Adoor Gopalakrishnan
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Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Biography
One of the most lauded directors in India, Adoor Gopalakrishnan has often been hailed as the filmmaker who has done the most to carry on the cinematic legacy of Satyajit Ray. The influence of Ray can be seen in his subtle, humanist, and carefully composed films -- all of them set in Kerala, the province of Southern India where he was raised -- but over the course of his career he has developed a style all his own, rooted in the rhythms of traditional Kerala village life but addressing issues of politics, religion, and personal responsibility that are universal in scope. He was born in 1941 in the village of Adoor, into a family that practiced the traditional Indian dance drama known as Kathakali. He began acting on stage as a child, and eventually attended the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India. His first feature, One's Own Choice, about the travails of a young rural couple who run away to the city, was heavily influenced by Ray's style, but he began to find his own voice with Ascent, which takes its structure and themes from a Kathakali ritual. His third film, The Rat Trap, which tells the story of a stubborn patriarch clinging to an outdated feudal system, was the first to win him international acclaim, and all his subsequent films have played widely at festivals around the world. His three most recent films, The Servile, The Man of the Story, and Shadow Kill, each represent further refinements of his visual style and thematic preoccupations. A household name among cinemagoers in India, Gopalakrishnan has won the Indian National award for Best Director four times, and has been honored with awards and retrospectives at festivals in Europe and Asia. Despite his international renown, he remains virtually unknown in the United States. ~ Tom Vick, RoviWikipedia on Answers.com:
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Adoor Gopalakrishnan
| Dr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan | |
|---|---|
 Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
|
| Born | Moutathu Gopalakrishnan Unnithan July 3, 1941 Pallickal, Adoor, Travancore, British India |
| Other names | Adoor |
| Occupation | Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Years active | 1965 – present |
| Influenced | Malayalam parallel cinema |
| Parents | Madhavan Unnithan, Gauri Kunjamma |
| Website | |
| http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.com | |
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan (born 3 July 1941) is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.[1] Adoor's first film Swayamvaram (1972) pioneered the new wave cinema movement in Kerala. Most of his films go to festivals around the world, and are released in Kerala. All the eleven films he directed, from Swayamvaram to Oru Pennum Randaanum (2008), were screened at several international film festivals and won him several national and international awards. He won National Film Awards sixteen times, Kerala State Film Awards seventeen times and also won several international film awards. He won the prestigious British Film Institute award for Elippathayam (1981). Adoor received the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2006. The Nation honoured Adoor for his valuable contributions to Indian cinema by awarding him the highest cinema award of India, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2004.[2]
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Biography
Gopalakrishnan was born on 3 July 1941 in the village of Pallickal (Medayil Bungalow) near Adoor, present day Kerala, India as the son of Madhavan Unnithan and Mouttathu Gauri Kunjamma. He started his artistic life as an actor in amateur plays when he was 8. Later he shifted his base to writing and direction and wrote and directed a few plays. After securing a degree in Economics, Political Science and Public Administration in 1961 from the Gandhigram Rural Institute,[3] he worked as a Government officer near Dindigul in Tamilnadu . In 1962, he left his job to study screenwriting and direction from the Pune Film Institute. He completed his course from there with a scholarship from the Government of India. With his classmates and friends, Adoor established Chithralekha Film Society and Chalachithra Sahakarana Sangham; the organization was the first film society in Kerala and it aimed at production, distribution and exhibition of films in the co-operative sector.
Adoor has scripted and directed eleven feature films and about thirty short films and documentaries. Notable amongst the non-feature films are those on Kerala’s performing arts.
Adoor's debut film, the national award winning Swayamvaram(1972) was a milestone in Malayalam film history. The film was exhibited widely in various international film festivals including those held in Moscow, Melbourne, London and Paris. The films that followed namely Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantharam, Mathilukal, Vidheyan and Kathapurushan lived up to the reputation of his first film and were well received by critics at various film festivals and fetched him many awards. However, Mukhamukham was criticized in Kerala while Vidheyan was at the centre of a debate due to the differences in opinion between the writer of story of the film Sakhariya and Adoor.
Adoor's later films are Nizhalkuthu, narrating the experiences of an executioner who comes to know that one of his subjects was innocent, and Naalu Pennungal, a film adaptation of 4 short stories by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai.
All his films have won national and international awards (National award for best film twice, best director five times, and best script two times. His films have also won his actors and technicians several national awards). Adoor’s third feature, Elippathayam won him the coveted British Film Institute Award for 'the most original and imaginative film' of 1982. The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) has gone to him six times successively for Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan and Nizhalkkuthu. Winner of several international awards like the UNICEF film prize (Venice), OCIC film prize (Amiens), INTERFILM Prize (Mannheim) etc., his films have been shown in Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, London, Rotterdam and every important festival around the world.
In consideration of his contribution to Indian cinema, the nation honoured him with the title of Padma Shri(India's fourth highest civilian award) in 1984 and Padma Vibhushan(India's second highest civilian award) in 2006.
Adoor is settled in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in Kerala. His daughter Aswathi Dorje is an IPS officer (part of the Assam cadre, 2000 batch), currently acting as Deputy Commissioners of Police in Mumbai since June 2010.[4][5]
Documentaries and 'New Cinema' movement
Apart from nine feature films, he has over 30 short films and documentaries to his credit. The Helsinki Film Festival was the first film festival to have a retrospective of his films. He has headed the jury at the National Film Awards and many international film festivals.
Apart from his films, Adoor's major contribution towards introducing a new cinema culture in Kerala was the constitution of the first Film Society in Kerala, "Chitralekha Film Society". He also took active part in the constitution of "Chitralekha," Kerala's first Film Co-operative Society for film production. These movements triggered a fresh wave of films, called "art films," by directors like G Aravindan, PA Becker, KG George, Pavithran, and Raveendran. At a time this movement was so strong that even popular cinema synthesised with art cinema to create a new genre of films.
Style and trademarks
Adoor has been known as a director who completely dictates every fine detail of his films. On the performance of actors in his movies, he stated that - "It is not the artist's job to do the detailing. I do not want different interpretations of roles that may clash with each other. It has to be absolutely unified." He normally does not encourage his crew to read the script or even the stories. The actors are told at the time of shooting about the role and the scenes before conducting several rehearsals. According to Adoor "[i]n movies, the actor is not performing to the audience like the stage actor. Here they are acting for me. I am the audience and I will decide whether it is correct or not, enough or not." [6]
Awards and milestones
Some of the awards Gopalakrishnan has won for his films include:
- 2010 - Honorary Doctorate [D.Litt] from University of Kerala
- 2006 - Padma Vibhushan — Second highest civilian award from Government of India [7]
- 2004 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award — Lifetime Achievement Award in Film awarded by the Government of India[2]
- 1984 - Padma Shri — Fourth highest civilian award from Government of India [8]
- 1984 - Legion of Honour — French order, the highest decoration in France
- National Film Awards — Various categories for Swayamvaram, Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantharam, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan, Nizhalkkuthu and Naalu Pennungal
- Kerala State Film Awards: — Various categories for Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantharam, Vidheyan and Oru Pennum Randaanum
- International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) — won consecutively for six feature films (Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan and Nizhalkkuthu)[9]
- London Film Festival — Sutherland Trophy — in 1982 for Elippathayam
- British Film Institute Award — Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 — Elippathayam
- Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French Government (2003)[10]
- Lifetime achievement award at Cairo International Film Festival.
National Film Awards (Detailed):
- 1973 - Best Film - Swayamvaram
- 1995 - Best Film - Kathapurushan
- 1973 - Best Director - Swayamvaram
- 1985 - Best Director - Mukhamukham
- 1988 - Best Director - Anantharam
- 1990 - Best Director - Mathilukal
- 2008 - Best Director - Naalu Pennungal
- 1978 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Kodiyettam
- 1982 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Elippathayam
- 1985 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Mukhamukham
- 1990 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Mathilukal
- 1994 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Vidheyan
- 2003 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Nizhalkkuthu
- 1985 - Best Screenplay - Mukhamukham
- 1988 - Best Screenplay - Anantharam
- 1984 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemayude Lokam
Kerala State Film Awards (Detailed):
- 1977 - Best Film - Kodiyettam
- 1981 - Best Film - Elippathayam
- 1984 - Best Film - Mukhamukham
- 1993 - Best Film - Vidheyan
- 2008 - Best Film - Oru Pennum Randaanum
- 1977 - Best Director - Kodiyettam
- 1984 - Best Director - Mukhamukham
- 1987 - Best Director - Anantharam
- 1993 - Best Director - Vidheyan
- 2008 - Best Director - Oru Pennum Randaanum
- 1977 - Best Story - Kodiyettam
- 1993 - Best Screen Play - Vidheyan
- 2008 - Best Screen Play - Oru Pennum Randaanum
- 1982 - Best Documentary Film - Krishnanattam
- 1999 - Best Documentary Film - Kalamandalam Gopi
- 2004 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemanubhavam
A retrospective of his films was conducted in
- Kolkata, by Seagull Foundation for the Arts and Nandan, 2009.[11]
- The Slovenian International Film Festival, 2009.[12]
- The Munich Film museum, 2009.[13]
- The French Cinematheque,Paris, 1999.[14]
Posts held
Adoor also worked in several respected posts in the film fraternity. He was a member of Sivaramakarath committee formed by the Government of India for framing a national film policy. He was a national film award committee member in 1974. He was a member of jury in Venice, Singapore, Hawaii and Delhi international film festivals. He was the chairman of International Film Festival of Kerala in 1999. He headed the National Film Development Corporation in the years 1980–1983. He was the director of Pune Film and Television Institute. In the years 1975–1977, he was a member of the advisory board for National Film Archives, Pune.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Duration | Category | Cast | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | A Great Day | 20 mins | Short fiction | ||
| 1966 | A Day at Kovalam | 30 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1967 | The Myth | 50 Seconds | Short fiction | Merit Certificate, Expo-67, Montreal | |
| 1968 | Danger at Your Door-step | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1968 | And Man created | 8 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1968 | Manntharikal (Grains of Sand) | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1969 | Towards National STD | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1969 | A Mission of Love | 30 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1966 | Your Food | 60 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1970 | Pratisandhi (The impasse) | 55 mins | Docu-drama | ||
| 1971 | Romance of Rubber | 30 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1972 | Swayamvaram (One’s Own Choice) | 125 mins | Feature film | Madhu, Sharada, Bharath Gopi, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, K. P. A. C. Lalitha | National Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematographer |
| 1973 | Kilimanooril Oru Dasalakshadhipati (A Millionaire is Born) | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1974 | Guru Chengannur | 17 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1975 | Past in Perspective | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1976 | Idukki | 60 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1977 | Kodiyettam (Ascent) | 128 mins | Feature film | Bharath Gopi, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Adoor Bhavani, Aziz | National Awards for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and Best Actor |
| 1978 | Four Shorts on Family Planning | 16 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1979 | Yakshagana | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1980 | Chola Heritage | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1981 | Elippathayam (Rat-Trap) | 121 mins | Feature film | Karamana Janardanan Nair, Sharada, Jalaja, Rajam K. Nair, Soman | Sutherland Trophy at 1982 London Film Festival National Awards for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and Best Audiography |
| 1982 | Krishnanattam | 20 mins | Documentary | ||
| 1984 | Mukhamukham (Face to Face) | 107 mins | Feature film | Ganga, Balan K. Nair, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Ashokan, K. P. A. C. Lalitha | FIPRESCI Prize, New Delhi, National Awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Audiography |
| 1985 | Eau/Ganga (Ganges-Water) | 140 mins | Grand Prize, Cinema du reel, Paris | ||
| 1987 | Anantaram (Monologue) | 125 mins | Feature film | Mammootty, Ashokan, Shobana, Balan K. Nair, Bahadoor | FIPRESCI Prize, Karlovy Vary. National awards for best director, best screenplay, and best audiography |
| 1990 | Mathilukal (The Walls) | 117 mins | Feature film | Mammootty, Murali, Thilakan, K. P. A. C. Lalitha (Voice), Karamana Janardanan Nair | FIPRESCI prize, Venice, UNICEF Film Prize, Venice, OCIC Prize, Amiens. National Award for best director, best actor, best regional film and best audiography |
| 1993 | Vidheyan (The Servile) | 112 mins | Feature film | Mammootty, Tanvi Azmi, M.R. Gopakumar, Sabitha Anand | Feature FIPRESCI and Special Jury Prize, Singapore. Interfilm Jury Prize, Mannheim. Netpac prize, Rotterdam. National Award for best actor and best regional film |
| 1995 | Kathapurushan (The Man of the Story) | 107 mins | Feature film | Viswanathan, Mini Nair, Narendra Prasad, Aranmula Ponnamma, Urmila Unni | FIPRESCI Prize, National award for the best film |
| 1995 | Kalamandalam Gopi | 43 mins | Documentary | ||
| 2001 | Koodiyattam | 180 mins | Documentary | ||
| 2002 | Nizhalkkuthu (Shadow Kill) | 90 mins | Feature film | Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Sukumari, Murali, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Narain | FIPRESCI, Mumbai. National award for best regional film |
| 2005 | Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair | 73 mins | Documentary | ||
| 2007 | Dance of the Enchantress | 72 mins | Documentary | ||
| 2007 | Naalu Pennungal (Four Women) | 105 mins | Feature film | Nandita Das, Kavya Madhavan, Geetu Mohandas, Padmapriya, Manju Pillai, Murali, Mukesh, Manoj K. Jayan | National Award for best director |
| 2008 | Oru Pennum Randaanum (A Climate for Crime) | 115 mins | Feature film | Nedumudi Venu, Manoj K. Jayan, Jagadish, Vijayaraghavan, Indrans, Ravi Vallathol, Praveena | Kerala State award for best director 2009 |
References
- ^ "Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Naalu Pennungal'". Daily Mirror. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Adoor selected for Phalke award". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 6 September 2005. http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/06/stories/2005090606830700.htm. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Page on Adoor Gopalakrishnan at Kerala tourism". http://www.keralatourism.org/index.php?zone=4&menu=59&id=21. Retrieved 8 February 2008
- ^ http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/jun/020610-mumbai-dcp-husband-wife-chhering-dorje-aswati.htm
- ^ "Crimebusters". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). 23 January 2005. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050123/asp/look/story_4279220.asp.
- ^ "'Naalu Pennungal' not complex like my other films: Adoor". Yahoo India Movies. http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.com/profile.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ^ "Adoor honoured with Padma award". Rediff.com. 21 March 2006. http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/21adoor.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ^ "'Naalu Pennungal' not complex like my other films: Adoor". http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/naalu-pennungal-not-complex-like-my-other-films-adoor/13244/story.htm. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Official Website of Adoor Gopalakrishnan". http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.com/profile.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ^ "Adoor receives French honour". The Times of India. 22 October 2003. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-245928,prtpage-1.cms. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ "Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Retrospective in Kolkata". Sify. 9 March 2009. http://sify.com/PRIVOXY-FORCE/movies/fullstory.php?id=14867560. Retrieved 29 May 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Adoor retrospective at Slovenian festival". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 15 November 2008. http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ "Adoor retrospective". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 5 September 2009. http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ "Interview: Adoor". Cinema of Malayalam. http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/adoor_interview_df.html. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
- Official website of Adoor
- Official Website of Information and Public Relation Department of Kerala
- Adoor Gopalakrishnan at the Internet Movie Database
- Adoor's oeuvre on Rediff
- Collection of photos of Adoor
- Profile of Adoor on Weblokam
- Profile at 'Cinema of Malayalam'
- 'The Road to Modern Times', Naalu Pennungal and the cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mint Lounge 8 September 2007, by Arjun Razdan
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