P PADMARAJAN

 

P. Padmarajan (Malayalam: പി. പത്മരാജന്‍; 23 May 1945 – 24 January 1991) was a Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed. A train of directors, and screen writers followed this school onto the 1990s including Sibi Malayil, Lohithadas, and Sathyan Anthikkad.
Padmarajan was noted for his fine and detailed screenwriting and expressive direction style. Padmarajan made some of the landmark motion pictures in Malayalam cinema, including masterpieces like Oridathoru Phayalwan (1981), Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil (1986), Kariyila Kattu Pole (1986), Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986), Thoovanathumbikal (1987), Moonnam Pakkam (1988), and Njan Gandharvan (1991).

Padmarajan worked as an announcer at AIR and had already authored 15 novels before he entered cinema by writing script for Bharathan's Pranamam. Considered as one among the second generation modernist writers, his works as a novelist dealt with anarchist ideologies, about marginalised people and sexual jealousy.

Padmarajan played a key role in bringing back Malayalam popular cinema back to common man, by telling stories of ordinary people and ordinary events. He established his position as a leading advocate of the middle path cinema with his very first film, Peruvazhiyambalam (1979). His second film Oridathoru Phayalvan (1981) won several awards including international awards. He maintained consistency in quality of films and remained popular among the mass during his film career.