malayalam movies. He started his career with Anubhavangale Nandi in 1979. He worked for more than 100 Malayalam movies with the areas of his contribution including script, story and dialogue. Popular movies scripted by him are Paithrikam, Oru Kudakkeezhil, New Year, Sandharbham and Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal, January Oru Ormma, Thooval Sparsham vendar Daniel state licency, Kalyanji Anandji, Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam, and Gajakesariyogam. His son Dinu Dennis has acted in the films Ottananayam (2005) and Ennitum (2006).
Jijo Punnoose is an Indian film director, producer and actor from Kerala. He is best known for directing the two landmark films in Malayalam cinema—Padayottam (1982) and My Dear Kuttichathan (1984). He is the eldest son of producer Navodaya Appachan. Jijo directed Padayottam was the first indigenously shot 70mm film in India, and My Dear Kuttichathan is the first 3D film in India.
The Latin Catholics of Malabar Coast, aka Roman Catholics of Kerala or Malabar Latin Catholics are a multi-ethnic religious group who constitute the ecclesiastical provinces of Verapoly and Trivandrum, which follow the Roman Rite liturgical practices of the Latin Church, on the Malabar Coast, the southwestern coast of India. They are predominantly Malayali people and speak the Malayalam language, though a subgroup of Luso-Indians speaks the Cochin Portuguese Creole. They trace their origins to the evangelization of Malabar Coast by the Dominican, Franciscan, Jesuit and Carmelite missionaries, mainly French and Portuguese.
