Ramu Kariat

Ramu Kariat
Born	(1927-02-01)1 February 1927 Engandiyur, Thrissur District, Kerala, India
Died	Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1954-1979

Ramu Kariat (alternatively Ramu Karyat) (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was a legendary Malayali Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s. He directed many acclaimed films in Malayalam. His noted films include Neelakkuyil (1954), Minnaminungu (1957), Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961), Moodupadam (1963) and the National Award winning Chemmeen (1965).

Career

He started his career through the Kerala People's Arts Club (K.P.A.C.), a leftist theatre group. He debuted in films by co-directing Thiramala (1953) with Vimal Kumar/P.R.S Pillai and the path-breaking film Neelakkuyil in 1954 along with P. Bhaskaran. Neelakuyil was written by Uroob and starred Sathyan and Miss Kumari was a major commercial success. It was also the first Malayalam film to shoot outdoors, though the number of scenes shot outdoors was very less. This film is considered as the first mature film in Malayalam due to the professional approach it had in direction, script, performances and music. Ramu Kariat's co-director of the film P. Bhaskaran and cameraman A. Vincent went on to have illustrious careers themselves.

After Neelakkuyil, he directed Minnaminungu (1957), another noted film. His next film was the film version of veteran playwright Thoppil Bhasi's highly successful play Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961). After directing another noted film Moodupadam (1963), he went on to direct Chemmeen (1965). Chemmeen is considered as the turning point in Malayalam cinema. The film, an adaptation of Thakazhi Sivashankara Pillai's novel in the same name was the first Malayalam film to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. The tragic love story starring Madhu, Sathyan and Sheela went on to become major commercial success as well.

In 1975 he was a member of the jury at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival.

He directed fifteen films during his career.He was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly from Nattika in 1965 as a left independent.

Awards

National Film Awards

• 1954: All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film - Neelakuyil
• 1954: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Neelakuyil
• 1961: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Mudiyanaya Puthran
• 1965: National Film Award for Best Feature Film - Chemmeen

Filmography

• Ammuvinde Aattinkutti (1978)
• Kondagali (1978)
• Dweepu (1976)
• Nellu (1974)
• Maaya (1972)
• Abhayam (1970)
• Ezhu Rathrikal (1968)
• Chemmeen (1965)
• Moodupadam (1963)
• Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961)
• Minnaminungu (1957)
• Bharata Natyam (1956)
• Neelakkuyil (1954)

External links

• Ramu Kariat at the Internet Movie Database