G. Aravindan

Infobox actor
name = G. Aravindan


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birthname = Govindan Aravindan
birthdate = 21 January 1935
birthplace = Kottayam, Kerala, India
deathdate = 15 March 1991
deathplace = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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occupation = Director, Screenwriter, Musician, Cartoonist, Revenue Board Officer
yearsactive = 1974 - 1991 (In film field)
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parents = M.N.Govindan Nair
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imdb_id = 0033244
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nationalfilmawards = 1978
Best Director (Kanchana Seetha)
1979
Best Director (Thampu)
1986
Director of Best Film (Chidambaram)
1987
Best Director (Oridathu)
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awards = Kerala State Film Awards
1974
Director of Best Film (Utharayanam)
Best Director (Utharayanam)
Best Script (Utharayanam)
1978
Director of Second Best Film (Thampu)
Best Director (Thampu)
1979
Director of Best Film (Esthappan)
Best Director (Esathappan)
Director of Best Childrens' Film (Kummatti)
1981
Best Director (Pokkuveyil)
1985
Director of Best Film (Chidambaram)
Best Director (Chidambaram)
Director of Best Documentary (The Brown Landscape)
1986
Director of Best Film (Oridathu)
Best Director (Oridathu)
Director of Best Documentary Film (The Catch)
1988
Best Music Director (Ore Thooval Pakshikal)
1990
Director of Best Film (Vaasthuhara)
Best Director (Vaasthuhara)

Govindan Aravindan (born January 21, 1935 in Kottayam — died March 15, 1991 in Trivandrum) who was popularly known as G. Aravindan was a national award winning film director, screenwriter, musician and cartoonist from Kerala, India. He was known for his unorthodox way of film-making; he changed his cinematic forms consistently [ [http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/17/stories/2006031700450200.htm The Hindu: Remembering Aravindan] ] and experimented in story telling without regular narrative styles [ [http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/aravindan.html cinemaofmalayalam.net: G. Aravindan profile] ] . Before venturing into film field, he was an established cartoonist. He had also worked with documentaries and theatre.

Biography

G. Aravindan was the son of famous comedy writer M. N. Govindan Nair [ [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/aravindhan.htm Weblokam profile] ] . Aravindan started his professional life in as a cartoonist in Mathrubhumi journal. He established himself as a noted cartoonist in early 1960s with his cartoon series "Cheriya Manushyarum Valiya Lokavum" which dealt with the adventures of the central characters "Ramu" and "Guruji", mingled with political and social satires [ [http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/aravindan.html cinemaofmalayalam.net: G. Aravindan profile] ] . The series was preceded by two more cartoon series namely "Ramuvinte Sahasika Yathrakal" and "Guruji" featuring the central characters of "Cheriya Manushyarum Valiya Lokavum". He has also worked in other journals as cartoonist. At a point of time, Aravindan diverted his concentration to theatre and music. He played a major role in establishing theatre and music clubs namely "Navarangam" and "Sopanam". He became associated with eminent theatre figure Kavalam Narayanan Panikker which accelerated his activities in the field of professional play. They created several plays like "Kaali" and "Avanavan Kadamba" [ [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/aravindhan.htm Weblokam profile] ] . Aravindan was working as an officer in revenue board when he got associated with artist Devan, playwright Thikkodiyan and writer Pattathuvila Karunakaran. The first film directed by Aravindan, "Utharayanam"(1974) came out as a product from this group; the film was produced by Karunakaran and the story was written by Thikkodiyan. The early works of Aravindan was influenced by the group; for example the spiritualism factor which can be seen in his early works can be attributed to satirist Sanjayan and mystic paintings of K.C.S. Panikker [ [http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/aravindan.html cinemaofmalayalam.net: G. Aravindan profile] ] . Aravindan's second film "Kanchana Seetha" was released 3 years later in 1977. The film was retake on the Ramayana. This film is credited with formation of a new stream of filmmaking called independent filmmaking [ [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2002/03/aravindhan.htm Weblokam profile] ] . While "Kanchana Seetha" dealt with mythology, Aravindan's next film "Thampu"(1978) dealt with realism and told the story of suffering in a circus troupe. His 1979 films "Kummatti" and "Esthappan" were also ran through different streams. His next film "Pokkuveyil"(1981) starred poet Balachandran Chullikkad. From this film to his next film there was a gap of 4 years. The 1985 film "Chidambaram" was produced by Aravindan himself under the banner "Suryakanthi". In 1986 "Oridath" came which handled the problems faced by the people of a hamlet where electricity in unavailable, when electric supply finally reaches there [ [http://www.iffi.nic.in/retroarvind.pdf IFFI Aravindan Retrospective] ] . In this period Aravindan also did a number of documentaries and short films. He also composed music for some films like "Aro Oral", "Piravi" and "Ore Thooval Pakshikal". Aravindan's 1989 film "Unni" had a starcast mainly consisting of foreigners. Aravindan's final project "Vaasthuhara"(1991) about refugees in Bengal was based on C. V. Sreereman's short story in the same name. The film had Mohanlal and Neena Gupta in major roles. Even before the release of "Vaasthuhara", Aravindan passed away on 15 March 1991.

Awards

National Film Awards

=Best Direction=

*1978 - Kanchana Seetha
*1979 - Thampu
*1987 - Oridathu

=Director of Best Film=

*1986 - Chidambaram

Kerala State Film Awards

Best Director

*1974 Utharayanam
*1978 Thampu
*1979 Esathappan
*1981 Pokkuveyil
*1985 Chidambaram
*1986 Oridathu
*1990 Vaasthuhara

Director of Best Film

*1974 Utharayanam
*1979 Esthappan
*1985

*1986 Oridathu
*1990 Vaasthuhara
*1974 Best Script (Utharayanam)
*1978 Director of Second Best Film (Thampu)
*1979 Director of Best Children's Film (Kummatti)
*1985 Director of Best Documentary (The Brown Landscape)
*1986 Director of Best Documentary Film (The Catch)
*1988 Best Music Director (Ore Thooval Pakshikal)

Filmography

Direction

#Vasthuhara (1991)
#Sahaja (1990)
#Unni (1989)
#Anadi-Dhara (1988)
#Marattam (1988) (TV)
#Contours of Linear Rhythm (1987)
#Oridathu (1986)
#The Catch (1986)
#The Brown Landscape (1985)
#Chidambaram (1985)
#The Seer Who Walks Alone (1985)
#Viti (1985)
#Pokkuveyil (1981)
#Esthappan (1980)
#Kummatty (1979)
#Thampu (1978)
#Kanchana Sita (1977)
#Uttarayanam (1974)

creenwriting

#Vasthuhara (1991) (dialogue) (screenplay)
#Marattam (1988) (TV)
#Oridathu (1986)
#Chidambaram (1985)
#Pokkuveyil (1981)
#Esthappan (1980) (screenplay) (story)
#Uttarayanam (1974)

Composing

#Piravi (1988)
#Esthappan (1980)
#Aaro Oral (1978)

Editing

#Esthappan (1980)

References

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0033244/ G. Aravindan at the Internet Movie Database]

See Also

* National Film Award for Best Directing
* Kerala State Film Awards