Ajayan (director)
Ajayan, also known as Thoppil Ajayan, is a Malayalam film director who is noted for his only feature film Perumthachan (The Master Carpenter).[1] The film received positive reviews from critics worldwide. For this film, Ajayan won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director and Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director in 1990.[2] The film also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film in 1990 and was nominated for the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1992.[3]
In the afterword to his book The Master Carpenter, author M. T. Vasudevan Nair wrote that Ajayan first approached him for a screenplay of his story Manikkakkallu.[4] That did not materialise and later he approached with another dream project Perumthachan.[4] In the end of the afterword, M. T. thanks Ajayan for persuading him to write screenplay for Perumthachan.[4]
In 2010, he directed the music video based on KumaranAsan's Chandala-bikshuki - Manjari - Actors Tom George Kolath and Jyothirmayi.
Early life and career
Ajayan is the eldest son of film director and playwright Thoppil Bhasi.[5] He secured a diploma in film technology from the Adayar film institute.[6] Ajayan started his career as a camera assistant and later worked as associate director with Thoppil Bhasi, Bharathan, and Padmarajan.[5] He has also worked as cinematographer for some Tamil films[5] and has directed several documentary films.
Filmography
Director[6]
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Perumthachan |
Assistant Director[6]
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Panchavadi Palam |
| 1984 | Ente Upasana |
| 1986 | Oridathu |
| 1987 | Sarvakalashala |
Chief Associate Director[6]
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Oridathoru Phayalvaan |
| 1982 | Novemberinte Nashtam |
Associate Director[6]
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Rathinirvedam |
| 1983 | Koodevide |
| 1986 | Kariyilakkattu Pole |
Awards
- 1990: Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director - Perumthachan
- 1990: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - Perumthachan
References
- ↑ "Movies: Perumthachan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ↑ "Kerala State Film Awards: 1969-2011". PRD, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ "Perumthachan: Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 M. T. Vasudevan Nair (2005). The Master Carpenter. Katha. p. 184. ISBN 8189020234.
- 1 2 3 "Cinema of Malayalam: Ajayan". Cinema of Malayalam. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Ajayan". M3Db. Retrieved 2 January 2014.