Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include ''

Neelakkuyil ''Neelakuyil'' ( en, The Blue Cuckoo; ml, നീലക്കുയിൽ) is a 1954 Malayalam film jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat. It is a neo-realistic melodrama and was based on a story written by Uroob who co-wrote the s ...

'' (1954), ''

Minnaminungu ''Minnaminungu'' () is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Anil Thomas and written by Manoj Ramsingh. The film features Surabhi Lakshmi as a struggling middle-aged mother, her character has no name in the film. The film's soundt ...

'' (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, ...

'' (1961), ''

Moodupadam ''Moodupadam'' is a 1963 Malayalam language film directed by Ramu Kariat and scripted by K. T. Muhammed based on S. K. Pottekkatt's novel of the same name. Sathyan and Ambika play the lead roles. It is a social film about the relationship betw ...

'' (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 ...

(K.P.A.C.), a leftist theatre group. He debuted in films by co-directing

Thiramala ''Thiramala'' is a 1953 Malayalam-language film, directed by Vimal Kumar and P. R. S. Pillai, starring Sathyan, Kumari Thankam, Thomas Burleigh, Ponathil Sivadas, Prabha . The film has a significant place in the history of Malayalam cinema. F ...

(1953) with Vimal Kumar/P.R.S. Pillai and the path-breaking film ''

'' in 1954 along with P. Bhaskaran. ''

Neelakuyil ''Neelakuyil'' ( en, The Blue Cuckoo; ml, നീലക്കുയിൽ) is a 1954 Malayalam film jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat. It is a neo-realistic melodrama and was based on a story written by Uroob who co-wrote the ...

'' 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 Miss Kumari (1932–1969) was an Indian actress working in the Malayalam film industry between 1949 and 1969. In the 50's and early 60's she was the most prominent female lead in the Malayalam film industry. She briefly worked as a teacher befo ...

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 handw ...

, 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 filmmakin ...

A. Vincent went on to have illustrious careers themselves. After ''Neelakkuyil'', he directed ''

'' (1957), another noted film. His next film was the film version of veteran playwright Thoppil Bhasi's play ''

'' (1961). After directing ''

'' (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 Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999), popularly known as Thakazhi after his place of birth, was an Indian novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. He wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over 7 shor ...

'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 Madhu (Sanskrit: ) is a word used in several Indo-Aryan languages meaning ''honey'' or ''sweet''. It is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European ''*médʰu'', whence English '' mead''. Metaphorical use ''Madhu'' has been used for millennia si ...

, 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. 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. ...

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 * 2nd National Film Awards, 1954: Discontinued and Intermittent National Film Awards#All India Certificate of Merit, All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film – ''

'' *2nd National Film Awards, 1954: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''

'' * 9th National Film Awards, 1961: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''

'' * 13th National Film Awards, 1965:

– ''

Filmography

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

'' (1961) *''

'' (1963) *''

'' (1965) *''Ezhu Rathrikal'' (1968) *''Abhayam (1970 film), Abhayam'' (1970) *''Maaya (1972 film), Maaya'' (1972) *''Nellu (1974 film), 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