Filmmaker Priyadarshan celebrates his 61st birthday today. Having begun as an associate director for the movie Thenum Vayambu, he has since directed almost 90 films in various Indian languages, the majority of them in Malayalam. Poochakkoru Mokkothi (1984) was his first film; in a career spanning more than three decades, he’s made himself known for his screwball comedies, and his ability to infuse beauty in frames.
Movies like Mazha Peyyunnu Madhallam Kottunnu, Oodaruthammava Aalariyam and Dheem Tharikida Thom are well known for their comedy sequences. While he did attempt quite a few unofficial remakes, often drawn from world cinema, the films he remade were adapted well, steeped in local culture. Ennishttam Ninnishtam was inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, but was based in Kerala, while Thalavattam, which was influenced by Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, dramatically ended on a cruel note.
Priyadarshan wouldn’t have arrived in cinema if not for a disabling event that left him blind in one eye: a ball struck him on the eye while playing a cricket match, and this was why, the filmmaker declared in an interview, he gave up cricket and took up films.
His most recent release Nimir, is a Tamil remake of the Malayalam movie Maheshinte Prathikaaram, and stars Udhayanidhi Stalin in the lead role.
A few of his much celebrated movies over time:
Aryan
A crime drama thriller starring Mohanlal, Aryan chronicles the life of a Brahmin from Kerala who runs away to Mumbai to build a life of his own, but becomes a gang leader instead. The movie completed a victorious run for over 100 days in Kerala. The story is set in the Bombay of mid 80s, where one of his other movies, Abhimanyu was also pictured. Mohanlal acts in the lead role.
Vellanakalude Naadu
A political satire written by Sreenivasan, this movie is about the failure of a governmental system, and follows a civil contractor – Mohanlal as Pavithran Nair. The comical subplot in the movie was inspired by RK Narayan’s short story ‘The Engine Trouble’.
Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu
Recommended
Set in a small residential colony in Chennai, Mukundan is a simple man with a decent job, trying to woo his neighbour Sumitra, but his life takes a different turn on the arrival of his friend Vishwanathan. The movie stars Mohanlal, Ranjini and Sreenivasan in the lead roles.
Thenmaavin Kombathu
This 1994 movie explores the cultural practices of a small village. Manikyan (Mohanlal) is a product of this village and works for Sreekrishnan (Nedumudi Venu). The movie follows the comical clash between Maanikyan and Sreekrishnan over their love interest Kaarthumbi (Shobhana). The movie won National Awards for Cinematography and Production Design.
Adhwaytham
A crime-thriller written by T Damodaran, Priyadarshan explores the subjects of communism, spirituality and political systems in Kerala through this movie.
*****