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Adoor Gopalakrishnan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan (born 3 July 1941) is a National Award winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema. 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, were screened at several International film festivals and won him several National and International awards. He won National Film Awards fifteen times, Kerala State Film Awards seventeen times and also won several International Film Awards. He won the prestigious British Film Institute award for Elippathayam. 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. He is one among the very few Indian film makers who are well known in the international film fraternity.

Dr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Adoor standing next to his portrait Born Moutathu Gopalakrishnan Unnithan July 3, 1941 Pallickal, Adoor, Travancore, British India Other names Occupation Director, Screenwriter, Producer Years 1965 present Malayalam parallel cinema Madhavan Unnithan, Gauri Kunjamma Website http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in active Influenced Parents Adoor

Contents
1 Biography 2 Documentaries and 'New Cinema' movement 3 Style and trademarks 4 Awards and milestones 5 Posts held 6 Filmography 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

Biography
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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 [1] Public Administration in 1961 from the Gandhigram Rural Institute , 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 lms and about thirty short lms and documentaries. Notable amongst the non-feature lms are those on Keralas 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 lms have won national and international awards (National award for best lm twice, best director ve times, and best script two times. His lms have also won his actors and technicians several national awards). Adoors third feature, Elippathayam won him the coveted British Film Institute Award for 'the most original and imaginative lm' 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 lm prize (Venice), OCIC lm prize (Amiens), INTERFILM Prize (Mannheim) etc, his lms 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 Padmashri in 1984. Adoor's daughter Aswati Dorje IPS (part of the Assam cadre, 2000 batch) took charge [2][3] as Deputy Commissioners of Police in Mumbai on June 2010.

Documentaries and 'New Cinema' movement

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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 [4] or not, enough or not."

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 [5] India 2004 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award Lifetime Achievement Award in Film awarded by the Government of India 1984 - Padma Shri Fourth highest civilian award from Government of India [6] 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 lms (Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan and [7] Nizhalkkuthu) London Film Festival Sutherland Trophy in 1982 for Elippathayam British Film Institute Award Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982

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Elippathayam Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French Government [8] (2003) Life time achievement award at Cairo International Film Festival. National Film Awards (Detailed): 1973 - Best Film - Swayamvaram 1995 - Best Film - Kathapurushan 1973 1985 1988 1990 2008 1978 1982 1990 1994 2003 Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Director Director Director Director Director Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Swayamvaram Mukhamukham Anantharam Mathilukal Naalu Pennungal in in in in in Malayalam Malayalam Malayalam Malayalam Malayalam Kodiyettam Elippathayam Mathilukal Vidheyan Nizhalkkuthu

Film Film Film Film Film

1985 - Best Screenplay - Mukhamukham 1988 - Best Screenplay - Anantharam 1984 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemayude Lokam Kerala State Film Awards (Detailed): 1977 1981 1984 1993 2008 1977 1984 1987 1993 2008 Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Best Film Film Film Film Film Kodiyettam Elippathayam Mukhamukham Vidheyan Oru Pennum Randaanum Kodiyettam Mukhamukham Anantharam Vidheyan Oru Pennum Randaanum

Director Director Director Director Director

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 2005 - Best Short Film - Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair

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2004 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemanubhavam A retrospective of his films was conducted in Kolkata, by Seagull Foundation for the Arts and Nandan, 2009 The Slovenian International Film Festival, 2009 [10]. The Munich Film museum, 2009 [11]. The French Cinematheque,Paris, 1999 [12].
[9]

Posts held
Adoor also worked in several respected posts in the lm fraternity. He was a member of Sivaramakarath committee formed by the Government of India for framing a national lm policy. He was a national lm award committee member in 1974. He was a member of jury in Venice, Singapore, Hawaii and Delhi international lm festivals. He was the chairman of International Film Festival of Kerala in 1999. He headed the National Film Development Corporation in the years 19801983. He was the director of Pune Film and Television Institute. In the years 19751977, he was a member of the advisory board for National Film Archives, Pune.

Filmography
Year Title Duration 20 mins Category Short fiction Documentary Short fiction Documentary Documentary Documentary Documentary Documentary Documentary Docu-drama Merit Certificate, Expo-67, Montreal Cast Awards

1965 A Great Day

1966 A Day at Kovalam 30 mins 1967 The Myth 1968 Danger at Your Door-step Manntharikal (Grains of Sand) 50 Seconds 20 mins

1968 And Man created 8 mins 1968 1969 20 mins

Towards National 20 mins STD 60 mins 55 mins

1969 A Mission of Love 30 mins 1966 Your Food 1970 Pratisandhi (The impasse)

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1971

Romance of Rubber

30 mins

Documentary Madhu, Sharada, Bharath Gopi, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, K. P. A. C. Lalitha National Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematographer

Swayamvaram 1972 (Ones Own Choice)

125 mins Feature film

Kilimanooril Oru Dasalakshadhipati 1973 20 mins (A Millionaire is Born) 1974 Guru Chengannur 17 mins 1975 Past in Perspective 20 mins 60 mins

Documentary Documentary Documentary Documentary Bharath Gopi, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Adoor Bhavani, Aziz National Awards for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and Best Actor

1976 Idukki

1977

Kodiyettam (Ascent)

128 mins Feature film

1978

Four Shorts on Family Planning

16 mins 20 mins 20 mins

Documentary Documentary Documentary Sutherland Trophy at 1982 London Film Karamana Festival Janardanan National Awards Nair, Sharada, for Best Feature Jalaja, Rajam K. Film in Nair, Soman Malayalam and Best Audiography

1979 Yakshagana 1980 Chola Heritage

1981

Elippathayam (Rat-Trap)

121 mins Feature film

1982 Krishnanattam

20 mins

Documentary

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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

Eau/Ganga 1985 (Ganga-Water)

Grand Prize, 140 mins Cinema du reel, Paris FIPRESCI Prize, Mammootty, Karlovy Vary. Ashokan, National awards Shobana, Balan for best director, K. Nair, best screenplay, Bahadoor and best audiography 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 Feature FIPRESCI and Special Jury Prize, Singapore. Interfilm Jury Prize, Mannheim. Netpac prize, Rotterdam. National Award for best actor and best regional film FIPRESCI Prize, National award for the best film

1987

Anantaram (Monologue)

125 mins Feature film

1990

Mathilukal (The Walls)

117 mins Feature film

1993

Vidheyan (The Servile)

112 mins Feature film

Mammootty, Tanvi Azmi, M.R. Gopakumar, Sabitha Anand

Kathapurushan 1995 (The Man of the Story)

107 mins Feature film

Viswanathan, Mini Nair, Narendra Prasad,

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Aranmula Ponnamma, Urmila Unni 1995 Kalamandalam Gopi 43 mins Documentary

2001 Koodiyattam

180 mins Documentary Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Sukumari, Murali, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Narain FIPRESCI, Mumbai. National award for best regional film

2002

Nizhalkkuthu (Shadow Kill)

90 mins

Feature film

2005 2007

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair Dance of the Enchantress

73 mins 72 mins

Documentary Documentary Nandita Das, Kavya Madhavan, Geetu National Award Mohandas, for best director Padmapriya, Manju Pillai, Murali, Mukesh, Manoj K. Jayan Nedumudi Venu, Manoj K. Jayan, Jagadish, Kerala State Vijayaraghavan, award for best Indrans, Ravi director 2009 Vallathol, Praveena

2007

Naalu Pennungal 105 mins Feature film (Four Women)

Oru Pennum Randaanum (A 2008 Climate for Crime)

115 mins Feature film

Notes
1. ^ "Page on Adoor Gopalakrishnan at Kerala tourism" (http://www.keralatourism.org /index.php?zone=4&menu=59&id=21) . http://www.keralatourism.org/index.php?zone=4& menu=59&id=21. Retrieved 8 February 2008 2. ^ http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/jun/020610-mumbai-dcp-husband-wife-chhering-

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dorje-aswati.htm 3. ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050123/asp/look/story_4279220.asp 4. ^ "'Naalu Pennungal' not complex like my other films: Adoor" (http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in/profile.htm) . Yahoo India Movies. http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in/profile.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009. 5. ^ "Adoor honoured with Padma award" (http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/21adoor.htm) . Rediff.com. 21 March 2006. http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/21adoor.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009. 6. ^ "Official Website of Adoor Gopalakrishnan" (http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/15894 /Naalu-Pennungal-complex-like-films-Adoor.html) . http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail /15894/Naalu-Pennungal-complex-like-films-Adoor.html. Retrieved 28 May 2009. 7. ^ "Official Website of Adoor Gopalakrishnan" (http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in /profile.htm) . http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in/profile.htm. Retrieved 28 May 2009. 8. ^ "Adoor receives French honour" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid245928,prtpage-1.cms) . The Times of India. 22 October 2003. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-245928,prtpage-1.cms. Retrieved 14 July 2008. 9. ^ "Adoor Gopalakrishnans Retrospective in Kolkata" (http://sify.com/PRIVOXYFORCE/movies/fullstory.php?id=14867560) . Sify. 9 March 2009. http://sify.com/PRIVOXYFORCE/movies/fullstory.php?id=14867560. Retrieved 29 May 2009. 10. ^ "Adoor retrospective at Slovenian festival" (http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845) . The Hindu. 15 November 2008. http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845. Retrieved 29 May 2009. 11. ^ "Adoor retrospective" (http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845) . The Hindu. 5 September 2009. http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=4845. Retrieved 29 May 2009. 12. ^ "Interview: Adoor" (http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/adoor_interview_df.html) . Cinema of Malayalam. http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/adoor_interview_df.html. Retrieved 29 May 2009.

References
Adoor Gopalakrishnan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329715/) at the Internet Movie Database Adoor's oeuvre (http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/06intro.htm) Adoor in Action (http://indulekha.com/moviegallery/2006/03/adoorgopalakrishnan.html) collection of photos of Adoor Weblokam profile (http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/2000_10 /23_profile1.htm) Weblokam profile Main Page (http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles /adoor.htm) Official site: Profile (http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in/profile.htm) Official Website of Information and Public Relation Department of Kerala (http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm)

External links
'Cinema of Malayalam' profile (http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/adoor.html) 'Kalamandalam Gopi- Documentary of Adoor Gopalakrishnan' (http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/documentary_inner.html#d1)
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'Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair - Documentary of Adoor Gopalakrishnan' (http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/documentary_inner.html#d11) 'The Road to Modern Times', Naalu Pennungal and the cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mint Lounge 8 September 2007, by Arjun Razdan (http://staging.livemint.com/articles/2007/09/08000758/The-road-to-moderntimes.html) Official Website of Information and Public Relation Department of Kerala (http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm) ]] Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoor_Gopalakrishnan" Categories: Malayali people | 1941 births | Living people | Indian Hindus | Film and Television Institute of India alumni | Malayalam screenwriters | People from Kerala | Indian film directors | Malayalam film directors | National Film Award winners | Kerala State Film Award winners | Lgion d'honneur recipients | Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres | Recipients of the Padma Shri | Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan | Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients This page was last modified on 1 November 2010 at 04:53. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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