G Aravindan

G. Aravindan, full name Govindan Aravindan was an exceptional personality with many talents. Aravindan was a screenplay writer, painter, director, and cartoonist of Indian origin. He was born in Kottayam in present-day Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in 1935. He was born to a family of artists, his father being M.N. Govindan Nair – a comedy writer. Aravindan went to University College in Trivandrum, Kerala. At an early age, Aravindan started working as an illustrator for Mathrubhumi – a Malayalam weekly newspaper. He worked with Mathrubhumi for 12 years and was known for his comic strip Cheriya Manushyarum Valiya Lokavum which revolved around the socio-politic scenario of the country. After some time, he developed an inclination toward music and dramatics. He came into contact with thespian Kavalam Narayana Panicker   Kavalam Narayana Panicker is an Indian director >> Read More... and writer Thikkodiyan which further deepened his interest in theatre.

He was one of the founding figures in the development of drama and music ensembles- Sopanam and Navarangam. Some of his plays are Avanavan Kadamba and Kaali. Initially, almost all of his plays revolved around mystical and spiritual themes. While pursuing theatre he eventually entered into cinema and directorial space. He first directed the movie Uttarayanam in 1974 which was lightly influenced by his comic strip - Cheriya Manushyarum Valiya Lokavum. The film was critically appraised and won five Kerala State Films Awards. In his next movie, Aravindan turned Kanchana Sita, a play by C. N. Sreekantan Nair into a short motion picture in 1972. The film was the first independent movie in Malayalam cinema.

The movie was one of a kind because it was narrated from the point of view of Sita as the protagonist. His project Thampu (1978) won him the National Award for Best Director. Another unconventional movie, it narrated the ordeals of a circus ensemble. He explored mystical themes with movies like Esthappan and Kummatty. He eventually opened his own production house titled Suryakanthi. He simultaneously entered the music industry and composed music for films such as Ore Thooval Pakshikal, Aaro Oral, Esthappan, Piravi, and many more. He wrote the screenplay for Esthappan and Vasthuhara. He also worked in the Revenue Board as an officer for some time. He was felicitated with Padma Shri in 1990 by the government of India.

He was awarded the National Awards for Best Direction for his films Thampu (1979), Kanchana Sita (1978), and Oridathu (1987), and Best Film for Uttarayanam (1974), Chidambaram (1986), and Vasthuhara (1991). He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Children’s Film for his movie Kummatty (1979) and the Best Documentary Award for The Brown Landscape (1985) and The Catch (1986). He was married to Kaumudi Aravindan and had a child - Ramu Aravindan. He died in 1991 due to a heart attack, just before the release of his movie Vasthuhara.