Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...

for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, '' Elippathaya ...

. His noted films include '' Neelakkuyil'' (1954), '' Minnaminungu'' (1957), ''

Mudiyanaya Puthran ''Mudiyanaya Puthran'' () is a 1961 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Ramu Kariat. It stars Sathyan, Ambika Sukumaran, Kottayam Chellappan, P. J. Antony, J. A. R. Anand, Miss Kumari, Adoor Bhavani, Kedamangalam Ali, P. A. Thomas, Kam ...

'' (1961), '' Moodupadam'' (1963) and the

National Award The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate ...

winning ''

Chemmeen ''Chemmeen'' () is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language romance film, based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It was adapted into a screenplay by S. L. Puram Sadanandan, directed by Ramu Kariat, and produced by Babu Is ...

'' (1965).

Career

He started his career through the

Kerala People's Arts Club Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) is a theatrical movement in Kayamkulam, Kerala, India. It was formed in the 1950s by a group of individuals having close ties with Communist Party of India in Kerala. KPAC was very influential in popularising t ...

(K.P.A.C.), a

leftist Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in so ...

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 Parutholli Chalappurathu Kuttikrishnan, popularly known by his pen name Uroob ( ml, ഉറൂബ്; 1915 – 1979) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Along with Basheer, Thakazhi, Kesavadev, and Pottekkatt, Uroob was counted a ...

and starred Sathyan and Miss Kumari was a major commercial success. This film is considered as the first mature film in Malayalam due to the professional approach it had in direction,

script Script may refer to: Writing systems * Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire * Script (styles of handwriting) ** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of ha ...

, performances and music. Ramu Kariat's co-director of the film P. Bhaskaran and

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not imply that a male is performing the task. In filmmaki ...

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 play ''

'' (1961). After directing '' Moodupadam'' (1963), he went on to direct ''

'' (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 National Award for Best Feature Film is one of the categories in the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India. It is one of se ...

. The tragic love story starred Madhu, Sathyan and

Sheela Sheela Ravichandran (Born 22 March 1945) is an Indian actress and director who appears predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Paired with Prem Nazir, they hold the Guinness World Record for acting in the largest number of films (130) together as he ...

. In 1975 he was a member of the jury at the

9th Moscow International Film Festival The 9th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1975. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Polish film '' The Promised Land'' directed by Andrzej Wajda, the Soviet-Japanese film '' Dersu Uzala'' directed by Akira Kurosawa ...

. He directed fifteen films during his career. He was elected as

Member of Legislative Assembly A member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to a legislative assembly. Most often, the term refers to a subnational assembly such as that of a state, province, or territory of a country. S ...

from Nattika in 1965 as a left independent but could not serve in the Legislative Assembly because no one could form the Assembly since there was no majority for any party.

Awards

;

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...

: All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film – '' Neelakuyil'' *

: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - '' Neelakuyil'' *

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 (K ...

: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''

'' *

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in for a full term ...

– ''

Filmography

*'' Neelakkuyil'' (1954) *''Bharata Natyam'' (1956) *'' Minnam Minungu'' (1957) *''

'' (1961) *'' Moodupadam'' (1963) *''

'' (1965) *'' Ezhu Rathrikal'' (1968) *'' Abhayam'' (1970) *'' Maaya'' (1972) *'' Nellu'' (1974) *'' Dweepu'' (1976) *'' Kondagali'' (1978) *''Ammuvinte Aattinkutty'' (1978) * '' Sanghaganam''(1979-Acting credit) *'' Malankattu'' (1980)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kariat, Ramu People from Thrissur district Malayalam film directors 1927 births 1979 deaths 20th-century Indian film directors Film directors from Kerala Malayalam screenwriters Screenwriters from Kerala Directors who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award Odia film directors 20th-century Indian screenwriters