Shaji N. Karun

Infobox actor
name = Shaji N. Karun


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birthname = Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran
birthdate = 1 January 1950
birthplace = Kollam, Kerala, India
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occupation = Film director, Cinematographer
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spouse = Anasuya Warrier
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children = Anil, Appu
parents = N. Karunakaran
Chandramati
influences = G. Aravindan
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website = http://www.shaji.info
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nationalfilmawards = National Film Awards (India) - Best Director - 1989 (Piravi) , 2000 (Vanaprastham)
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awards = 1989, Special Mention, Camera D'or , Cannes Film Festival (Piravi), Charlie Chaplin Award 1989 (Piravi), Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence (Cinematography)

Shaji N. Karun is a National award winning Malayalam film director. His debut film Piravi won the "Camera d'Or - Mention d'honneur" at the Cannes Film Festival. He was the Premiere Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for Film and TV in India and was also the Executive Chairman of International Film Festival of Kerala from 1998 to 2001.

Biography

Shaji Neelakantan Karun was born on new years day 1950 as the eldest son of Mr. N. Karunakaran and Mrs. Chandramati in Kollam district of the state of Kerala, India. The family moved to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state in 1963. He did his schooling in Palkkulangara H.S., and took a Bachelor's degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1971 he entered the Film and Television Institute of India where he took his diploma in Cinematography. He won the President's medal on passing out in 1975. Got married to Anasuya Warrier, who incidentally was his neighbour in Trivandrum for quite some time again on New years day 1975. After a brief stint in the south Indian city of Madras, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram in 1976 where he got an appoinment as film officer in the newly formed state Film Development Corporation. His first son Anil was born on 19 June 1976. His association with the legendary Malayalam film maker, G. Aravindan began at this time. Then he continued working with notable directors like G. Aravindan, K. G. George and M. T. Vasudevan Nair as a cinematographer. His camera work, especially the films of Aravindan from Kanchana Seeta to Chidambaram, for some defines the look of Kerala's New Wave Cinema.

Career in Film Direction

Shaji made his directorial debut with the Malayalam film "Piravi" ("The Birth",1988), which won him the prestigious "Camera d'Or - Mention d'honneur" at the Cannes Film Festival. While "Piravi" was about the grief of a father who loses his son, Shaji's second film, "Swaham" (1994) continued with the theme of grief. "Swaham" was selected to the competition section of Cannes Film Festival in 1994. "Vaanaprastham" ("The Final Dance", 1999) dealt with the identity crisis faced by an actor. Mohanlal played the lead role in this film. His directed the film "Nishad", made in Hindi, which was completed in May 2002, and premiered in Fukuoka International Film Festival held September 2002 at Japan. He has also made around a dozen short films and documentaries. Besides making films, Shaji Karun has been active as a juror at many International film festivals and an active participant in governmental and academic arenas. He was the Premiere Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for Film and TV in India and was also the Executive Chairman of International Film Festival of Kerala from 1998 to 2001. His latest film is "A. K. G.", a biopic on the life of legendary communist leader A. K. Gopalan. The film, distributed by Johny Sagarika was exhibited along with "Thakarachenda", an art house film starring Srinivasan, so that both the films could be watched for a single ticket.

Awards and Milestone

As a Cinematographer

* Eastman Kodak Award for the Excellence, Hawaii International Film Festival 1989
* National Film Award : Film: Thampu (Circus Tent) (1979)
* The Awards from the Government of Kerala: Films:- Kanchana Sita (1977), Estappan (81), OnnumuthalPoojayam Vare(86)

As a Director

* Ordre des Arts et des Lettres; 1999
* National Film Award : Piravi (1989), Swaham (1994), Vanaprastham (1999)
* Cannes International Film Festival, La Caméra d'Or (Special Mention) : Piravi (1989)
* London Film Festival, Outstanding Film : Piravi (1989)
* Locarno International Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize (Silver Leopard) : Piravi (1989)

Filmography as Director

Feature Films

# Piravi (1989)
# Swaham (1994)
# Vanaprastham (1998)
# Nishad (2002)
# Kutty Shranku (2008)(shooting in progress)
# Suryamukhi (2008) (pre-production)
# Kadal (2009) (announced)

hort Films

# Wild Life of Kerala 1979
# Kerala Carnival 1980
# Kannikal 1986
# Sham's Vision 1996
# Bhavam 1998
# G.Aravindan 2000
# Big Man& Small World 2002
# AKG 2007

References

*
* http://www.shaji.info
* [http://www.spicevienna.org/showPerson.php?p=2864 Shaji N. Karun @ SPICE]
* [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0601/01/1060101027_1.htm Weblokam Profile]