P. A. Backer was one of the new-wave Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s.
Madhavan Nair, commonly known by his stage name Madhu, is an Indian actor, director, producer, former college lecturer and former film studio owner, who works in Malayalam cinema and a certain number of Hindi and Tamil films. He was a prominent lead actor during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and has acted in more than 400 films. Madhu has also directed 12 films, produced 15 films and at one time owned the Uma Film Studio. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013 for his contributions towards the arts. He was honored with the J. C. Daniel Award by the Government of Kerala in 2004, for his outstanding contributions to Malayalam films. He is the president of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) Kerala Unit.
Chemmeen is a 1966 Indian Malayalam-language romance film, based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It was adapted into a screenplay by S. L. Puram Sadanandan, directed by Ramu Kariat, and produced by Babu Ismail Sait under the banner Kanmani Films. The film stars Sheela as Karuthamma, Sathyan as Palani, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair as Chembankunju, and Madhu as Pareekutty. The film tells the story of a pre-marital and later extra-marital relationship between Karuthamma, the daughter of an ambitious fisherman, and Pareekutty, the son of an affluent trader.
Indian cinematographers work in a number of regional film centres: Mumbai for films in Marathi and Hindi, Hyderabad for Telugu films, Chennai for Tamil films, Kochi for films in Malayalam, Kolkata for Bengali films, Bangalore for Kannada films, etc. Most Indian cinematographers are known for their work with one regional industry. Some cinematographers belong to various professional organisations and trade unions.
N. Sreedharan Nair, popularly known as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair or just Kottarakkara, was an Indian actor who appeared Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala.
Vinu Mohan is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He made his debut in the 2007 film Nivedyam, directed by A. K. Lohithadas. He is the grandson of the actor Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, son of actors K. Mohan Kumar and Shobha Mohan, and nephew of actor Sai Kumar.
Thulabharam is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by A. Vincent. It is based on the Kerala People's Arts Club play of the same name, written by Thoppil Bhasi. Thoppil Bhasi also adapted the play for the screen. The film had an ensemble cast including Prem Nazir, Sharada, Madhu, Sheela, Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair and Adoor Bhasi. The film won two National Awards. The film was a major blockbuster and following the Malayalam version, the film was made in Tamil (Thulabharam), Telugu and Hindi, with Sharada playing lead roles in all versions.
Kumara Sambhavam is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language Hindu mythological film directed and produced by P. Subramaniam. Based on the epic poem of the poet Kalidasa of the same name, it stars Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Srividya and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair. The film won the first ever Kerala State Film Award for Best Film. The film stood apart in technical quality when compared to previous Malayalam films and is hence regarded as a landmark in the history of Malayalam cinema. It also marked Sridevi's first Malayalam film. The film was dubbed in Tamil under the same title.
Chemparathy (transl. Hibiscus) is a 1972 Malayalam-language film directed by P. N. Menon and written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. It was produced by S. K. Nair, a famous literary personality and the founder of Malayalanadu weekly. It stars Madhu along with newcomers Roja Ramani, Raghavan and Sudheer in major roles. The film was an adaptation of Malayattoor's short story Lodge. Noted filmmaker Bharathan made his cinematic debut as an art director in the film.
Achanum Bappayum is a 1972 Malayalam film directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and written by K. T. Muhammed. It stars K. P. Ummer, Jayabharathi, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Adoor Bhasi and Baby Sumathi in important roles. It won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. K. J. Yesudas won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer and Vayalar Ramavarma won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for the song " Manushyan Mathangale".
Nellu (transl. Paddy) is a 1974 Malayalam-language drama film directed by Ramu Kariat from a screenplay by K. G. George based on the 1972 award-winning novel of the same name by P. Valsala. It features an ensemble cast of Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Sankaradi and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. The film portrays the life of the Adiyar community, a tribe of the forests in the Wayanad hills of Kerala, through the eyes of an outsider.
Snehaseema is a 1954 Malayalam film, directed by S. S. Rajan and written by Ponkunnam Varkey based on his own novel of the same name, which is a retelling of L. A. Tennyson's Enoch Arden in the context of Kerala culture. The lead roles were played by Sathyan, Padmini, G. K. Pillai, Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, S. P. Pillai, P. J. Cheriyan, Baby Lalitha and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. It received a certificate of merit at the 1st National Film Awards.
Randidangazhi is a 1958 Malayalam political film based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and directed by P. Subramaniam with Miss Kumari, P. J. Antony, T. S. Muthaiah, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, S. P. Pillai, Bahadoor, Adoor Pankajam, Soman and J. A. R. Anand in the star cast. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards.
The 29th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1981. Ceremony took place in April 1982.
Ashok Kumar Aggarwal was an Indian cinematographer who worked mainly in the South Indian film industry. In a career that spanned nearly four decades, he worked in over 125 feature films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi languages. Aggarwal was a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC).
Kaadu is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Madhu, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Shanthi and C. L. Anandan. The film had musical score by Vedpal Verma.
Adhyaapika (transl. Teacher) is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Madhu, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Vaikkam Mani and Ambika. The film had musical score by V. Dakshinamoorthy. The film was remade in Tamil as Kula Vilakku (1969).
Kaanaakkinaavu is a 1996 Indian Malayalam film directed by Sibi Malayil based on a script by T. A. Razzaq. The film was produced by P. V. Gangadharan under the banner of Grihalakshmi Productions. The film stars Mukesh, Murali and Sukanya in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Raghu Kumar. The film premiered at the Indian Panorama section of the IFFI and was theatrically released on 14 April 1996. The film was a commercial success. The film won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. The film also won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film.
John Sankaramangalam was an Indian filmmaker and former director of the FTII, Pune. He has also served the positions of vice-chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, principal of St. Joseph College of Communication and as a jury member of the International Film Festival of India. He was an executive member of CILECT.
