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Jayarajan Rajasekharan Nair, professionally credited as Jayaraj (born 31 May 1960), is an Indian filmmaker, who predominantly works in the
Malayalam film industry Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both the mainstream film industry a ...
. He has won many awards, including
Crystal Bear The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
at the
Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
, the Golden Peacock award at the
IFFI The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is an annual film festival currently held in Goa, on the western coast of India. The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excel ...
, and the FIPRESCI Award from the
International Federation of Film Critics The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for ''Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique'') is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the worl ...
. He is also a seven-time recipient of the
National Film Award The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
and several
Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...
. His films include ''
Paithrukam ''Paithrukam'' ''(Heritage)'' is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language drama film, directed by Jayaraaj, starring Suresh Gopi, Narendra Prasad, and Jayaram. Scripted by Kaloor Dennis, this film revolves around a traditional Brahmin family and the f ...
'' (1993), ''
Desadanam ''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language musical drama film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a monastery. The film is a box office hi ...
'' (1996), ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' (1997), ''
4 The People ''4 the People'' is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language vigilante thriller film directed by Jayaraj and written by Iqbal Kuttippuram from a story by Jayaraj. The film stars Arun Cherukavil, Bharath (in his Malayalam debut), Arjun Bose, and Padma ...
'' (2004), ''
Vellapokkathil "Vellapokkathil" (, ) is a short story written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The story was published in 1935 and is based on the author's childhood experience during the Great Flood of 1924 in Kerala. Widely considered one of Thakazhi's best st ...
'' (2007), ''
Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine T ...
'' (2015), Veeram (2016) and ''
Bhayanakam ''Bhayanakam'' (English: ''Fearsome'') is a 2018 Indian Malayalam–language period drama war film directed by Jayaraj, produced by Sureshkumar Muttath, and stars writer-turned-actor Renji Panicker and Asha Sarath. The film is an adaptation of ...
'' (2018).


Early life

During his stay at
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
, he attended film festivals including the
International Film Festival of Kerala The International Film Festival of Kerala (abbreviated as IFFK) is a film festival held annually in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. This film festival started in 1996 and is hosted by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy ...
and watched many world classics.
Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 30 feature films in a career spanning six decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dynamic style stron ...
's ''
Rashomon is a 1950 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shinobu Hashimoto. Starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyō, Masayuki Mori, and Takashi Shimura, it follows various people who describe how a ...
'' and
DeSica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, four of the film ...
's ''
Bicycle Thieves ''Bicycle Thieves'' (), also known as ''The Bicycle Thief'', is a 1948 Italian neorealist drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It follows the story of a poor father searching in post-World War II Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which h ...
'' were among them, and they influenced him immensely.


Career

Bharathan was impressed by Jayaraj and made him his assistant director for ''Chilambu''(1986). Jayaraj then went on to be the assistant to Bharathan in six more films including the critically acclaimed ''
Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam ''Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam'' () is a 1987 Malayalam-language drama film directed by Bharathan, written by John Paul and produced by M. G. Gopinath and Babu Thiruvalla. The film stars Nedumudi Venu, Sharada, and Parvathy in lead roles ...
'' (1987) and '' Vaishali'' (1988). Jayaraj debuted as director with ''Vidyarambham'' (1990). His early career mainly produced commercially oriented films like ''
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan ''Aakasha Kottayile Sultan'' () is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Jayaraj and starring Sreenivasan and Saranya Ponvannan in lead roles. Cast * Sreenivasan as Kesavan Kutty * Saranya Ponvannan as Mallika * Innocent as Dr. C ...
'' (1991), ''Johnnie Walker'' (1992), ''High Way'' (1995), ''Thumboli Kadappuram'' (1995) and ''Arabia'' (1995). Notable in his early career were ''Kudumbasametham'' (1992), ''
Paithrukam ''Paithrukam'' ''(Heritage)'' is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language drama film, directed by Jayaraaj, starring Suresh Gopi, Narendra Prasad, and Jayaram. Scripted by Kaloor Dennis, this film revolves around a traditional Brahmin family and the f ...
'' (1993) and ''Sopanam'' (1993). ''
Desadanam ''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language musical drama film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a monastery. The film is a box office hi ...
'' (1997) was followed by ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' (1997) which was an adaptation of
Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
's ''
Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...
''. It won him the
National Film Award for Best Direction The National Film Award for Best Direction is an honour presented annually at India's National Film Awards ceremony by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), an organisation set up by the Indian Ministry of Information and Bro ...
. In 1999 Jayaraj started his nine-film series project ''Navarasa'' with ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
'', followed by ''
Shantham ''Shantham'' () is a Malayalam feature film directed by Jayaraj. It stars I M Vijayan, a leading Indian football player of modern times, M G Shashi, Seema Biswas and K P A C Lalitha. The renowned Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi and the M ...
'' (2001). ''
Shantham ''Shantham'' () is a Malayalam feature film directed by Jayaraj. It stars I M Vijayan, a leading Indian football player of modern times, M G Shashi, Seema Biswas and K P A C Lalitha. The renowned Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi and the M ...
'' won the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film The National Film Award for Best Feature Film is one of the categories in the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in I ...
. The third in the ''Navarasa'' series was ''Bheebhatsa'', a
Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
film followed by ''Adbutham'' and ''Veeram''. In 2018, the sixth film in the series ''
Bhayanakam ''Bhayanakam'' (English: ''Fearsome'') is a 2018 Indian Malayalam–language period drama war film directed by Jayaraj, produced by Sureshkumar Muttath, and stars writer-turned-actor Renji Panicker and Asha Sarath. The film is an adaptation of ...
'' was released and had won awards for
Best Direction The MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction is an award given to the artist, the artist's manager, and the director of the music video. From 1984 to 2006, the full name of the award was Best Direction in a Video, and in 2007, it was briefly renam ...
, Best Adapted Screenplay and
Best Cinematography The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best ...
at the 2017
National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
. On 10 June 2019,
Tovino Thomas Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film ''Prabhuvinte Makkal''. His breakthrough roles were in the films '' ...
officially announced and shared the poster of ''Roudram 2018'', the seventh film in the series. While sharing the poster on Facebook Tovino wrote, "The movie is based on real-life incidents that occurred in central Travancore, during the devastating floods that Kerala survived. ''Roudram 2018'' portrays the tempestuous ferocity of nature, and the utter helplessness of humankind before that might." Of late he has been doing commercial and art films and is successful in both genres. While ''
Thilakkam ''Thilakkam'' () is a 2003 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Jayaraj and written by Rafi Mecartin. Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, and Thiagarajan play the lead roles. The rest of the cast includes Nedumudi Venu, K. P. A. C. Lal ...
'' (2003) and ''
4 The People ''4 the People'' is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language vigilante thriller film directed by Jayaraj and written by Iqbal Kuttippuram from a story by Jayaraj. The film stars Arun Cherukavil, Bharath (in his Malayalam debut), Arjun Bose, and Padma ...
'' (2004) were huge commercial successes ''
Kannaki Kannagi (), sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic '' Cilappatikāram''. Kannagi is described as a chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his adultery, their attempt to r ...
'' (2002), ''Makalkku'' (2005), ''
Daivanamathil ''Daivanamathil'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Jayaraj and written and produced by Aryadan Shoukath. The film is based on the Demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, which had its repercussions on Muslims in ...
'' (2005) and ''
Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine T ...
'' (2015) were critically acclaimed. ''
Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine T ...
'' made history, becoming the first ever Malayalam movie to have swept all the top awards in the 20-year history of the International Film Festival of Kerala. The film was one of four Malayalam films selected to be a part of the Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India in Goa in November 2015.


Philanthropy

In an earnest effort towards conserving nature and strengthening people's welfare, Jayaraj founded the Jayaraj Foundation in 2010 and officially launched it on 6 June 2014. World Organisation of Hope's (WOH) ambitious programme ''SMART'' (Sports, Music, Art and Recreation Therapy (Yoga and Meditation)) and ''Birds Club International'' are the two projects initiated by the foundation. World Organisation of Hope (WOH) is an organisation aimed at building children's awareness of their rights and to protect them. The programme SMART ports, Music, Art and Recreation Therapy (Yoga and Meditation)is an offshoot of WOH. It supports children and adolescents in their own struggle to secure and defend their dreams. Birds Club International (BCI) aims at creating miniature rain forests in schools and colleges, to make a better environment both for birds and humans. It plans to bring together the future generation and integrating more of society towards nature conservation activities. Several units of BCI have been started in many schools and colleges in Kerala, with the help of the Government of Kerala, to achieve this.


Awards

;International awards ;
National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
*1996 : Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''
Desadanam ''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language musical drama film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a monastery. The film is a box office hi ...
'' *1997 :
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...
- ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' *2001 :
Best Film The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...
- ''
Shantham ''Shantham'' () is a Malayalam feature film directed by Jayaraj. It stars I M Vijayan, a leading Indian football player of modern times, M G Shashi, Seema Biswas and K P A C Lalitha. The renowned Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi and the M ...
'' *2005 : Best Film on National Integration - ''
Daivanamathil ''Daivanamathil'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Jayaraj and written and produced by Aryadan Shoukath. The film is based on the Demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, which had its repercussions on Muslims in ...
'' *2007 : Best Non-Feature Film Direction - ''
Vellapokkathil "Vellapokkathil" (, ) is a short story written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The story was published in 1935 and is based on the author's childhood experience during the Great Flood of 1924 in Kerala. Widely considered one of Thakazhi's best st ...
'' (''The Deluge'') *2014 : Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation - ''
Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine T ...
'' *2017 : Best Director - ''
Bhayanakam ''Bhayanakam'' (English: ''Fearsome'') is a 2018 Indian Malayalam–language period drama war film directed by Jayaraj, produced by Sureshkumar Muttath, and stars writer-turned-actor Renji Panicker and Asha Sarath. The film is an adaptation of ...
'' *2017 : Best Adapted Screenplay - ''Bhayanakam'' *2017 : Special Jury mention - Rebirth ;
Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...
*1992 :
Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the second best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under t ...
- ''Kudumbasametham'' *1996 :
Kerala State Film Award for Best Director The Kerala State Film Award for Best Director is an honour presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India since 1969. It is given to a film director who has exhibited outstanding direction while working in the Malayalam film industr ...
- '' Deshadanam'' *1997 : Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' *1999 :
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
- ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
'' *2015 :
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
- ''
Ottaal '' Ottaal'' (English: ''The Trap'') is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine T ...
'' ;Filmfare Awards South * 1997 :
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...
: ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' * 2000 :
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...
: ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
'' * 2000 : Best Film - Malayalam : ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
'' ;V. Shantharam Awards *1997 : ''
Kaliyattam ''Kaliyattam'' () is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play ''Othello'', set ...
'' *2001 : ''
Shantham ''Shantham'' () is a Malayalam feature film directed by Jayaraj. It stars I M Vijayan, a leading Indian football player of modern times, M G Shashi, Seema Biswas and K P A C Lalitha. The renowned Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi and the M ...
'' ;John Abraham Awards *2000 : ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
'' *2012 : ''
Vellapokkathil "Vellapokkathil" (, ) is a short story written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The story was published in 1935 and is based on the author's childhood experience during the Great Flood of 1924 in Kerala. Widely considered one of Thakazhi's best st ...
'' ;
Asianet Film Awards The Asianet Film Awards is an award ceremony for films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. Asianet says an awards ceremony has been instituted to honour artistic and ...
* 2002: Asianet Film Award for Best Director for
Kannaki Kannagi (), sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic '' Cilappatikāram''. Kannagi is described as a chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his adultery, their attempt to r ...
;Ramu Karyatt Awards *1996 : ''
Desadanam ''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language musical drama film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a monastery. The film is a box office hi ...
'' ;P. Padmarajan Awards *1996 : ''
Desadanam ''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language musical drama film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a monastery. The film is a box office hi ...
'' *2000 : ''
Karunam ''Karunam'' is a 2000 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Jayaraj. The film stars Biju Menon, Eliyamma, Madambu Kunjukuttan and Vavachan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Sunny Stephen. The film is the second installme ...
''


Filmography


References


External links

*
All in the name of God
The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...
- 5 July 2005 {{DEFAULTSORT:Jayaraj Malayali people 20th-century Indian people Malayalam film directors Kerala State Film Award winners Tamil film directors 1960 births Living people Filmfare Awards South winners Best Director National Film Award winners 21st-century Indian people Artists from Kottayam Film directors from Kottayam district Telugu film directors Hindi-language film directors Film producers from Kerala Screenwriters from Kerala Malayalam screenwriters Best Adapted Screenplay National Film Award winners Directors who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award Directors who won the Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation National Film Award Directors who won the Best Film on National Integration National Film Award