M. Kunchacko

Kunchacko (19 February 1912 – 15 June 1976) was an Indian film producer and director who worked in the Malayalam film industry. His venture Udaya Studios influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Madras, Tamil Nadu to Kerala. He is the producer of ''Jeevithanauka'' (1951), starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair.

Career

In 1947, he established Udaya Studio in Pathirappally, Alappuzha. In his early days, Kunchacko produced films under the banner of ''K & K Productions'', with the partnership of K. V. Koshy. The company produced 4 films: ''Vellinakshatram'', ''Nalla Thanka'', ''Jeevithanauka'' and ''Visappinte Vili''. ''Jeevithanauka'' (1951), starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair ran for 250 days. During the making of the film ''Achchan'', Kunchacko and Koshy parted ways and each started film-making under separate banners: Kunchacko under Udaya and Koshi under Filmco.weblokam.com
Profile
Kunchacko went on to produce ''Achchan, Avan Varunnu'' and ''Kidappadam'' under the banner of Udaya. ''Kidappadam'' was a commercial failure, and that caused Kunchacko to close down Udaya Studio. However, Udaya was opened within a few years with the help of his friend and Kerala state minister T. V. Thomas.

In 1960, Kunchacko tried his hand in film direction with ''Umma'', which he followed with ''Neeli Saali'' and ''Seetha''. He went on to direct 40 films in his career of many genres including purana stories, ''vadakkan pattu'' stories, comedy films and social themed films. Some of his films are ''Bharya, Unniyarcha, Palattukoman, Sakunthala, Pazhassiraja, Mainatheruvi Kolacase, Ponnapuram Kotta, Anarkali'' and ''Kannappanunni''. His career in film direction went along with his career as film producer. He produced films directed by various directors such as M. Krishnan Nair (''Agni Mrigam, Thara, Kattuthulasi''), A. Vincent (''Gandharva Kshethram''), Thoppil Bhasi (''Oru Sundariyude Katha, Ningalenne Communistakki''), K.S. Sethumadhavan (Koottukudumbam) and K. Raghunath (''Laura Neeyevide'').In 1976, Kunchacko died in Madras, Tamil Nadu with musician K. Raghavan for the song recording of the film ''Mallanum Mathevanum''. ''Kannappanunni'' was the last film directed by him. His death occurred on the fifth death anniversary (15 June) of the veteran Malayalam actor Sathyan, who acted in many of his films. Kunchako's Udaya Studios faced heavy losses later, and stopped production.

Family

His grandson, Kunchacko Boban is also a Malayalam film actor. ''The Hindu'', 10 July 2004.

Filmography

Direction

*'' Kannappanunni'' (1977)
*''Chennai Valarthiya Kutty'' (1976)
*''Mailanum Mathevanum'' (1976)
*'' Cheenavala'' (1975)
*''Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre'' (1975)
*'' Manishada'' (1975)
*'' Neela Ponman'' (1975)
*'' Durga'' (1974)
*''Thumbolarcha'' (1974)
*''Pavangal Pennungal'' (1973)
*'' Ponnapuram Kotta'' (1973)
*'' Thenaruvi'' (1973)
*'' Aromalunni'' (1972)
*''Postmane Kananilla'' (1972)
*'' Panchavan Kadu'' (1971)
*''Dattuputhran'' (1970)
*''Othenente Makan'' (1970)
*'' Pearl View'' (1970)
*''Susie'' (1969)
*'' Kodungalluramma'' (1968)
*'' Punnapra Vyalar'' (1968)
*''Thirichadi'' (1968)
*''Kasavuthattam'' (1967)
*'' Mainatharuvi Kola Case'' (1967)
*''Anarkali'' (1966)
*''Jail'' (1966)
*'' Tilottama'' (1966)
*''Inapravugal'' (1965)
*''Shakuntala'' (1965)
*'' Ayesha'' (1964)
*'' Pazhassi Raja'' (1964)
*'' Kadalamma'' (1963)
*''Rebecca'' (1963)
*'' Bharya'' (1962)
*''Palattukoman'' (1962)
*''Krishna Kuchela'' (1961/I)
*''Unniyarcha'' (1961)
*'' Neeli Sally'' (1960)
*'' Seeta'' (1960)
*'' Umma'' (1960)

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunchacko
Malayalam film directors
People from Alappuzha district
1976 deaths
1912 births
Kerala State Film Award winners
Malayalam film producers
Film directors from Kerala
20th-century Indian film directors
Film producers from Kerala