K. Appukuttan Nair (1925–2007), better known as Kozhikodan, was a film critic and writer from

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

, India. He began writing on films from the early 1950s. He started writing in ''

Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...

'' and '' Chandrika'', and later became a regular columnist of ''

Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly ''Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu'' () is an Indian general interest weekly magazine published by the Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company in Kozhikode. The Malayalam language magazine started publishing on 18 January 1932.''Mathrubhumi Illus ...

'' along with Cynic and Nadirsha (T. M. P. Nedungadi). Kozhikodan received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 1988 for ''Chalathitraswadanam Engane?'' and the

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1958, by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.

(Humour) in 2010 for the poetry collection ''Padachonikku Salam''. He died on 20 January 2007. 'Kozhikodan Smaraka Samiti' has instituted Kozhikodan Puraskaram, an award given annually to the best book on cinema in Malayalam.

Works

Cinema

* ''Chalachitra Sallapam'' (DC Books, 1982) * ''Chalachitra Niroopanam'' (NBS, 1984) * ''Chalachitra Jalakom'' (Mathrubhumi,1985) * ''Chalachitraswadanam Engane'' (PK Brothers, 1988) * ''Sathyan Enna Natan'' (NBS, 1992) * ''Malayala Cinema: Ente Premabhajanam'' (Poorna, 1999) * ''Malayala Cinemayile Ekkalatheyum Ettavum Mikacha Pathu Chithrangal'' (Poorna, 2001)

Essays

* ''Navollekham'' (1966) * ''Mahanaya Shikari'' (1973) * ''Eshani Puranam'' (1988)

Humour

* ''Padachonikk Salaam'' (1998)

Children's literature

* ''Vado Njanum Koode Varaam'' (1986) * ''Vadamalliyum Panineer Poovum'' (1992) * ''Mahacharithamala'' – Two volumes (1983) * ''Kuttikalkkoru Sammanam'' (2000)

Selection

Kozhikodan lists the following ten films as the best ever in Malayalam cinema in one of his books. * '' Swayamvaram'' (1972) * ''

Yavanika ''Yavanika'' () is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by K. G. George. It stars Bharath Gopi, Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu, and Jalaja. ''Yavanika'' is one of George's most celebrated films; it rece ...

'' (1982) * '' Sandhya Mayangum Neram'' (1983) * ''

Njan Gandharvan ''Njan Gandharvan'' () is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language romantic fantasy film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It stars Nitish Bharadwaj and Suparna Anand in lead roles. The film is an esoteric fantasy about a girl and her passion ...

'' (1991) * '' Vasthuhara'' (1991) * ''

Vembanad Vembanad () is the longest lake in India, and the largest in the state of Kerala. The lake has an area of 2,033 square kilometers and a maximum length of 96.5 km. Spanning three districts in the state of Kerala, it is known as Vembanad L ...

'' (1991) * '' Aparahnam'' (1991) * '' Kadavu'' (1991) * '' Thenmavin Kombathu'' (1994) * '' Ormakal Undayirikkanam'' (1995)

References

External links

C. S. Venkiteswaran remembering Kozhikodan
{{authority control 1925 births 2007 deaths Indian film critics Malayali people Writers from Palakkad district Novelists from Kerala Malayalam-language writers Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala State Film Award winners 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian essayists 20th-century Indian novelists Indian children's writers Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala 20th-century Indian male writers