HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

P. Padmarajan (23 May 1945 – 23 January 1991) was an Indian
film maker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...
,
screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. T ...
and
author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...
who was known for his works in
Malayalam literature Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six Classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a So ...
and
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 was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with
Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in th ...
and
K. G. George Kulakkattil Geevarghese George (born 24 May 1946) is an Indian film maker and screenwriter who worked in the Malayalam cinema. He was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Bharathan and P. Padmarajan, in t ...
, in the 1980s. Padmarajan was known for his detailed screenwriting and expressive direction style and made some of the landmark motion pictures in Malayalam cinema. He won the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1972 for his novel ''Nakshathrangale Kaval''. He made his directorial debut in 1979 with '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' which won the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 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 sever ...
. He won his second National Award in 1986 with '' Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam''. Padmarajan had won six
Kerala State Film Awards 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 been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...
which includes two awards for Best Story in 1978, 1979 and two awards for Best Screenplay in 1984 and 1986. He has written screenplay for thirty seven movies among which eighteen he directed. The screenplay for all the movies he directed were written by Padmarajan himself. ''
Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' (translation: ''I am Gandharva) (Gandharvas, according to Hindu mythology, are celestial musicians and Soma providers in Devaloka, and are destined to entertain devas and lords.'') is a 1991 Malayalam romantic fantasy film wr ...
'' was his last movie and within a week of its release, he died at
Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second la ...
due to sudden cardiac arrest.


Early life

Padmarajan was born on 23 May 1945 in Muthukulam near
Haripad Haripad is a Municipality in '' Onattukara'' region of Alappuzha District, Kerala, India located between Alappuzha and Kollam on the National Highway 66. Haripad is bordered on the east by Pallippad, Veeyapuram and Karuvatta to the nor ...
in
Alappuzha Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and internat ...
, which was then under the princely state of
Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
. He was the sixth son of Thundathil Anantha Padmanabha Pillai and Njavarakkal Devaki Amma. After early schooling at Muthukulam, he studied at Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram and University College, Thiruvananthapuram, graduating with a
B.Sc. A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
in chemistry (1963). Subsequently, he learned
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the la ...
from the scholar Cheppad Achyutha Warrier at Muthukulam. He then joined
All India Radio All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All ...
, Trichur (1965), starting as a programme announcer, and later settled at
Poojappura Poojappura known as "The heart of Trivandrum" is a Suburb of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in India. It is located in the south-east part of the city, surrounded by Jagathi, Karamana, Mudavanmugal and Thirumala. This place was once used as ...
,
Trivandrum 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 populatio ...
(1968); he would remain at All India Radio until 1986 when his involvement in films prompted him to retire voluntarily.


Career as screenwriter and director

Padmarajan's stories mainly deal with
deceit Deception or falsehood is an act or statement that misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept, or idea that is not true. It is often done for personal gain or advantage. Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda and sleight o ...
,
murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...
,
romance Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...
, mystery, passion,
jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgus ...
,
libertinism A libertine is a person devoid of most moral principles, a sense of responsibility, or sexual restraints, which they see as unnecessary or undesirable, and is especially someone who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behaviour o ...
,
anarchism Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not necessaril ...
,
individualism Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and to value independence and self-relia ...
,
social structure In the social sciences, social structure is the aggregate of patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from and determinant of the actions of individuals. Likewise, society is believed to be grouped into structurally rel ...
,
human psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...
and life of peripheral elements of society. Some of them are considered among the best in
Malayalam literature Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six Classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a So ...
. The
screenplay ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fe ...
for all the movies he directed were written by Padmarajan himself. His first novel published in 1971 titled '' Nakshathrangale Kaaval'' (The Stars Alone Guard Me) won the Kerala Sahithya Academy award (1972). He entered the world of
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 ...
by writing the screenplay for Prayanam (1975) which was
Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in th ...
's directorial debut and had the cinematography by
Balu Mahendra Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran (19 May 1939 13 February 2014), commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was a Sri Lankan-born Indian cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. Widely regarded as ...
. Rappadikalude Gatha (1978) was his third movie as a screenwriter which won the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story The Kerala State Film Award for Best Story is an honour, begun in 1969, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Award of India to a writer for the best story in a Malayalam film. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Departm ...
in 1978. His next work as a screenwriter was the classic
erotic film Sex in film, the presentation of aspects of sexuality in film, specially human sexuality, has been controversial since the development of the medium. Films which display or suggest sexual behavior have been criticized by religious groups or hav ...
Rathinirvedam (1978) which is regarded as a landmark in Indian film history. After writing screenplay for three more films, Padmarajan made his directional debut in 1979 with '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' (''The Halfway House''). It won the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 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 sever ...
and was included in IBN Live's list of 100 greatest Indian films of all time. His next directed Oridathoru Phayalvaan (''There Lived a Wrestler'') in 1981. Padmarajan also did the editing of this movie. It won the award for best script at the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival and a gold medal at the
Asian Film Festival The Asia-Pacific Film Festival (abbreviated APFF) is an annual film festival hosted by the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific. The festival was first held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1954. History The festival was first held in To ...
. In 1982 he directed Novemberinte Nashtam which was critically acclaimed. Padmarajan's Koodevide? (1983) won the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value The Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value is an award, begun in 1976, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film with popular appeal and aesthetic value in Malayalam film industry. Until 1997, the aw ...
. In 1984, he wrote the screenplay for I. V Sasi's Kanamarayathu, which won the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay 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 be ...
. In 1986 he directed Desatanakkili Karayarilla, which is one of the first Indian films that explored
womance A womance is a close but non- sexual, non-romantic relationship between two or more women. It is an exceptionally tight affectional, homosocial female bonding relationship exceeding that of usual friendship, and is distinguished by a particularl ...
on screen. He won the second
National Award The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate ...
with
Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam ''Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam'' () is a 1985 Malayalam-language drama film, written and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film stars Mammootty, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Karamana Janardanan Nair and Srividya. It tells the story of a man who wants to sell ...
in 1985. Padmarajan's
Kariyilakkattu Pole ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It is based on the radio drama ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' by Sudhakar Mangalodayam, the plot follows DySP Achuthan ...
(1986) is considered one of the classic investigative thrillers in Malayalam. The same year he directed
Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil ''Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil'' ( ''In the Village Which Wears a Warrior's Belt'') is a 1986 Malayalam film directed by P. Padmarajan, based on his own short story of the same name. The film revolves around three people, Zechariah (Mammootty), ...
which was a failure at box office. The plot of the movie which revolves around a brothel and the sex workers in it eventually developed a cult following. With
Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeare ...
and
Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, ...
in the lead role, Padmarajan directed some of the classic cult movies in Malayalam such as ''Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal'' (1986), ''
Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil ''Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil'' ( ''In the Village Which Wears a Warrior's Belt'') is a 1986 Malayalam film directed by P. Padmarajan, based on his own short story of the same name. The film revolves around three people, Zechariah (Mammootty), ...
'' (1986)'',
Kariyilakkattu Pole ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It is based on the radio drama ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' by Sudhakar Mangalodayam, the plot follows DySP Achuthan ...
'' (1986), '' Thoovanathumbikal'' (1987) and ''Season'' (1989). Thoovanathumbikal was ranked eighth by IBN Live in its list of greatest Indian films of all time and is considered one of the best romantic movies ever made in Malayalam. ''Aparan'' (1988) is his another classic mystery psychological thriller which also marked the acting debut of
Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasion ...
. It won the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay 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 be ...
in 1988. Moonnam Pakkam (1988) is the another classic Padmarajan movie which was critically acclaimed. His 1990 movie
Innale ''Innale'' () is a 1990 Malayalam-language psychological drama film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film was produced by A. B. R Productions. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Shobhana, and Srividya in lead roles. The film featu ...
is mainly noted for the performance of
Suresh Gopi Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his act ...
. Padmarajan's last movie
Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' (translation: ''I am Gandharva) (Gandharvas, according to Hindu mythology, are celestial musicians and Soma providers in Devaloka, and are destined to entertain devas and lords.'') is a 1991 Malayalam romantic fantasy film wr ...
(1991) was a failure at box office. But the film later developed a cult following because of its aesthetics and storytelling. Within a week of its release, Padmarajan died at a hotel in
Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second la ...
. In total Padmarajan has written screenplay for 37 films among 18 of which he directed.


Association with Bharathan

Together with
Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in th ...
and
K. G. George Kulakkattil Geevarghese George (born 24 May 1946) is an Indian film maker and screenwriter who worked in the Malayalam cinema. He was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Bharathan and P. Padmarajan, in t ...
, he successfully laid the foundation for a school of Malayalam cinema that strove to tread a middle ground by striking a fine balance. The term "Parallel film" is usually used to describe Padmarajan's style of film making. Along with Bharathan, he displayed mastery in handling sexuality on the screen, hitherto less known in Malayalam cinema.


Association with actors

He was quite adept in spotting talent, and introduced many fresh faces who would later make their mark in Indian cinema, including
Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasion ...
(''
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
''), Ashokan ('' Peruvazhiyambalam''), ''Rasheed'' ('' Oridathoru Phayalvaan''),
Rahman Rahman (Arabic: or ) may refer to: *Rahman, one of the names of God in Islam * Ar-Rahman, the 55th sura of the Qur'an People *Rahman (name), an Arabic male personal name **Short form of Abd al-Rahman *Rahman (actor) Rashin Rahman (born 2 ...
('' Koodevide''), Ramachandran ('' Novemberinte Nashtam''), Ajayan ('' Moonnam Pakkam''). Also artists like
Nitish Bharadwaj Nitish Bharadwaj (born 2 June 1963) is an Indian television and film actor, director, screenwriter, film and TV programme producer, veterinarian (veterinary surgeon) graduate from Mumbai Veterinary college and former Member of Parliament in Lok ...
(''
Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' (translation: ''I am Gandharva) (Gandharvas, according to Hindu mythology, are celestial musicians and Soma providers in Devaloka, and are destined to entertain devas and lords.'') is a 1991 Malayalam romantic fantasy film wr ...
''),
Suhasini Suhasini Maniratnam (born 15 August 1961) known mononymously as Suhasini, is an Indian actress, director, producer and writer in the Tamil film industry. She has worked as an actress in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She made he ...
('' Koodevide''); Shari ('' Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal'') were introduced to Malayalam screen by him. He coaxed sparkling and inspired performances from many actors, such as
Bharath Gopi Gopynathan Velayudhan Nair (2 November 1937 – 29 January 2008), popularly known by the stage name Bharat Gopy, was an Indian actor, producer and director. He was one of the first actors to be associated with the New Wave cinema movement in K ...
,
Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, ...
,
Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeare ...
,
Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasion ...
,
Shobana Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (born 21 March 1970) is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. She acts predominantly in Malayalam films along with Telugu and Tamil films with few Hindi, Kannada and English films. She has won two National Fil ...
,
Sumalatha Sumalatha (born 27 August 1963) is an Indian actress, politician who is the current Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Mandya, Karnataka. She has acted in more than 220 films in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi. She gained ...
,
Karamana Janardanan Nair Karamana Janardanan Nair (25 July 1936 – 24 April 2000) was a Malayalam film actor, who was active during the 1980s and 1990s. He was especially known for his character roles. He won wide acclaim especially for the role of the protagonis ...
,
Rahman Rahman (Arabic: or ) may refer to: *Rahman, one of the names of God in Islam * Ar-Rahman, the 55th sura of the Qur'an People *Rahman (name), an Arabic male personal name **Short form of Abd al-Rahman *Rahman (actor) Rashin Rahman (born 2 ...
,
Jagathy Sreekumar Sreekumar P. K. (born 5 January 1951), better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or simply Jagathy, is an Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades. ...
,
Suresh Gopi Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his act ...
,
Thilakan Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...
,
Nedumudi Venu Kesavan Venugopal (22 May 1948 – 11 October 2021), better known by his stage name Nedumudi Venu, was an Indian actor and screenwriter from Kerala, who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema. He acted in more than 500 films, primarily in Ma ...
and Ashokan; indeed, Thilakan's rendition in '' Moonnam Pakkam'' is considered one of the best performance in his career. His association with
Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeare ...
and
Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, ...
was well noted especially because their films broke the conventional concepts prevailing during that time. He also aided in establishing, to a fair degree, the fame of other directors such as
Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in th ...
, I. V. Sasi, and Mohan, through his association with them. His collaboration with Bharathan as a scriptwriter is considered to have produced remarkable works in Malayalam cinema. His assistants who went on to direct films independently include ''Thoppil Ajayan'' (''
Perumthachan Perumthachan (പെരുന്തച്ചന്‍), also spelled as ''"Perunthchan"'' (പെരു - Peru/big, തച്ചന്‍ - thachan/craftsman), meaning ''the master carpenter'' or ''the master craftsman ', is an honorific title ...
''),
Suresh Unnithan P. Suresh Unnithan (born 30 July 1956) is an Indian film and television director who works in Malayalam films. His most popular works are Mukha Chithram, Utsavamelam , Jaathakam, Bhagyavan, Aardram. Biography His start in film was as an ...
's ('' Jaathakam'', ''Raadhaamaadhavam''), and
Blessy Blessy Ipe Thomas is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. He has won one National Film Award and six Kerala State Film Awards for his feature films ''Kaazhcha'' (2004), '' Thanmathra'' (2005), and '' Pranayam ...
's (''
Kaazhcha ''Kaazcha'' is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language family-drama film written and directed by Blessy, in his directorial debut. The story revolves around the boy Pavan (Yash Gawli) who reaches Kerala after he loses everything in the 2001 Gujarat ...
'', '' Thanmaathra'', the latter adapted from Padmarajan's short story ''Orma''.


Film making

Padmarajan is celebrated for his unparalleled attention to detail in his screenplays. Most of his films portrayed human relationships and emotions. Many of his films have haunting climaxes, most of them not commonly portrayed in Malayalam movies. His characters are portrayed with sensitivity and intensity on the screen. The landscape is also the major part of the Padmarajan's craft in film making. His thesis were well crafted in his films. Padmarajan’s films explore the features of the landscape naturally. Padmarajan's screenplays had such hitherto-unheard of features and subjects – such as casting rain as a character in '' Thoovanathumbikal'' (''Dragonflies in the drizzle''), homosexual love in '' Desatanakkili Karayarilla'' (''Migratory Birds Don't Cry''), unusual climax (by traditional standards) in '' Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal'' (''Vineyards for us to dwell'') and '' Oridathoru Phayalvaan'' (''There Lived a Wrestler''). Forbidden love and characters that strive to rise above the limitations of middle-class Malayali society of the seventies and eighties is a recurring theme in many of his works. Many of his films bear the mark of his romanticism.


Personal life

Padmarajan's wife Radhalakshmi is from Chittur in
Palakkad Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipali ...
. Radhalakshmi was his colleague at
AIR The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
before their marriage in 1970. Radhalakshmi has written her reminiscences about him in her book ''Padmarajan Entaey Gandharvan'' (''Padmarajan, my celestial lover''). Their son, P. Ananthapadmanabhan, is a writer. Padmarajan died suddenly at Hotel Paramount Towers in
Calicut Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second la ...
in the early hours of 24 January 1991, while he was visiting a cinema playing his last film ''
Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' (translation: ''I am Gandharva) (Gandharvas, according to Hindu mythology, are celestial musicians and Soma providers in Devaloka, and are destined to entertain devas and lords.'') is a 1991 Malayalam romantic fantasy film wr ...
''. The cause of death was a massive cardiac arrest.


Works


Novels

* ''Itha Ivide Vare'' * ''Jalajwala'' * ''Kallan Pavithran'' * ''Manju Kaalam Notta Kuthira'' * '' Nakshathrangale Kaaval'' * ''Nanmakalude Sooryan'' * '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' * ''Prathimayum Rajakumariyum'' * '' Rathinirvedam'' * ''Rithubhedhangalude Paarithoshikam'' * ''Shavavahanangalum Thedi'' * ''Udakappola'' ''( Thoovanathumbikal)'' * ''Vadakakku Oru Hridayam'' * ''Vikramakaaleeswaram''


Short stories

* ''Aparan'' ''(
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
)'' * ''Avalude Katha'' * ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' ''(
Kariyilakkattu Pole ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It is based on the radio drama ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' by Sudhakar Mangalodayam, the plot follows DySP Achuthan ...
)'' * ''Kaivariyude Thekkeyattam'' * ''Kazhinja Vasantha Kalathil'' * ''Lola'' * ''Mattullavarude Venal'' * ''Onnu Randu Moonnu'' * ''Prahelika'' * ''Pukakkannada'' * ''Syphilisinte Nadakkavu'' *'' Athirthi'' * ''Jeevithacharya'' * ''Choondal'' * ''Amritheth'' * ''Swayam'' * ''Mazha'' * ''Mrithy'' * ''Oru Sthree Oru Purushan'' * ''Kunju'' * ''Shoorphanaka'' * ''Kaikeyi'' * ''Nisha Shalabham'' * ''Banyan Avenue'' * ''Orma'' * ''Jeevithacharya'' * ''Oru Sameepakaala Durantham'' * ''Ningalude Thaavalangal Ningalkk'' * ''Raanimaarude Kudumbam'' * ''Ore Chandranmaar'


Films


Awards

; Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards * 1972: Novel – '' Nakshathrangale Kaval'' ;
National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate ...
* 1979: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' * 1986: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – '' Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam'' ;
Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing f ...
* 1988:
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam The Filmfare Best Director Award is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the u ...
- ''
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
'' ;
Kerala State Film Awards 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 been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...
* 1978: Best Story – '' Rappadikalude Gatha'' * 1979: Second Best Film – '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' * 1979: Best Story – '' Peruvazhiyambalam'' * 1983: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – '' Koodevide'' * 1984: Best Screenplay – '' Kanamarayathu'' * 1988: Best Screenplay – ''
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
'' ; Kerala Film Critics' Awards * 1977: Best Screenplay – '' Itha Ivide Vare'' * 1982: Best Film – '' Novemberinte Nashtam'' * 1983: Best Screenplay -'' Koodevide'' * 1984: Best Screenplay – '' Kanamarayathu'' * 1986: Best Screenplay – '' Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal'', ''
Nombarathi Poovu ''Nombarathi Poovu'' ( en, The Sorrowful Flower) is a 1987 Malayalam drama film, written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It stars Madhavi, Baby Sonia, Mammootty, Shari and Unnimary. It focuses on the relationship between Gigi (Sonia) and Padmin ...
'' * 1988: Best Screenplay – ''
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
'', '' Moonnam Pakkam'' * 1990: Best Screenplay – ''
Innale ''Innale'' () is a 1990 Malayalam-language psychological drama film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film was produced by A. B. R Productions. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Shobhana, and Srividya in lead roles. The film featu ...
'' ; Film Fans' Awards * 1975: Best Screenplay – '' Prayaanam'' * 1977: Best Screenplay – '' Itha Ivide Vare'' * 1978: Best Screenplay – '' Rappadikalude Gatha'', '' Rathinirvedam'' * 1980: Best Screenplay – ''
Thakara ''Thakara'' is a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Bharathan and written by Padmarajan. It stars Prathap Pothan, Surekha, Nedumudi Venu and K. G. Menon in pivotal roles. The film was a breakthrough in the career of Bharath ...
'' ; Other awards * 1982: Kualalumpur Film Festival – Best Film – '' Oridathoru Phayalvaan'' * 1982: Kualalumpur Film Festival – Best Script – '' Oridathoru Phayalvaan'' * 1982: Gulf Award for Best Film – '' Novemberinte Nashtam'' * 1983: Pournami Award for Best Director – '' Koodevide'' * 1987: Film Chamber Award for Best Story – '' Thoovanathumbikal'' * 1988: Film Fare Award for Best Director – ''
Aparan Aparan ( Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 of ...
'' * 1990: Film Chamber Award for Best Story – ''
Innale ''Innale'' () is a 1990 Malayalam-language psychological drama film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film was produced by A. B. R Productions. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Shobhana, and Srividya in lead roles. The film featu ...
'' * 1991: FAC award – ''
Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' (translation: ''I am Gandharva) (Gandharvas, according to Hindu mythology, are celestial musicians and Soma providers in Devaloka, and are destined to entertain devas and lords.'') is a 1991 Malayalam romantic fantasy film wr ...
''


Padmarajan Award

Padmarajan Puraskaram or Padmarajan Award is an annual film/literary award instituted by the Padmarajan Memorial Trust.Padmarajan Puraskaram for writer Paul Zachariah
''
The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the second ...
''. April 4, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
It carries a plaque and a cash award of 10,000. The award is given in two categories: *Padmarajan Award for Best Short Story *Padmarajan Award for Best Film


See also

*
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 ...
*
Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in th ...


References


External links

* *
cinemaofmalayalam.netAn excerpt from ''Padmarajan: Ente Gandharvan'' by Radhalakshmi
(in Malayalam)
An article by ''Mathrubhumi'' during the silver jubilee of ''Aparan''
{{Authority control 1945 births 1991 deaths Malayalam film directors Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram Malayalam-language writers University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni Kerala State Film Award winners Malayalam novelists Malayalam screenwriters Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award 20th-century Indian novelists Indian male screenwriters 20th-century Indian film directors 20th-century Indian short story writers Indian male short story writers People from Alappuzha district Writers from Thiruvananthapuram Screenwriters from Thiruvananthapuram Novelists from Kerala 20th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian screenwriters Malayalam film editors