Ajayan

Ajayan is also known as Thoppil Ajayan (8^th April 1950 – 13th December 2018). He was a Malayalam cinema director. On 13^th December 2018, he passed away.

Ajayan is best known for his one feature film, “Perumthachan (The Master Carpenter). Critics worldwide praised the movie. In 1990, he received the “Indira Gandhi Award” as the Best Debut Film Director. He also earned “the Kerala State Film Award” for the film as the Best Debut Director.

Thoppil Ajayan demonstrated that one might achieve worldwide fame with a single movie. Many directors churn out hundreds of commercial films with no creative value and still fail to earn a place in the hall of fame.

M. T. Vasudevan Nair claimed in the afterword to his book “The Master Carpenter” that Ajayan approached him initially for a screenplay of his novel “Manikkakkallu.” He later contacted him for a new fantasy project, Perumthachan. M. T. Ajayan convinced him to write the screenplay for Perumthachan at the end of the afterword.

Perumthachan is a complex story. Malayalam Literature's living legend, MT Vasudevan Nair, wrote the screenplay of the movie. With the help of an excellent script, Ajayan was able to find just the perfect cast for the film. He cast Thilakan, a late-career theatrical and film actor. Ajayan extracted Thilakan's complete acting talent and potential as the film's protagonist and the movie was overflowing with visual brilliance and aesthetic features.

Ajayan and the movie won multiple prizes for the critically praised picture, including the “Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director, the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director, and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film.” The film received a nomination for the Locarno International Film Festival's "Golden Leopard" award in 1992.

In 2010, he directed the song video “Manjari.” The video featured Tom George Kolath and Jyothirmayi. Kumaranasan's Chandala bikshuki inspired the video.

Thoppil Bhasi The great play writer, Scriptwriter, Film Director >> Read More... , a movie director and dramatist, gave birth to Ajayan. He earned a diploma in film technology from the acclaimed "Adayar Film Institute." He started as a camera assistant. Earlier, he worked as an associate director with Thoppil Bhasi, Bharathan, and Padmarajan. Ajayan also directed several documentaries and worked as a cinematographer for some Tamil films.

Ajayan has previously served as an assistant director on movies such as "Ente Upasana (1984), Oridathu (1986), Panchavadi Palam (1984), and Sarvakalashala (1987).” His other works included “Koodevide (1983), Rathinirvedam (1978), and Kariyilakkattu Pole (1986).” The audience praised his directing abilities.

Ajayan received several awards for his excellent work, including “Kerala State Film Award for Best Film” in 1990 with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value and “Kerala State Film Award” in 1990 as Best Debut Director.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences on the passing of Thoppil Ajayan. Ajayan captivated the hearts of the audience through his talent.