N. N. Pisharody

N.N.Pisharody was a legendary film director, writer, and producer of Malayalam Film Industry. His most renowned works include movies like Ninamaninja Kalpadukal and Ammu. The former bagged him a National Film Award in the category of Best Feature Film (Malayalam) in the year of 1963. He had written about 17 novels throughout his life and had contributed more than 30 years as a scriptwriter and director for the film industry. He was born in the year 1926 at Methala near Perumbavoor, Kerala to a feudal family known as “Kallil.” His parents are Mukkotil Kunji Pisharassiar and Kallil Narayana Pisharody.

He did his schooling in Paravoor and completed his graduation from Serhampur, West Bengal with economics as major. Since his younger days, he was an avid reader and held a deep appreciation for the different shades of literature. During his high school days, he published his first story in the weekly journal “Prasanna Keralam” from Kottayam, following which he regularly published his stories in many of the weeklies.

He remained unmarried and died at the age of 82 years on 30 August 2008 at Radha Niwas, in Kanjoor, India. K.Balakrishan, deceased editor of Kaumudi, lead him to write novels. His first published novel was Kure Swapnanagal, Kure Vanambadigal (English: “Lot of dreams, a lot of Nightingales”) in Kaumudi Weekly. Later on, many leading Malayalam magazines like Navayugam, Janayugam, Keralashabdam, Express, Chithrapournnami, Mathrubhoomi often published his novels. Eight books were printed out of seventeen. Among them, a novel titled as “Vellam” inspired a movie of the same name. Virunnusala was his other notable work. He took a brief hiatus from his writing career to follow a career in the film industry. He had written screenplays for around 40 dramas for Aakashvani Thrissur.

He also wrote plays like Sarppa Sathram, Ivideyo Naalathe Sooryodayam, Hiranya Garbham, Vishathan Kaavilinnarattu for several different art groups. His association with the film industry started as an assistant director for both Tamil and Telugu movies and lasted for more than three decades. Later on, he established himself as an independent director, scriptwriter, and producer. He debuted as a director with a Malayalam film Ninamaninja Kalpadukal which garnered him a National Film Award for the Best Regional Film in 1963. On his own, he directed around six flicks and produced two movies. For Doordarshan, he wrote the screenplay as well as directed four episodes of Aithihyamala. He also happens to helm a tele-film titled as Kudajadra. His other works include Mulkkireedom, Ragging, Kanikkonna, Mutthu.