Navodaya Appachan

Navodaya Appachan was a film producer and director in the Malayalam Film industry. Appachan was a man of vision who changed the dimension of Indian cinema and took it to the next level. Navodaya Appachan was born February 6, 1924, in the Pulinkunnoo village of Alleppey district in Kerala. His real name is Malliampurackal Chacko Punnose. Appachan graduated from the St. Xavier’s College in Pallayamkottai, Tamil Nadu. Appachan came into the field of cinema because of his elder brother Kunchakoo, a producer-director in Malayalam Cinema. Appachan was the first person in Malayalam film industry to make a cinemascope film. He directed and produced the film ‘Thalacholi Ambu.’ He owned his own production house 'Navodaya Studio'. This studio came into existence because he had differences with his brother Kunchako who owned the Udhaya Studio.

Appachan’s first film became a hit. This made him more daring and risk-taking. Appachan is also credited with producing the first 70-mm South Indian film. It was Padayottam which was the remake of the famous Sherlock Holmes story ‘The count of Monte Cristo.’ This film was another hit. Appachan was fearless. He produced India’s first 3-D film ‘My Dear Kuttichatan.’ This film was a different endeavor for earning a wonderful response from the audience. Appachan and Navodaya studio went on to produce films that were all box –office hit. Appachan was the producer of Mohanlal’s debut film. He is also credited with introducing many such talents. Navodaya studios went into renovation for incorporating the new trend in India, the birth of TV shows. ‘Bible ki Kahaaniyaan’ was his TV show. Appachan moved from movies to business.

He wanted to be the first in whatever he did. Appachan was the pioneer founder of ‘Kishkinta’, an amusement park in Chennai. This water theme park is the first amusement park in India. This became a huge success amongst the people of Chennai. The trend caught on and today almost all major cities in India boast of an amusement park. Appachan produced a Telugu film also. He made sure his presence was in all over South India. Appachan passed away on April 23, 2012, in Kochi. His body was on display for a whole day and then taken to Chennai where his funeral took place. His sons Jijo and Jose have taken responsibility for the studio. Appachan got the J.C.Daniel award in 2011, just a year before he passed away. Though he is not with us today, He has left behind a legacy that will tell his name for years to come.