Padmarajan

Padmarajan
Padmarajan

P. Padmarajan
Born P. Padmarajan Pillai
May 23, 1945(1945-05-23)
Muthukulam, Alappuzha, Travancore
Died January 24, 1991(1991-01-24) (aged 45)
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Other names Pappettan
Occupation Film Director, Writer, AIR News Reader
Years active 1975-1991
Influenced Malayalam Middle Stream Cinema
Spouse Radha Lakshmi
Children Ananthapathmanabhan, Madhavikutty
Parents Thundathil Anantha Padmanabha Pillai, Njavarakkal Devaki Amma
Website
http://padmarajan.com

P. Padmarajan (Malayalam: പി. പത്മരാജന്‍; 23 May 1945 – 24 January 1991) was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed. A train of directors, and screen writers followed this school onto the 1990s including Sibi Malayil, Lohithadas, and Sathyan Anthikkad.

Padmarajan was noted for his fine and detailed screenwriting and expressive direction style. Padmarajan made some of the landmark motion pictures in Malayalam cinema, including masterpieces like Oridathoru Phayalvaan (1981), Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil (1986), Kariyila Kattu Pole (1986), Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986), Thoovanathumbikal (1987), Moonnam Pakkam (1988), and Njan Gandharvan (1991).

Contents

Early life

Born at Muthukulam near Haripad in Onattukara, Alleppey, he was the sixth son of Thundathil Anantha Padmanabha Pillai and Njavarakkal Devaki Amma. After early schooling at Muthukulam, he studied at M. G. College and University College, Trivandrum, graduating in Chemistry (1963). Subsequently, he learned Sanskrit from the scholar Cheppad Achyutha Warrier at Muthukulam. He then joined All India Radio, Trichur (1965), starting as a programme announcer, and later settled at Poojappura, Trivandrum (1968); he would remain at All India Radio until 1986, when his busy involvement in films would prompt him to retire voluntarily.

Career as screenwriter and director

Padmarajan during his early career

His stories deal with deceit, murder, romance, mystery, passion, jealousy, libertinism, anarchism, individualism, and the life of peripheral elements of society. Some of them are considered as among the best in Malayalam literature, his first novel Nakshathrangale Kaaval (With only the stars as witness) won the Kerala Sahithya Academy award (1972).

He entered the world of Malayalam films by writing the screenplay for Bharathan's directorial debut Prayaanam (1975) to take first steps to be one of the most talented script writers to have graced Malayalam cinema.

He later began to direct films based on his own screenplays, beginning with Peruvazhiyambalam (The Street as a Choultry) (1979), which are greatly popular among the common people as well as intellectuals and film critics, while maintaining richness in artistic and thematic originality and excellence. Padmarajan was a great experimenter who explored all walks of life in his works. His screen plays had such hitherto-unheard of features and subjects - such as casting rain as a character in Thoovanthumbikal (Fireflies of the Night), friendship and lesbianism in Desadanakili Karayarilla (Migratory Birds Don't Cry), unusual climax (By traditional standards) in Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (Wineyards for us to dwell) and Oridaththoru Phayalvaan (There Lived a Wrestler). Many of his films bear the mark of his romanticism.

He is celebrated for his possibly unparalleled attention to detail in his screenplays. Some of his scripts are arguably the smoothest narratives ever penned in the Malayalam language. They are also ample proof for his keen observation, acute perception, and astute portrayal of human relationships and emotions. Many of his films have stunning and haunting climaxes, most of them not commonly portrayed in Malayalam movies. His characters were portrayed with great sensitivity and intensity on the screen and many of the scenes are generously sprinkled with humor. The dialogues of characters are quite natural, in the language of the common man, and yet have a subtle lyrical quality.

Indeed, a just case may be made that his directorial merit flowed easily from his exquisitely crafted screenplays: he never directed a film based on a script written by someone else (unlike other Malayalam film directors of comparable stature, say, Bharathan and K. G. George), and rarely adapted his script from a story not his own. Consequently, he had an unusually intimate knowledge of the characters in his films in combination with his mastery of the script.

Association with Bharathan

Together with Bharathan and K. G. George, he successfully laid the foundation for a school of Malayalam cinema that strove to tread a middle ground by striking a fine balance between intellectual and commercial appeal, without sacrificing the strong points of either approach; this was accomplished by portraying brilliant stories with "next door" men and women as characters, steering clear of artificial characters, stereotypes and pedantic inclinations allegedly typical of critically acclaimed films. The term "Parallel film" is usually used to describe his 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 Ashokan (Peruvazhiyambalam), Rasheed (Oridathoru Phayalvaan), Rahman (Koodevide), Jayaram (Aparan), Ramachandran (Novemberinte Nashtam), Ajayan (Moonnam Pakkam). Also artists like Nitish Bharadwaj (Njan Gandharvan), Suhasini (Koodevide); Shaari (Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal) were introduced to Malayalam screen by him.

He coaxed sparkling and inspired performances from many actors, such as Mammootty, Bharath Gopi, Mohanlal, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Rahman, Jagathy Sreekumar, Suresh Gopi in Innale, Shobhana, Sumalatha, Thilakan, and Nedumudi Venu; indeed, Thilakan's rendition in Moonnam Pakkam is one of the best performances of the thespian's career. He also aided in establishing, to a fair degree, the fame of other directors such as Bharathan, I. V. Sasi, and Mohan, through his association with them; his collaboration with Bharathan as a script writer is considered to have produced remarkable works in Malayalam cinema. His assistants who went on to direct films independently include Thoppil Ajayan (Perumthachchan), Suresh Unnithan (Jaathakam, Raadhaamaadhavam), and Blessy (Kaazhcha, Thanmaathra, the latter adapted from Padmarajan's short story Orma in Thanmathra).

Death

His sudden and untimely death, which occurred at Hotel Paramount Towers in Calicut while he was visiting a Cinema playing his last film Njan Gandharvan. The news of his death was a shock to Keralites and was widely mourned, and the feeling of loss among the people of Kerala lingers to this day.

Trivia

His wife Radhalakshmi recalls that during the later part of year 1990 when Padmarajan was planning to do Njan Gandharvan there were many bad omens in his life. Gandharvans are singers from heaven in Hindu Mythology and their visits to Earth are believed to cast a spell on maidens and is usually dealt with an attitude of fear by the traditional Hindus. Following this belief, many people along with his wife advised Padmarajan not to make a film based on this subject. After postponing the film on this subject many times Padmarajan finally decided to do this film and started the work for the film. Many "bad omens" surfaced in this period, the flight he was supposed to travel to Mumbai to select the hero of the film was hit by a bird and was cancelled. There were continuous problems in the site of the film. Heroine Suparna fainted under a Pala tree during the shoot. Actor Nitish was also accounted to having fainted on getting poisoned from a betel leaf. Padmarajan was notably losing weight during this period and had high cholesterol despite the fact that he was jogging regularly and had stopped smoking. Despite the obstacles, the team completed the movie. The team including Nitish Bharadwaj and Padmarajan planned to visit the theaters in Calicut to promote the film where he joined the unknown.

Personal life

Padmarajan's wife Radhalakshmi Padmarajan is from Chittur in Palakkad. Radhalakshmi was his colleague at AIR 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 .

Awards

Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards
  • 1972: Novel - Nakshathrangale Kaval
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
  • 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
Kerala Film Critics' Awards
Film Fans' Awards
  • 1975: Best Screenplay - Prayanam
  • 1977: Best Screenplay - Itha Ivide Vare
  • 1978: Best Screenplay - Rappadikalude Gatha, Rathinirvedam
  • 1980: Best Screenplay - Thakara
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
  • 1990: Film Chamber Award for Best Story - Innale
  • 1991: FAC award - Njan Gandharvan

Filmography

As a director

P. Padmarajan had directed 18 movies, in a span of 12 years, all of them in Malayalam.

Sr. No. Year Title Original Title English Title Writer Notes
01 1979 Peruvazhiyambalam പെരുവഴിയമ്പലം Highway Shelter Yes Adapted from his novel of the same name
02 1981 Oridathoru Phayalvaan ഒരിടത്തൊരു ഫയൽവാന് There Lived a Wrestler Yes Also edited the film
03 1981 Kallan Pavithran കള്ളന് പവിത്രന് Pavithran, the Thief Yes Adapted from his novel of the same name
04 1982 Novemberinte Nashtam നവംബറിന്റെ നഷ്‌ടം November's Loss Yes
05 1983 Koodevide? കൂടെവിടെ? Wither The Nest Yes Adapted from the Tamil novel Moongil Pookkal by Vaasanthi
06 1984 Parannu Parannu Parannu പറന്ന്‌ പറന്ന്‌ പറന്ന്‌ Soaring Soaring Soaring Yes
07 1985 Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam തിങ്കളാഴ്ച നല്ല ദിവസം Monday, an Auspicious Day Yes
08 1986 Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal നമുക്കു പാർക്കാന് മുന്തിരിത്തോപ്പുകൾ Vineyards for Us to Dwell Yes Adapted from the novel Nammukku Graamangalil Chennu Raappaarkkaam by K. K. Sudhakaran
09 1986 Kariyila Kattu Pole കരിയിലക്കാറ്റു പോലെ Like a Zephyr of Dry Leaves Yes
10 1986 Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil അരപ്പട്ട കെട്ടിയ ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ In the Village Which Wears a Warrior's Belt Yes Adapted from his short story Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil
11 1986 Desatanakkili Karayarilla ദേശാടനക്കിളി കരയാറില്ല The Migratory Bird Never Cries Yes
12 1986 Nombarathi Poovu നൊമ്പരത്തി പൂവ്‌ The Sorrowful Flower Yes
13 1987 Thoovanathumbikal തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ Butterflies of the Spraying Rain Yes Adapted from his novel Udhakappola
14 1988 Aparan അപരന് The Impostor Yes Adapted from his short story
15 1988 Moonnam Pakkam മൂന്നാം പക്കം On the Third Day Yes
16 1989 Season സീസൺ Yes
17 1990 Innale ഇന്നലെ Yesterday Yes Adapted from novel Jananam by Vaasanthi
18 1991 Njan Gandharvan ഞാന് ഗന്ധർവന് I, Celestial Lover Yes

As a writer

Apart from his directoral ventures, he has also scripted 18 films. He has associated with many directors, with the most notable association being Bharathan.

Sr. No. Year Title Original Title English Title Director Notes
01 1975 Prayanam പ്രയാണം The Journey Bharathan
02 1977 Itha Ivide Vare ഇതാ ഇവിടെ വരെ Look! Till here I. V. Sasi Adapted from his novel
03 1978 Nakshathrangale Kaaval നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളേ കാവൽ The Stars Alone Guard Me K. S. Sethumadhavan adapted from his novel
04 1978 Rapadikalude Gatha രാപ്പാടികളുടെ ഗാഥ The Song of the Nightingales K. G. George
05 1978 Rathinirvedam രതി നിര്‍വേദം Adolescent Desire Bharathan Adapted from his novel of the same name
06 1978 Sathrathil Oru Rathri സത്രത്തിൽ ഒരു രാത്രി A Night in an Inn N. Sankaran Nair
07 1978 Shalini Ente Koottukari ശാലിനി എന്റെ കൂട്ടുകാരി Shalini, My Friend Mohan
08 1978 Vadakakku Oru Hridayam വാടകയ്ക്ക് ഒരു ഹൃദയം A Heart for Hire I. V. Sasi Adapted from his novel
09 1979 Kochu Kochu Thettukal കൊച്ചു കൊച്ചു തെറ്റുകൾ Minor Mistakes Mohan
10 1980 Thakara തകര Weed Bharathan Adapted from his novel
11 1981 Lorry ലോറി Bharathan
12 1982 Idavela ഇടവേള Interval Mohan
13 1983 Kaikeyi കൈകേയി I. V. Sasi
14 1983 Eenam ഈണം Tune Bharathan
15 1984 Kanamarayathu കാണാമറയത്ത് Beyond the Horizon I. V. Sasi
16 1985 Ozhivukalam ഒഴിവുകാലം Vacation Bharathan
17 1985 Karimbinpoovinakkare കരിമ്പിന് പൂവിനക്കരെ Across the Sugarcane Flowers I. V. Sasi
18 1990 Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu ഈ തണുത്ത വെളുപ്പാന് കാലത്ത് In These Cold Wee Hours Joshi
19 2011 Rathinirvedam[1][2] രതി നിര്‍വേദം Venereal Disenchantment T. K. Rajeev Kumar Remake of the 1978 film

Literary works

Novels

# Name Translation in English
1 Nakshathrangale Kaaval The Stars Alone Guard Me
2 Vadakakkoru Hridhyam A Heart for Rent
3 Rithubhedhangalude Paarithoshikam The Reward of Vicissitudes
4 Udakappola A Bubble in the Water
5 Itha Ivide Vare Look! Till Here
6 Shavavahanangalum Thedi In Search of Biers
7 Manju Kaalam Notta Kuthira The Horse Which Longed for Winter
8 Prathimayum Rajakumariyum The Statue and the Princess

Short stories

# Name Translation in English
1 Lola Milford Enna American Penkidaavu Lola Milford, the American Maiden
2 Prahelika Conundrum
3 Aparan The Impostor
4 Pukakkannada Smoke Glasses
5 Mattullavarude Venal The Summer of Others
6 Padmarajante Kadhakal
7 Kaivariyude Thekke Attam The Southern End of the Bannister
8 Syphilisinte Nadakkavu The Path of Syphilis
9 Kazhinja Vasantha Kaalathil During Last Spring

Novelettes

# Name Translation in English
1 Onnu Randu Moonnu One two Three
2 Peruvazhiyambalam Highway Shelter
3 Thakara Weed
4 Rathinirvedam Venereal Disenchantment
5 Jalajwala The Watery Fire
6 Nanmakalude Sooryan The Sun of Virtues
7 Vikramakaaleeswaram

Padmarajan Puraskaram

Padmarajan Puraskaram is an annual film/literary award instituted by the Padmarajan Memorial Trust.[3] It carries a plaque and a cash award of INR 10,000.[3] The award is given in two categories:

  • Padmarajan Puraskaram for Best Short Story
  • Padmarajan Puraskaram for Best Film

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ Express News Service. "An unusual love story". Expressbuzz. http://expressbuzz.com/entertainment/news/an-unusual-love-story/224680.html. Retrieved 2010-11-20. 
  2. ^ Bombaynews. "'Rathinirvedam' to be remade". Bombaynews.net. http://www.bombaynews.net/story/709467. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 
  3. ^ a b Padmarajan Puraskaram for writer Paul Zachariah. The Hindu. Retrieved 2010-15-04

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