Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (10 May 1955 – 28 June 2009) was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, film maker, and producer who worked in the Malayalam film industry.[1][2] In a career spanning over two decades, his films have won a National Film Award, six Kerala State Film Awards, and fourteen Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script.[3]

A. K. Lohithadas
Born(1955-05-10)10 May 1955
koratty, Thiru-Kochi (Present day Thrissur, India)
Died28 June 2009(2009-06-28) (aged 54)
Kochi, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • playwright
  • director
  • producer
Years active1986–2009

Lohithadas made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987). He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Ezhuthapurangal (1987), Vicharana (1988), Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Mrugaya (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Sasneham (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Vatsalyam (1993), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999).[4] He later became a director, and made his directorial debut with Bhoothakkannadi (1997). He later wrote and directed Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003).[5] He died on 28 June 2009 due to a heart attack.[6]

Early life

edit

Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', as he is often referred to) was born on 5 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Thrissur district, Kerala, as the son of Lakshmi and Karunakaran of the Ambazhathuparambil house.[citation needed]

Career

edit

Lohi's first movie screenplay was Thaniyavarthanam directed by "Sibi Malayil".[citation needed] Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several Malayalam movies.[citation needed] His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Dasharatham (1989), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Dhanam (1991), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993). Other works include Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Sasneham (1990) for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram, Venkalam(1991) for Bharathan.[citation needed]

He later became a filmmaker and made works such as Bhoothakkannadi (1997), Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Arayannangalude Veedu (2000), Joker (2000), Kasthooriman (2003) (which he himself produced), and Nivedyam (2007).[7] Most of his works were critically and commercially successful. His works were recognised from his very first venture Thaniyavarthanam, which brought him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story.[citation needed]

"Nizhalukal Inachernna Naattuvazhikal" ('നിഴലുകൾ ഇണചേർന്ന നാട്ടുവഴികൾ' – എം. ശബരീഷ്, പാപ്പാത്തി ബുക്സ്) is a book about his life and film career.[citation needed]

Death

edit

On 28 June 2009, Lohithadas, 54, died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Aluva, where he had been living for two-three years.[8][9] His body was taken to his home in Lakkidi in Palakkad district, where he was cremated with full state honours.[citation needed] He is survived by his wife Sindhu and two sons named Harikrishnan and Vijayashankar.

Awards

edit
 
Lohithadas along with director Bharathan and cinematographer Ramachandra Babu at the location of Venkalam.
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards[14]
Asianet Film Award

Filmography

edit

Screenwriter

edit
Year Title Director
2007 Nivedyam Self
2006 Chakkara Muthu
2005 Kasthuri Maan (Tamil)
2003 Chakram
Kasthooriman
2001 Soothradharan
2000 Arayannangalude Veedu
Joker
1999 Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal Sathyan Anthikkad
1998 Ormacheppu Self
Kanmadam
1997 Karunyam
Bhoothakannadi
1996 Sallapam Sundardas
Thooval Kottaram Sathyan Anthikkad
Udhyanapalakan Harikumar
1995 Saadaram Jose Thomas
1994 Chakoram Venu
Sagaram Sakshi Sibi Malayil
1993 Chenkol
Padheyam Bharathan
Vatsalyam Cochin Haneefa
Venkalam Bharathan
1992 Kamaladalam Sibi Malayil
Valayam
Kauravar Joshi
Aadharam George Kithu
1991 Dhanam Sibi Malayil
Amaram Bharathan
Bharatham Sibi Malayil
Kanalkkattu Sathyan Anthikkad
1990 His Highness Abdullah Sibi Malayil
Sasneham Sathyan Anthikkad
Kuttettan Joshi
Radha Madhavam Suresh Unnithan
Maalayogam Sibi Malayil
1989 Mrigaya I. V. Sasi
Mahayanam Joshi
Mudra Sibi Malayil
Jaathakam Suresh Unnithan
Dasharatham Sibi Malayil
Kireedam
1988 Mukthi I. V. Sasi
Kudumbapuranam Sathyan Anthikkad
Vicharana Sibi Malayil
1987 Ezhuthapurangal
Thaniyavarthanam

Director

edit
Year Title Cast
1997 Bhoothakannadi Mammootty, Sreelakshmi
Karunyam Jayaram, Murali, Divya Unni
1998 Ormacheppu Lal, Chanchal, Dileep
Kanmadam Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal
2000 Arayannangalude Veedu Mammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Joker Dileep, Manya, Nishanth Sagar
2001 Soothradharan Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Bindu Panicker
2003 Kasthoorimann Kunchacko Boban, Meera Jasmine
Chakram Prithviraj, Meera Jasmine, Chandra Lakshman
2005 Kasthuri Maan (Tamil) Prasanna, Meera Jasmine
2006 Chakkara Muthu Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jishnu Raghavan
2007 Nivedyam Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu

Actor

edit
Year Title Role
1992 Valayam Cameo Appearance
1999 Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal Himself
2001 Kaattu Vannu Vilichappol Himself
2005 Udayananu Tharam Director Prathapan

References

edit
  1. ^ "In the memory of Lohithadas". The Hindu. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Kazchavattom". goodreads.com. 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Lohithadas Awards". FilmiBeat. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. ^ "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff.com. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  5. ^ "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff Movies. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Kerala News : A.K. Lohithadas passes away". The Hindu. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Malayalam News | Editorial". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Writer-director Lohithadas passes away!". Sify. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Malayalam News". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  10. ^ "45th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. ^ "State Film Awards (1981–90)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ^ a b "State Film Awards (1991–99)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Tamilnadu govt awards Rajini and Kamal". cinesouth.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  14. ^ "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 - 2012". Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
edit