Ranjith (director)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Ranjith Balakrishnan (born 5 September 1964) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist, producer, and actor who works in
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' ...
. Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with ''
Ravanaprabhu ''Raavanaprabhu'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller drama film written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Devaasuram'' written by Ranjith, directed by I.V. Sasi. The film st ...
'', the sequel to ''
Devaasuram ''Devaasuram'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting ro ...
''. His films ''
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 and ...
'' and ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' won the
National Film 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 Directora ...
for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011 respectively."56th National Film Awards"
. Public Information Bureau. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
He is also the current chairman of
Kerala State Chalachitra Academy 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 Cana ...
.


Early life

Ranjith was born in
Balussery Balussery is a major developing town located about 25 km northeast of Kozhikode city and lies on the sides of State Highway 34. It is one of the largest 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala and one of the 12 block Panchayats in Kozhikode dist ...
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 ...
, Kerala. He graduated from the
School of Drama and Fine Arts The University of Calicut, also known as Calicut University, is a state-run public university headquartered at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1968, it is the first university to be set up in n ...
,
Thrissur Thrissur (), formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi and Kozhikode, and t ...
, in 1985.


Career


1987 to 1992: Early career

Ranjith's entry into Mollywood was accidental, he was inspired by his friend, the late film producer and director Alex I. Kadavil, in whose residence he had stayed for his debut in the film industry. In 1987, he made his debut as a writer in ''
Oru Maymasa Pulariyil ''Oru Maymasa Pulariyil'' ( ml, ഒരു മേയ്മാസ പുലരിയിൽ) is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language film co-written and directed by V. R. Gopinath, starring Balachandra Menon, Murali and Shari. It was the debut of Ra ...
'', produced by Alex I. Kadavil and directed by V. R. Gopinath. In 1988, Ranjith made his formal entry into the film world by writing the story for ''
Orkkapurathu ''Orkkappurathu'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Kamal and written by Shibu Chakravarthy from a story by Ranjith. It is produced by Mohanlal and Century Kochumon, starring Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, N. L. ...
'', an adventure film directed by Kamal, 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 app ...
in the lead role. The immediate success of ''
Orkkapurathu ''Orkkappurathu'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Kamal and written by Shibu Chakravarthy from a story by Ranjith. It is produced by Mohanlal and Century Kochumon, starring Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, N. L. ...
'' brought Ranjith several opportunities to work in films. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ranjith wrote scripts for several small budget films, mainly for Kamal, including ''
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal ''Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Kamal and written by Ranjith from a story by Kamal, it was produced by Castle Productions. The film stars Jayaram as Sivasankaran, who a ...
'' (1989), ''
Pradeshika Varthakal ''Pradeshika Varthakal'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by Kamal and produced by S. Sivaprasad, the film stars Jayaram, Parvathy, Jagathy Sreekumar and Innocent, with a film score composed by Johnson. Plot The mov ...
'' (1989) and ''
Pookkalam Varavayi ''Pookkalam Varavayi'' () is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Ranjith from a story by P. R. Nathan. It stars Jayaram, Sunitha, Shamili, Murali, and Geetha. Divya Unni and Kavya Madhavan made ...
'' (1991). Another director with whom Ranjith worked during this period was
Viji Thampi Viji Thampi is an Indian film director, actor and social activist who works in Malayalam films. Thampi is a member of Thiruvananthapuram regional board of the Central Board of Film Certification and the State Advisor of Kerala Kshetra Samraksha ...
. This team released ''
Witness In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...
'' (1988), ''Nanma Niranjavan Sreenivasan'' (1990), ''
Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam ''Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Viji Thampi and written by Ranjith, starring Jayaram and Sreenivasan. The movie is partially based on the 1986 movie Ruthless People. Plot ...
'' (1989) and ''Kaalalpada'' (1990), all with
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 occasiona ...
in the lead role. In 1992, he wrote '' Neelagiri'' for I. V. Sasi, which underperformed at the box office. This was followed by ''
Johnnie Walker Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky now owned by Diageo that originated in the Scottish burgh of Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire. The brand was first established by grocer John Walker. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Sc ...
'', directed by
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 ...
, which was noted for its different filmmaking style and was a commercial success at the box office.


1993 to 2000: Breakthrough

1993 was significant in Ranjith's career: ''
Devasuram ''Devaasuram'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting r ...
'', his film based on the life of his father-figure, Mullassery Rajagopal, turned out to be a huge box office hit. 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 app ...
in the lead and directed by
I.V. Sasi Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran (28 March 1947 – 24 October 2017), better known as I. V. Sasi, was an Indian film director who made over 110 films predominantly in Malayalam, in addition to Tamil language, Tamil and Hindi languages. In 2015, he was a ...
, ''Devasuram'' was both critically and commercially acclaimed;
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 app ...
's performance was lauded and it opened a new genre of feudal stories in Malayalam cinema. Within two months of the release of ''
Devasuram ''Devaasuram'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting r ...
'', Ranjith's next movie, ''
Maya Mayuram ''Maya Mayooram'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal in a dual role, alongside Revathi and Shobana in lead roles with Thilakan, Sukumari, Kaviyoor Ponna ...
'' (directed by
Sibi Malayil Sibi ( Sindhi: سيوي ur, ) is a city situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name. Etymology The origin of the town's name is attributed to Rani Sewi, a Hindu la ...
and again starring
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 app ...
) was released, but was not as successful. According to Ranjith, ''Maya Mayuram'' is one of his best films and its failure affected him greatly. Ranjith mentioned in an interview that several directors passed on the opportunity to make ''Maya Mayuram'', and it was
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 app ...
who convinced
Sibi Malayil Sibi ( Sindhi: سيوي ur, ) is a city situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name. Etymology The origin of the town's name is attributed to Rani Sewi, a Hindu la ...
to get involved. After writing ''Yadavam'' (directed by Jomon and starring
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 acti ...
), Ranjith worked with
Shaji Kailas Shaji Kailas (born 8 February 1965) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990). He is best known for his action films with ma ...
for ''
Rudraksham ''Rudraksham'' (Malayalam: രുദ്രാക്ഷം) is a 1994 action Malayalam film starring Suresh Gopi, Annie and Devan. Written by Ranjith and directed by Shaji Kailas. This film was criticized for extreme violence. Plot Due to his ...
'', again starring
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 acti ...
, who was at the peak of his career. This film generated significant hype in the market as
Shaji Kailas Shaji Kailas (born 8 February 1965) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990). He is best known for his action films with ma ...
-
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 acti ...
was a hot selling team at the time, but the loose script and clichéd humorless dialogues led to ''
Rudraksham ''Rudraksham'' (Malayalam: രുദ്രാക്ഷം) is a 1994 action Malayalam film starring Suresh Gopi, Annie and Devan. Written by Ranjith and directed by Shaji Kailas. This film was criticized for extreme violence. Plot Due to his ...
'' becoming a flop. His next piece of work, ''Rajaputhran'', directed by Shajun Karyal, again with
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 acti ...
in the lead, became a superhit. In 1997, Ranjith teamed up again with
Shaji Kailas Shaji Kailas (born 8 February 1965) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990). He is best known for his action films with ma ...
for ''Asuravamsham'', starring
Manoj K Jayan Manoj Kadampoothramadom Jayan also known as Manoj K.Jayan is an Indian actor of Malayalam and Tamil films. He has also done a few Telugu and Kannada films and has also acted in a Bollywood film. Manoj has won three Kerala State Film Award for ...
and Biju Menon; the film yielded an average commercial response. Towards the end of 1997, Ranjith penned '' Aaraam Thampuran'', which went to become one of the biggest hits of his career. This film was also a turning point in the career of
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 app ...
, and with it Ranjith gained a reputation as a commercially viable scriptwriter. Then came ''Kaikudanna Nilavu'', in 1998, directed by Kamal, starring
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 occasiona ...
, yet another average grosser. In 1998 Ranjith scripted '' Summer in Bethlehem'', directed by
Sibi Malayil Sibi ( Sindhi: سيوي ur, ) is a city situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name. Etymology The origin of the town's name is attributed to Rani Sewi, a Hindu la ...
, starring
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 acti ...
and
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 occasiona ...
, a super hit. In 1999, Ranjith and
Shaji Kailas Shaji Kailas (born 8 February 1965) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990). He is best known for his action films with ma ...
produced the film '' Ustaad'', directed by
Sibi Malayil Sibi ( Sindhi: سيوي ur, ) is a city situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name. Etymology The origin of the town's name is attributed to Rani Sewi, a Hindu la ...
, starring
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 app ...
. The year 2000 began with the release of '' Narasimham'', directed by
Shaji Kailas Shaji Kailas (born 8 February 1965) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990). He is best known for his action films with ma ...
. 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 app ...
playing the lead role, this film became one of the biggest hits ever in the history of Malayalam cinema at the time. Yet again in 2000, together with Director Shaji, Ranjith repeated history: his
Onam Onam ( ) is an annual Indian harvest festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindus of Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events. Onam commemorates Vamana ...
release ''
Valliettan ''Valyettan'' ( Elder brother) is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Shaji Kailas and scripted by Ranjith. It stars Mammootty, Shobana, Sai Kumar, N. F. Varghese, Siddique and Manoj K Jayan. It was remade in Kann ...
'' starring
Mammooty 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, H ...
was a commercial success. This was his last script for Shaji Kailas and with this film Ranjith became the most successful scriptwriter of the time.


2001 to 2009: Directorial debut and further success

In 2001, Ranjith made his directorial debut with ''
Ravanaprabhu ''Raavanaprabhu'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller drama film written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Devaasuram'' written by Ranjith, directed by I.V. Sasi. The film st ...
'', the sequel to ''
Devasuram ''Devaasuram'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting r ...
''. 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 app ...
appearing in dual roles as father and son, this film turned out to be another blockbuster. In 2002 Ranjith came back with another blockbuster, ''
Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...
'', starring
Navya Nair Navya Nair is an Indian actress who has appeared predominantly in Malayalam films, along with others in Kannada and Tamil. She is the recipient of several awards. Personal life Nair married Santhosh Menon in 2010, and the couple have a son. ...
and a new face,
Prithviraj Sukumaran Prithviraj Sukumaran (born 16 October 1982) is an Indian actor, director, producer and playback singer primarily working in Malayalam cinema. He has also done Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. He acted in more than 100 films in a variety of ...
. Ranjith produced this film along with his friend, actor Siddique. ''Nandanam'', revolving around an innocent girl, her love for Lord Sri Krishna and her beau, was an entirely different and unexpected theme from Ranjith at the time. Despite the film not having a big star cast, fights, or punchy dialogues and being shelved after some pre-production activities it became a hit. In 2003 Ranjith directed ''
Mizhi Randilum ''Mizhi Randilum'' (English: ''In both Eyes'') is a 2003 Malayalam film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Indrajith, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumari, and Revathi. This movie was actor Narendra Prasad's last film ...
'', starring Dileep and Kavya Madhavan, another family drama, which failed to impress the masses, but was critically acclaimed. In the same year Ranjith scripted ''Ammakilikood'', directed by Padmakumar with Prithviraj in the lead role, which also got the cold shoulder from the public. In 2004 Ranjith teamed up with
Mammooty 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, H ...
for ''
Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...
'', which was a complete commercial entertainer targeting the fans of
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 cinema, Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil l ...
. ''
Chandrolsavam ''Chandrolsavam'' is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film written and directed by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal with Meena, Ranjith, Cochin Haneefa, VK Sreeraman, Santhosh and Jagadish in supporting roles. V. Dakshinamoorthy m ...
'', starring
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 app ...
, followed in 2005. Ranjith believes that it was not a bad film. He said, "Mohanlal fans expected too much. I don't think it was a bad film. Many who watched it on DVD called to say they were surprised it did not do well. Fans come in with pre-conceived notions on how the actor will be in the movie and the kind of story it will be, hence they could not grasp the poetic element in the film." In 2006, he scripted and directed '' Prajapathi'', starring
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 cinema, Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil l ...
, was also blasted by critics, and was another disastrous movie. His next venture was an offbeat film ''
Kaiyoppu ''Kaiyoppu'' () is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language film written by Ambikasuthan Mangad. The film was produced and directed by Ranjith and stars Mammootty, Khushbu and Mukesh.Khushbu won Kerala state Film Special Mention Award for her perform ...
''. Though a flop at the box office, ''Kaiyoppu'' brought critical appreciation from far corners and that compelled Ranjith to work with plots and themes without any commercial ingredients. Notably, its lead actor Mammootty received no payment to act in the film as the script impressed him so much. In 2007, Ranjith teamed up with Joshiy for the big budget film '' Nasrani'' starring Mammootty. His next directorial feature was the musical-comedy '' Rock & Roll'', starring Mohanlal. In 2008 Ranjith directed ''
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 and ...
'', based on actress
Srividya Srividya (24 July 1953 – 19 October 2006), also known as Sreevidya, was an Indian actress best known for her work predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films, along with few Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. In a career spanning for 40 years, ...
's life, which won the National Award for the Best Malayalam Feature Film. Starring
Anoop Menon Anoop Menon (born 3 August 1976) is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and lyricist. He worked in television before acting in Malayalam films and has acted in more than 75 films. Menon won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supportin ...
and
Priyamani Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer (born 4 June 1984), known by her professional name Priyamani, is an Indian actress and former model, who works in the South Indian film industry. She is a recipient of Several Awards. Priyamani made her acting debut ...
, the movie featured Prithviraj and
Samvrutha Sunil Samvritha Sunil (born 31 October 1986) is an Indian actress who appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in 2004 through the film ''Rasikan'' directed by Lal Jose before which she had also appeared as a junior artist in the film '' Ayal ...
in important supporting roles. The movie was able to bring out the best in the actors. In 2009 Ranjith directed and wrote the script for ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha'', which was critically acclaimed. Ranjith also introduced about thirty Malayalam stage artists through this film. In the same year he came up with another unique creation, ''
Kerala Cafe ''Kerala Cafe'' is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language anthology film produced by Ranjith and directed by a team of ten directors including Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, Anwar Rasheed, Shyamaprasad, B. Unnikrishnan, Revathy, Anjali Menon, M. Padmakumar ...
'' — a fusion of ten different short films by ten directors. The different segments in the movie were conceived and connected based on the concept of ''
Yatra ( sa, यात्रा, 'journey', 'procession'), in Indian-origin religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, generally means a pilgrimage to holy places such as confluences of sacred rivers, sacred mountains, places associated ...
'', or journey.


2010 onwards

In 2010 Ranjith wrote the story for the film ''
Penpattanam ''Penpattanam'' is a 2010 Malayalam film by V. M. Vinu. This films takes a look at the struggle for survival of four women who are Kudumbasree workers portrayed by Revathi, KPAC Lalitha, Shwetha Menon and Vishnupriya. This film is based on 200 ...
'', directed by
V. M. Vinu V. M. Vinu is an Indian film director who works in Malayalam cinema. Early life V. M. Vinu was born in a middle-class family in Kozhikode, Kerala. His father, Vinayan is a novelist & playwright. While studying in school, Vinu acted in AIR D ...
. He then scripted and directed, ''
Pranchiyettan and the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
'', starring
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 cinema, Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil l ...
, which was also widely accepted by movie fans and the people of Kerala. It became the most popular film of the year and was also a commercial success. ''Pranchiyettan and the Saint'' is now considered one of the best comedy films in Malayalam cinema and has over the years attained a cult status. During this time, Ranjith also received a highly coveted appointment as the School Director for Cochin Media School. He also appeared as judge in "Mammootty the Best Actor Award – II", an acting talent-hunt reality show aired on the television channel
Asianet Asianet may refer to: Disney Star channels *Asianet Communications, an Indian media company wholly owned by Disney Star **Asianet (TV channel), a Malayalam language general entertainment channel **Asianet Plus, a Malayalam language general entertai ...
. In 2011, Ranjith scripted and directed a critically acclaimed satirical film ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' starring Prithviraj, which was well received by the critics and also a commercial success. His next film, ''
Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...
'', primarily focused on the increasing habits of alcoholism in Kerala. Starring
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 app ...
in the lead role, the film was critically acclaimed and a box office success. He then produced and scripted for G. S. Vijayan's
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 cinema, Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil l ...
-starring '' Bavuttiyude Namathil'' in 2012, which was an average at the box office. His next film with Mammootty, ''
Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty ''Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty'' is a 2013 Indian Malayalam comedy film written and directed by Ranjith and starring Mammootty in the lead role of an Achayan from Kozhencherry, Central Travancore and also in a cameo as himself. The cast includ ...
'', underperformed at the box office. ''
Njaan ''Njaan'' ( English: ''"I"'') is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language period drama film directed by Ranjith with Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, along with Jyothi Krishna, Anumol and newcomer Shruthi Ramachandran as the female leads. The movie ...
'', based on the novel ''K T N Kottoor: Ezhuthum Jeevithavum'' by T P Rajeevan and featuring
Dulquer Salmaan Dulquer Salmaan (born 28 July 1986) is an Indian actor, playback singer and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films, in addition to Telugu and Hindi films. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business manageme ...
in the lead role, was released on 19 September 2014. He also produced ''
Munnariyippu ''Munnariyippu'' () is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language psychological experimental thriller film directed by Venu and produced by Ranjith, screenplay by Unni R. The film stars Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath, with Nedumudi Venu, Joy Mathew, Prat ...
'' starring Mammootty in the lead role. The film became one of the highest grossers of the year. In 2015 he directed ''
Loham ''Loham: The Yellow Metal'' is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Ranjith, and produced by Antony Perumbavoor for the production company Aashirvad Cinemas. The film, starring Mohanlal, Renji Panicker ...
'', starring
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 app ...
, which received mixed reactions from critics.


Filmography


Awards

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 Directorat ...
: *
2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
: Best Film on Social Issues – ''
Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...
'' *
2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' * 2008: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – ''
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 and ...
'' Kerala State Film Awards: * 2014:
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 bee ...
(Adapted) – ''
Njaan ''Njaan'' ( English: ''"I"'') is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language period drama film directed by Ranjith with Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, along with Jyothi Krishna, Anumol and newcomer Shruthi Ramachandran as the female leads. The movie ...
'' * 2011:
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
– ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' * 2010:
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
-
Pranchiyettan and The Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
* 2009:
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha * 2001:
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 ...
– ''
Ravanaprabhu ''Raavanaprabhu'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller drama film written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Devaasuram'' written by Ranjith, directed by I.V. Sasi. The film st ...
''
Kerala Film Critics Awards The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...
* 2010: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Film – ''
Pranchiyettan and the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
'' * 2010: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Director – ''
Pranchiyettan and the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
'' * 2010: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script – ''
Pranchiyettan and the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
'' * 2009: Kerala Film Critics Award for Second Best Film – ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'' * 2008: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Film – ''
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 and ...
''"Atlas Film awards for Lal and Sukumari"
.
Oneindia.in Oneindia.com is an Indian website established in January 2006 by BG Mahesh. The website provides news updates, information on sports, events, travel, entertainment, business, lifestyle, videos, and classifieds in seven different Indian language ...
. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
* 2008: Kerala Film Critics Award for Second Best Actor – ''Gulmohar'' * 2007: Kerala Film Critics Award for Second Best Film – ''
Kaiyoppu ''Kaiyoppu'' () is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language film written by Ambikasuthan Mangad. The film was produced and directed by Ranjith and stars Mammootty, Khushbu and Mukesh.Khushbu won Kerala state Film Special Mention Award for her perform ...
'' * 2003: Kerala Film Critics Award for Second Best Film – ''
Mizhi Randilum ''Mizhi Randilum'' (English: ''In both Eyes'') is a 2003 Malayalam film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Indrajith, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumari, and Revathi. This movie was actor Narendra Prasad's last film ...
'' * 2002: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Director – ''
Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...
''. ''The Hindu''. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 2011-03-02. * 2002: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Film – ''
Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...
''
Asianet Film Awards The Asianet Film Awards is an award ceremony for films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. Asianet says that awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artis ...
* 2012: Asianet Film Award for Best Director – ''
Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...
'' * 2011: Asianet Film Award for Best Director – ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' * 2010: Asianet Film Award for Best Film – ''
Pranchiyettan and the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. Pra ...
'' * 2009: Asianet Film Award for Best Director – ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'' * 2003: Asianet Film Award for Best Script Writer – ''
Mizhi Randilum ''Mizhi Randilum'' (English: ''In both Eyes'') is a 2003 Malayalam film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Indrajith, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumari, and Revathi. This movie was actor Narendra Prasad's last film ...
'' * 2002: Asianet Film Award for Best Film – ''
Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...
''
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 ...
* 2014:
Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
– ''
Munnariyippu ''Munnariyippu'' () is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language psychological experimental thriller film directed by Venu and produced by Ranjith, screenplay by Unni R. The film stars Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath, with Nedumudi Venu, Joy Mathew, Prat ...
'' * 2010:
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...
– ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010:
Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
– ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2008:
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...
– ''
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 and ...
'' * 2008:
Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
– ''
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 and ...
'' Other Awards: * 2011: Vayalar Ramavarma Chalachitra Television Award and The Kochi Times Film Award for Best Film – ''
Indian Rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...
'' * 2010: Nana Film Awards for the Best Film – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Nana Film Awards for the Best Director – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Vanitha Film Awards for the Best Film – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Vanitha Film Awards for the Best Director – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Vanitha Film Awards for the Best Script – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Kairali film Awards for the Best Film – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Kairali film Awards for the Best Director – ''
Pranchiyettan & the Saint ''Pranchiyettan & the Saint'' is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based businessman C. E. Francis a.k.a. P ...
'' * 2010: Vanitha Film Awards for Best Director – ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'' * 2010: Mathrubhumi – Amrita TV Film Awards for Best Director – ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'' * 2008: Mathrubhumi – Amrita TV Film Awards for Best Film – ''
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 and ...
'' * 2008: Mathrubhumi – Amrita TV Film Awards for Best Director – ''
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 and ...
'' * 2008:
Padmarajan P. Padmarajan (23 May 1945 – 23 January 1991) was an Indian film maker, screenwriter and author who was known for his works in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema. He was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, a ...
Award – ''
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 and ...
'' * 2005: Bharathan Memorial Award * 2002:
Ramu Kariat Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include '' Neelakkuyil'' (1954), '' ...
Award – ''
Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...
''


References


External links

*
'Cinema of Malayalam' profile

School of Media
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranjith 1964 births Malayalam film directors Living people Male actors from Kozhikode Kerala State Film Award winners Malayalam screenwriters Male actors in Malayalam cinema Filmfare Awards South winners Malayalam film producers Indian male film actors Film producers from Kerala 20th-century Indian film directors 21st-century Indian film directors Film directors from Kerala 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Writers from Kozhikode Screenwriters from Kerala Directors who won the Best Film on Other Social Issues National Film Award