P. Padmarajan - A Life Sketch
P. Padmarajan was a genius director, who made many note worthy movies. P. Padmarajan was also a gifted script writer. He had also won the Sahitya Academy Award for his novel Nakshathrangale Kaval. P. Padmarajan was a versatile genius, who blessed malayalam movie industry with his highly expressive movies.
P. Padmarajan - The Gandharvan Who Loved Movies
P. Padmarajan was a renowned movie director, script writer and author from Kerala, India. He was noted for his detailed scripting and expressive directorial style. He had directed 18 movies and scripted 19 movies. His association with director Bharathan had produced some of the finest movies in Malayalam. His well known movies are:
• Oridathoru Phayalwan (1981)
• Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil (1986)
• Kariyila Kaattu Pole (1986)
• Namukku Paarkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986)
• Thoovan Thumbikal (1987)
• Moonnam Pakkam (1988)
• Njaan Gandharvan (1991)
Some of his renowned works as a screen writer are:
• Rathinirvedam
• Thakara
• Vaadakakkoru Hrudhayam
• Prayanam
• Shalini Ente Koottukari
• Lorry
• Eenam
• OzhivukaalamEarly Life
He was born at Muthukulam near Haripad in Alappuzha district. He is a graduate in Chemistry (1963). Later he had learnt Sanskrit from Chappad Achutha Warrier in Muthukulam. In 1965, he joined All India Radio, Thrissur as a program announcer. He continued his association with AIR until he got busy with movies, and in 1986, he opted for voluntary retirement.Movie Career
His first literary work Nakshathrangale Kaaval won Kerala Sahitya Academy award in 1972. His entry into Malayalam movie industry was as script writer for Bharathan's movie Prayanam (1975). His first directorial venture was Peruvazhiyambalam, which was very popular with masses as well as intellectuals. This movie saw the birth of a great director, who later would bless Malayalam movie industry with his highly expressive, unique style of movie making. There were all sort of human emotions in his movies, deceit, murder, jealousy, romance, passion, anarchism and individualism. His movies also incorporated marginalized sections of society.
In thoovana Thumbilakal, he explored the mind of a prostitute and her relationship with a man. His Deshadanakili Karayarilla told the story of gay relationship between two school girls. While Namukku Paarkkan Munthiri Thoppukal was romantic, Oridothoru Phayalwan told the story of a wrestler. His movies explored diverse themes, sometimes even controversial. But his movies had a unique Padmarajan touch, and this won him many fans in Kerala.As A Screen Writer
His scripts were remarkable for their meticulous details. He was a great experimentalist, who sometimes took offbeat track to explore human emotions and relationships. Though he possessed great literary skills, his scripts had used the common man's language, and his characters were also picked from the common folk of the society. He wrote the scripts for his movies, and never directed another writer's script.
Though he had crafted scripts for many directors, his association with Bharathan had produced some of the finest movies in Malayalam. Bharathan was one of the rare directors, who could find the soul of Padmarajan's scripts, and with his directorial vision, he was able to translate Padmarajan's screen play into motion pictures without losing their beauty.His Chemistry With Fresh Faces
Padmarajan had brought many fresh faces to Malayalam Movie industry. In Peruvazhiyambalam, he introduced Ashokan, Oridathoru Phayalwan saw Rasheed, Koodevide had Rahman, Jayaram was cast in Aparan, Moonnam Pakkam saw Ajayan, Ramachandran in Novembarinte Nashtam, Shaari in Namukky Paarkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Suhasini was introduced to Malayalam with Koodevide.
He tried to extract the best out of his artistes. Moonnam Pakkam saw superlative performance by Thilakan.
Well know director of today, Blessy was his assistant, in addition to Ajayan and Suresh Unnithan.
He died in Jan 1991 in Kozhikode, while he was staying there at a hotel. His last movie Njaan Gandharvan was running at a theatre there.
He was married to Radhalakshmi, and has a son Ananthapadmanabhan, who is a writer. Radhalakshmi had authored a book titled Entey Gandharvan, which is collection of her reminiscences about him.Awards
Kerala Sahitya Academy Award
• 1972 - Nakshathrangale kaval (Novel)
Film Awards:
• 1975 Best script - Film Fans - Prayanam
• 1977 Best script - Film Fans, Film Critics- Itha Ividevare
• 1978 Best Script - State- Rappadikalude Gaadha, Rathinirvvedam, Best Script - Film Fans - Rappadikalude Gaadha, Rathnirvvedam
• 1978 Second Best Film, Best Script & Director - Peruvazhiyambalam, Best Script, Best Regional Film - Central - Peruvazhiyambalam
• 1979 Best Script - Film Fans - Thakara
• 1982 Best Film, Best Script - International (Kualalumpur) - Oridathoru Phayalvan, Best Film - Gulf award, Filim Critics - Novemberinte Nashtam
• 1984 Best Film - State - Koodevide, Best Script - Film Critics - Koodevide, Best Director - Pournami Award - Koodevide
• 1985 Best Script - State, Film Critics - Kanamarayathu,
• 1986 Best Script - Film Critics - Namukkuparkkan Munthirithoppukal, Best Story - Film Chamber - Thoovanathumbikal, Best Script - Film Critics - Nombarathipoovu
• 1989 Best Script - State, Film Critics - Aparan, Moonnampakkam, Best Director - Film Fare - Aparan
• 1990 Best script - State, Film Critics, Film Chamber - Innale
• 1991 FAC award - Njan GandharvanMovies (As Director)
01 1979 Peruvazhiyambalam
02 1981 Oridathoru Phayalwan
03 1981 Kallan Pavithran കള്ളന്
04 1982 Novemberinte Nashtam
05 1983 Koodevide?
06 1984 Parannu Parannu Parannu
07 1985 Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
08 1986 Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
09 1986 Kariyila Kattu Pole
10 1986 Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil
11 1986 Desatanakkili Karayarilla
12 1986 Nombarathi Poovu
13 1987 Thoovanathumbikal
14 1988 Aparan
15 1988 Moonnam Pakkam
16 1989 Season
17 1990 Innaley
18 1991 Njan GandharvanMovies As Screen Writer
01 1975 Prayaanam
02 1977 Itha Ivide Vare
03 1978 Nakshathrangale Kaaval
04 1978 Rapadikalude Gatha
05 1978 Rathinirvedam
06 1978 Sathrathil Oru Rathri
07 1978 Shalini Ente Koottukari
08 1978 Vadakakkoru Hridhyam
09 1979 Kochu Kochu Thettukal
10 1980 Thakara
11 1981 Lorry
12 1982 Idavela
13 1983 Kaikeyi
14 1983 Eenam
15 1984 Kanamarayathu
16 1985 vacation
17 1985 Karimpin Poovinakkare
18 1990 Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
19 2011 Rathinirvedam (2)Novels
1.Nakshathrangale Kaaval
2.Vadakakkoru Hridhyam
3.Rithubhedhangalude Paarithoshikam
4.Udakappola
5.Itha Ivide Vare
6.Shavavahanangalum Thedi
7.Manju Kaalam Notta Kuthira
8.Prathimayum RajakumariyumShort Stories
1.Lola Milford Enna American Penkidaavu
2.Prahelika
3.Aparan
4.Pukakkannada
5.Mattullavarude Venal
6.Padmarajante Kadhakal
7.Kaivariyude Thekke Attam
8.Syphilisinte Nadakkavu
9.Kazhinja Vasantha Kaalathil
10.ThanmathraNovelettes
1 Onnu Randu Moonnu
2 Peruvazhiyambalam
3 Thakara
4 Rathinirvedam
5 Jalajwala
6 Nanmakalude Sooryan
7 VikramakaaleeswaramPadmarajan Puraskaram
Padmarajan Memorial Trust has instituted awards in the fields of movies and literature. They are:
• Padmarajan Puraskaram for Best Short Story
• Padmarajan Puraskaram for Best Film
Attachments
