K. Velayudhan Nair, better known by his

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

Crossbelt Mani (22 April 1935 – 30 October 2021), was an Indian film director and cinematographer, who worked in the

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...

. He directed more than 40 Malayalam movies and worked as a cinematographer for ten movies. He became popular with his second movie ''

Cross Belt In military uniforms, a shoulder belt is a wide belt worn usually over the shoulder and across the body. With nearly all line infantry, skirmishers, light infantry, grenadiers and guard regiments, two shoulder belts were worn - one carrying the ...

'' in 1970 and adopted ''Crossbelt'' to his name. Veteran director Joshiy worked as an assistant director under him.

Personal life

Velayudhan Nair with the

Crossbelt Mani hailed from

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...

. He was born to Valiyashalayil Madhavivilasathu Krishna Pillai and Kamalamma on 22 April 1935. He was married to Iranayil Bhagavathimandirathu Sreemathiyamma. They had a son, Krishnakumar, and a daughter, Roopa. Mani died on 30 October 2021, at the age of 86 at his home in Thiruvananthapuram. He was suffering from various illnesses associated with old age at the time of his death.

Filmography

Direction

* Midumidukki (1968) *

(1970) * Manushyabandhangal (1972) * Puthrakameshti (1972) *

Naadan Premam ''Naadan Premam'' ( en, Love in the Countryside) is a Malayalam novel written by S. K. Pottekkatt in 1941. It is a short novel written when the author was in Bombay and tells the story of an innocent village belle jilted by a modern man-about-tow ...

(1972) *

Shakthi In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and re ...

(1972) *

Kaapaalika ''Kaapalika'' is a 1973 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Crossbelt Mani. The film stars Sheela, Adoor Bhasi, Jose Prakash and Nambiyathu in the lead roles. The film had musical score by R. K. Shekhar. Cast *Sheela as Kaapaalika ...

(1973) * Nadeenadanmaare Aavasyamundu (1974) * Velicham Akale (1975) * Penpada (1975) * Kuttichaathan (1975) * Thaamarathoni (1975) * Chottaanikkara Amma (1976) * Yudhabhoomi (1976) * Neethipeedham (1977) * Penpuli (1977) * Pattaalam Janaki (1977) * Aanayum Ambaariyum (1978) * Black Belt (1978) * Pancharathnam (1979) * Youvanam Daaham (1980) *

Eettappuli ''Eettappuli'' is a 1983 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Crossbelt Mani. The film stars Shankar, Ambika, Balan K. Nair and Silk Smitha in the lead roles. The film has musical score by G. Devarajan. Cast *Shankar as Khabeer *Ambika as Padm ...

(1983) * Thimingalam (1983) *

Bullet A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel. Bullets are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax. Bullets are made in various shapes and co ...

(1984) * Chorakku Chora (1985) * Black Mail (1985) * Revenge (1985) * Ottayaan (1985) * Kulambadikal (1986) * Pensimham (1986) * Urukkumanushyan (1986) * Naaradan Keralathil (1987) * Devadas (1989) * Commander (1990)

Cinematography

* Bullet (1984) * Chorakku Chora (1985) * Black Mail (1985) * Revenge (1985) *

Ottayaan ''Ottayan'' is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Crossbelt Mani and produced by N. Kesavan Nair. The film stars Ratheesh, Sathaar, Balan K. Nair, Ramu (actor), Ramu and Silk Smitha. The film has musical score by Guna Singh. The ...

(1985) * Kulambadikal (1986) * Urukkumanushyan (1986) *

Naaradan Keralathil ''Naradhan Keralathil'' is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language satirical film, directed by Crossbelt Mani and produced by Jayasree Mani. The film stars Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu and Hari in the lead roles. The film has musical score ...

(1987) * Commander (1990)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mani, Crossbelt 1935 births 2021 deaths Malayalam film cinematographers Malayalam film directors Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram 20th-century Indian film directors 20th-century Indian photographers Cinematographers from Kerala