M. J. Radhakrishnan (1957/1958 – 12 July 2019) was an Indian cinematographer working mainly in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

films. He got National film award 2018 as best cinematographer for his work on Malayalam movie Oolu. He won Kerala State Award for Best Cinematography 7 times (the most), equal with

Mankada Ravi Varma Mankada Ravi Varma (4 June 1926 – 22 November 2010) was an Indian cinematographer and director who worked in Malayalam cinema. He is exclusively known for his association with renowned film-maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. He has associated with ot ...

. Earlier he worked as a still photographer and then as an associate to cinematographer turned director

Shaji N. Karun Shaji Neelakantan Karun (born 1 January 1952) is an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film '' Piravi'' (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the premiere chairman of the Keral ...

. His important works included '' Deshadanam'' (1996), ''

Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installment ...

'' (1999) ''

Naalu Pennungal ''Naalu Pennungal'' (''Four Women'') is a 2007 Malayalam film produced and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on four short stories written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The film stars Padmapriya Janakiraman, Padmapriya, Geethu Mohandas, M ...

'' (2007), ''Veettilekkulla Vazhi'' (2010) and ''

Akasathinte Niram ''Akasathinte Niram'' (English: The ''Colour of Sky'') is a 2012 Malayalam film written and directed by Dr. Biju. The film was shot entirely on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a cast that includes Indrajith, Nedumudi Venu, Amala Paul and P ...

'' (''Color of Sky''; 2012). His films were screened at several prominent film festivals around the world including Cannes, Shanghai, Cairo, Montreal, Telluride, Jeonju, Toronto, Chicago, Rhode Island and Rotterdam. One of his works, ''

Marana Simhasanam ''Marana Simhasanam'' ( en, Throne of Death, french: Le Trone de la mort) is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Murali Nair. Inspired by the first execution by electrocution in India, the film was screened in the ...

'' (English: "Throne of Death", French: "Le Trone de la mort", 1999), won

Caméra d'Or The Caméra d'Or ("''Golden Camera''") is an award of the Cannes Film Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections (Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight or International Critics' Week The International ...

(Golden Camera Award) in the

Un Certain Regard (, meaning 'a certain glance') is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. It is run at the Debussy, parallel to the competition for the . This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob. The section presents 20 films w ...

section at the 1999

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

. Another film ''

Veyilmarangal ''Veyilmarangal'' () is a Malayalam language drama film written and directed by Bijukumar Damodaran and produced by Baby Mathew Somatheeram. The film starring Indrans and Prakash Bare has M. J. Radhakrishnan as cinematographer. It revolves around ...

'' (Trees under the sun) won Golden Goblet award for Outstanding Artistic achievement at

Shanghai International Film Festival The Shanghai International Film Festival (, French: ''Festival international du film de Shanghai''), abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia. "China's biggest film festival" according to the Hollywood Reporter. Nex ...

2019. He worked on over 117 feature films and several documentaries and worked with some of the prominent Indian filmmakers including

Adoor Gopalakrishnan Adoor Gopalakrishnan (born 3 July 1941) is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer and is regarded as one of the most notable and renowned filmmakers in India. With the release of his first feature film '' Swayamvaram'' (1972), Go ...

Murali Nair Murali Nair (born 10 January 1966) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has directed eight films since 1993. His film '' Marana Simhasanam'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival where it won ...

, Shaji N. Karun,

TV Chandran T. V. Chandran (born 23 November 1950) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor, predominantly working in Malayalam cinema. Born in a Malayali family in Telicherry, Chandran worked as a Reserve Bank of India employee before enterin ...

Dr. Biju Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian Homoeopathy, homoeopathic medical doctor, doctor turned film director and screenwriter. He is best known for films such as ''Saira (film), Saira'' (2005), ''Veettilekkulla Vazhi'' ...

Jayaraj Jayarajan Rajasekharan Nair, professionally credited as Jayaraj, is an Indian filmmaker, who predominantly works in Malayalam film industry. He has won many awards, including Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Golden ...

and

Renjith Ranjith Balakrishnan (born 5 September 1964) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist, producer, and actor who works in Malayalam cinema. Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with ''Ravanaprabhu'', the sequel to ''Devaasuram' ...

. He mostly worked on

arthouse An art film (or arthouse film) is typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made primarily f ...

films and was known for his natural lighting styles. In a career spanning more than two decades, he worked with a number of young film makers, mostly in their maiden ventures. Film ''

Kalamandalam Hyderali Kalamandalam Hyderali (5 September 1946 – 5 January 2006) ( ml, കലാമണ്ഡലം ഹൈദരാലി) was one of the best Kathakali singers of his generation, and the first non-Hindu artiste to make a mark in the four-century-o ...

'' 2019, directed by Kiran G. Nath was his last completed work as director of photography.

Early life

M. J. Radhakrishnan was born in Tholicode,

Punalur Punalur is a Municipality in Kollam district of Kerala State in India. It is the headquarter of the Punalur Taluk and Punalur Revenue Division. It's situated in the eastern part of Kollam district of Kerala, on the banks of the Kallada River a ...

located in

Kollam Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city i ...

district,

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. MJR was very passionate about photography in his teenage days.

Career

M. J. Radhakrishnan began his career as a still photographer. He worked as a still photographer on some films for which

Shaji N Karun Shaji Neelakantan Karun (born 1 January 1952) is an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film '' Piravi'' (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the premiere chairman of the Ker ...

was the cinematographer. Then he started working as an associate cinematographer under Shaji N Karun, who was a major influence in his life. His first independent work as a cinematographer was ''Maamalakalkkapurathu'' (1988), directed by Ali Akbar. Film ''

'' 2019, directed by Kiran G. Nath was his last completed work as director of photography.

Selected filmography

* 1988 ''

Mamalakalkkappurathu ''Mamalakalkkappurathu'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Ramasimhan. The film stars Manoj K. Jayan, Anil, Elias and Kilimol in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Mohan Sithara. The film won ...

'' * 1996 ''Oru Neenda Yathra'' * 1996 ''

Desadanam ''Desadanam'' ( en, Journey to wisdom) is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language feature film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. Plot The plot revolves around the personal turmoil faced by the par ...

'' * 1997 ''

Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' ( en, The Play of God) is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraaj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Manju Warrier, and Biju Menon. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ...

'' * 1997 ''Raajathanthram'' * 1999 ''

'' * 1999 ''

'' * 2001 '' Pattiyude Divasam'' * 2001 '' Theerthadanam'' * 2002 ''

Kannaki Kannagi ( ta, கண்ணகி) sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic ''Cilappatikaram''. Kannagi is described as the chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his unfai ...

'' * 2003 ''

Parinamam ''Parinamam'' (''The Change'') is a 2003 Indian Malayalam film, directed by P. Venu, starring Nedumudi Venu, Madampu Kunjukuttan and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the lead roles. Plot ''Parinamam'' tackles the age old issue of loneliness and redundancy ...

'' * 2003 ''

Ek Alag Mausam ''Ek Alag Mausam'' ( en, A Different Season) (Hindi: एक अलग मौसम) is a 2003 Hindi movie directed by K. P. Sasi with Nandita Das, Anupam Kher and Rajit Kapur in the lead roles. Renuka Shahane, Arundathi Nag, Sreelatha and Sally ...

'' * 2003 ''

Sthithi ''Sthithi'' ( en, Plight) is a 2003 Malayalam feature film written and directed by R. Sarath. The film tells the tale of a couple employed in the Secretariat. It stars Unni Menon, Nandini Ghosal, Master Achuth, Master Anand Pillay and Mallika Suk ...

'' * 2004 ''

The Journey The Journey may refer to: Film and television * ''The Journey'' (1942 film), or ''El viaje'', an Argentine film * ''The Journey'' (1959 film), an American drama starring Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, and Jason Robards about the Hungarian Revoluti ...

'' * 2004 ''

Koottu Kootu (Tamil:கூட்டு) is a lentil and vegetable stew in South Indian, particularly Tamil and Kerala cuisines. The etymology for kootu derives from the Tamil word "kootu" which means "add" or "mixture/medley" i.e. vegetable added wit ...

'' * 2005 ''

Makalkku ''Makalkku'' is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language film by Jayaraj, and starring Suresh Gopi and Shobana in lead roles. Noted Indian singer Adnan Sami performed a song in this movie. Shobana's performance as an intellectually disabled woman won ...

'' * 2006 ''

Pulijanmam ''Pulijanmam'' (Malayalam: പുലിജന്മം, English translation : Metamorphosis of a Man to a Tiger ) is a Malayalam feature film directed by Priyanandanan. It stars Murali, Vineeth Kumar, Salim Kumar, Samvrutha Sunil and Sindhu Men ...

'' * 2007 ''

Thakarachenda ''Thakarachenda'' ( ml, തകരച്ചെണ്ട) is a 2007 Malayalam film directed by debutant Avira Rebecca with Sreenivasan and Geethu Mohandas in the lead. The film is based on a real-life incident. The film was released on 9 August 202 ...

'' * 2007 ''

'' * 2007 '' Ottakkayyan'' * 2008 ''Gulmohar'' * 2008 ''

Oru Pennum Randaanum ''Oru Pennum Randaanum'' (Translation: ''A Woman and Two Men'') is a 2008 Malayalam feature film written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The film has four separate chapters, each based on independent short stories written by Thakazhi Siva ...

'' * 2008 ''

Thirakkatha ''Thirakkatha'' ( is a 2008 Malayalam romantic drama film co-produced, written, and directed by Ranjith. The film is a tribute to the yesteryear actresses who had been graceful, popular figures in cinema during their younger age with patronage an ...

'' * 2008 ''

Vilapangalkkappuram ''Vilapangalkkappuram'' ( ml, വിലാപങ്ങള്‍ക്കപ്പുറം; ''Beyond the Wail'') is a Malayalam film scripted and directed by T. V. Chandran in 2008. The film is based on the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots o ...

'' * 2009 ''

Samayam Times Internet is an Indian internet technology company, based in Gurgaon, which owns, operates and invests in various internet-led products, services and technology. It is the digital arm of the Times Group, the largest media conglomerate in ...

'' * 2009 ''

Dr. Patient ''Dr. Patient'' is a 2009 Malayalam film by Viswananathan starring Jayasurya, Mukesh and Radha Varma. Production controller Sanjay padiyoor Plot The movie is set against a mental hospital where Dr. Ruben Isaac comes to work as a doctor. He us ...

'' * 2009 ''

Orkkuka Vallappozhum ''Orkkuka Vallappozhum'' (Remember Once A while) is a Malayalam movie released in 2009. This 120-minute feature has Thilakan as Sethumadhavan - a seventy-year-old enjoying his retired life and trying to rediscover the innocence of his past. It m ...

'' * 2009 '' Kerala Cafe (segment "Happy Journey")'' * 2009 ''

Madhyavenal ''Madhya Venal'' is a 2009 Malayalam film produced by Jahangir Shamz under the banner of Xarfnet Movies. The movie is directed by Madhu Kaithapram starring Manoj K. Jayan and Shweta Menon. Plot Sarojini is a house wife and is also a social wor ...

'' * 2010 ''

Nirakazhcha ''Nirakazhcha'' is a 2010 Malayalam film directed by debutant Anish J. Karrinad starring Italian actor Vincenzo Bocciarelli, Mamta Mohandas and Manoj K. Jayan in the lead roles. ''Nirakazhcha'' tells the story of an Italian painter who visits ...

'' * 2010 ''

Punyam Aham ''Punyam Aham'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Raj Nair. Prithviraj, Samvrutha Sunil and Nedumudi Venu play the lead roles in this film. Plot ''Punyam Aham'' is set in a small village in northern Kerala. The protagonist ...

'' * 2010 ''

Veettilekkulla Vazhi ''Veettilekkulla Vazhi'' () is a 2010 Indian Malayalam adventure drama film written and directed by Dr. Biju. The film is about terrorist organizations operating in India and how they recruit young Keralites. It stars Prithviraj, Indrajith an ...

'' * 2011 ''

Orma Mathram ''Orma Mathram'' ( en, Memories only) is a 2011 Malayalam-language drama film directed by Madhu Kaithapram and starring Dileep, Priyanka Nair, Master Sidharth, Dhanya Mary Varghese, Nedumudi Venu in the main roles. The screenplay was written by ...

'' * 2011 ''

Sengadal ''Sengadal'' (''The Dead Sea'') is a 2011 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language independent film written and directed by Leena Manimekalai, who makes her directing debut and stars in the film. Produced by Janaki Sivakumar, the film features cine ...

'' * 2011 ''

'' * 2013 '' Papilio Buddha'' * 2014 ''

Perariyathavar ''Perariyathavar'' ( en, Names Unknown) is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Dr. Biju. The film revolves around two sweepers and the problems they encounter in life, depicting the agonies of the marginalised section of society. The film ...

'' * 2015 ''

Birds With Large Wings ''Valiya Chirakula Pakshikal'' ( en, Birds with Large Wings) is a 2015 Indian Malayalam drama film written and directed by Dr. Biju and produced by Dr. A.K. Pillai. It is based on an incident in a small village in Kasaragod in the state of Ke ...

'' * 2015 ''

Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine ...

'' * 2016 ''

Pinneyum ''Pinneyum'' (English: ''Once Again'') is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language romantic crime drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Businessman Baby Mathew Somatheeram co-produced the film. The film portrays a love ...

'' * 2016 ''

Kaadu Pookkunna Neram ''Kaadu Pookkunna Neram'' (English: ''When the Forest Bloom'') is a 2016 Indian Malayalam film written and directed by Dr. Biju. The film is produced by Sophia Paul under the film production house, Weekend Blockbusters. It stars Indrajith Sukum ...

'' * 2016 ''Shaanu'' * 2017 ''

Painting Life ''Painting Life'' is a 2018 Indian English language, English film written and directed by Bijukumar Damodaran (commonly known as Dr. Biju). The film was jointly produced by Silicon Media and BlueOcean Pictures and depicts the experience of a fi ...

'' * 2017 Viswasapoorvam Mansoor * 2018 '' Oolu'' * 2018 '' A for Apple'' * 2018 ''Appuvinte Sathyanweshanam'' * 2019 ''

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ( ; 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945 * * * * * * * * *) was an Indian nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and Imperi ...

'' * 2019 ''

'' (Trees under the sun) * 2019 ''Makudi'' * 2019 ''

'' * 2019 ''Ashtamudi Couples'' * 2019 '' A for Apple''

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

* 1996:

Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography The Kerala State Film Award The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have bee ...

- '' Deshadanam'' * 1999: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - ''

'' * 2007: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - ''

Adayalangal ''Atayalangal'' ( en, The Imprints) is a 2008 Malayalam-language biographical drama film directed by M.G. Sasi and produced by Aravind Venugopal under the banner Valluvanadan Talkies. Govind Padmasoorya plays the lead role of autobiographical c ...

, Ottakkayyan'' * 2008: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - '' Bioscope'' * 2010: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - ''

'' * 2011: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - ''

'' * 2016: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography - ''

National Film Awards

* 2018:

National Film Award for Best Cinematography The National Film Award for Best Cinematography is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several awards p ...

- ''Olu''

Kerala State Television Awards

* 2014 : Best Cinematographer - ''Thamaranoolu''

International awards

*2008:South Asian International Film Festival-Best Cinematographer - '' Bioscope'' *2011:

Zanzibar International Film Festival The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries, is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania and one of the largest cultural events in East Africa. ZIFF is a non-governmental organization esta ...

-SIGNIS Award for Cinematography - ''

'' *2013:

Oaxaca FilmFest Oaxaca FilmFest was an eight-day long international film festival that was permanently cancelled in 2022 without taking place, once it could no longer hide the fact that it devolved into a calculated scam to prey on unknowing filmmakers. At its st ...

-Global Feature Section- Outstanding achievement in Cinematography/Mención honorífica mejor fotografía - '' Papilio Buddha'' *2015:Kazan International Film Festival, Russia -Best Cinematographer - ''

'' *2016:Indian International film festival Queensland, Australia -Best Cinematographer - ''

Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal ''Valiya Chirakula Pakshikal'' ( en, Birds with Large Wings) is a 2015 Indian Malayalam drama film written and directed by Dr. Biju and produced by Dr. A.K. Pillai. It is based on an incident in a small village in Kasaragod in the state of Ke ...

'' *2017:Indian International film festival Queensland, Australia -Best Cinematographer - ''

Sound of Silence (2017 film) ''Sound of Silence'' is a 2017 Indian film in Hindi, Pahari and Tibetan. The film is directed by Malayalam film director Bijukumar Damodaran, commonly known as Dr. Biju. The film premiered at the 2017 Montreal World Film Festival. The film wo ...

'' *2017: Cincinnati Indian International film festival, Ohio, USA -Best Cinematographer - ''

'' 2019

References

External links

*
PRD, Govt. of Kerala: Awardees List
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radhakrishnan, M. J. 1950s births 2019 deaths Year of birth missing Kerala State Film Award winners Malayalam film cinematographers People from Kollam district Cinematographers from Kerala 21st-century Indian photographers Best Cinematography National Film Award winners