Ramu Kariat | |
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Born |
Engandiyur, Thrissur District, Kerala, India |
1 February 1927
Died | 10 February 1979 Trivandrum, Kerala, India |
(aged 52)
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).
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.