A. K. Lohithadas

Summary

Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (10 May 1955 – 28 June 2009) was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, film maker, and producer who worked in the Malayalam film industry.[1][2] In a career spanning over two decades, his films have won a National Film Award, six Kerala State Film Awards, and fourteen Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script.[3]

A. K. Lohithadas
Born(1955-05-10)10 May 1955
koratty, Thiru-Kochi (Present day Thrissur, India)
Died28 June 2009(2009-06-28) (aged 54)
Kochi, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • playwright
  • director
  • producer
Years active1986–2009

Lohithadas made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987). He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Vicharana (1988), Ezhuthapurangal (1988), Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Mrugaya (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Sasneham (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Vatsalyam (1993), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999).[4] He later became a director, and made his directorial debut with Bhoothakkannadi (1997). He later wrote and directed Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003).[5] He died on 28 June 2009 due to a heart attack.[6]

Early life edit

Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', as he is often referred to) was born on 5 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Thrissur district, Kerala, as the son of Ambazhathuparambil Karunakaran and Lakshmi.[citation needed]

Career edit

Lohi's first movie screenplay was Thaniavarthanam directed by "Sibi Malayil".[citation needed] Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several Malayalam movies.[citation needed] His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Dasharatham (1989), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Dhanam (1991), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993). Other works include Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Sasneham (1990) for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram, Venkalam(1991) for Bharathan.[citation needed]

He later became a filmmaker and made works such as Bhoothakkannadi (1997), Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Arayannangalude Veedu (2000), Joker (2000), Kasthooriman (2003) (which he himself produced), and Nivedyam (2007).[7] Most of his works were critically and commercially successful. His works were recognised from his very first venture Thaniyavarthanam, which brought him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story.[citation needed]

"Nizhalukal Inachernna Naattuvazhikal" ('നിഴലുകൾ ഇണചേർന്ന നാട്ടുവഴികൾ' – എം. ശബരീഷ്, പാപ്പാത്തി ബുക്സ്) is a book about his life and film career.[citation needed]

Death edit

On 28 June 2009, Lohithadas, 54, died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Aluva, where he had been living for two-three years.[8][9] His body was taken to his home in Lakkidi in Palakkad district, where he was cremated with full state honours.[citation needed] He is survived by his wife Sindhu and two sons named Harikrishnan and Vijayashankar.

Awards edit

 
Lohithadas along with director Bharathan and cinematographer Ramachandra Babu at the location of Venkalam.
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards[14]
Asianet Film Award

Filmography edit

Screenwriter edit

Year Title Director
2007 Nivedyam Self
2006 Chakkara Muthu Self
2005 Kasthuri Maan (Tamil) Self
2003 Chakram Self
2003 Kasthooriman Self
2001 Soothradharan Self
2000 Arayannangalude Veedu Self
2000 Joker Self
1999 Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal Sathyan Anthikkad
1998 Ormacheppu Self
1998 Kanmadam Self
1997 Karunyam Self
1997 Bhoothakannadi Self
1996 Sallapam Sundardas
1996 Thooval Kottaram Sathyan Anthikkad
1996 Udhyanapalakan Harikumar
1995 Saadaram Jose Thomas
1994 Chakoram Venu
1994 Sagaram Sakshi Sibi Malayil
1993 Chenkol Sibi Malayil
1993 Padheyam Bharathan
1993 Vatsalyam Cochin Haneefa
1993 Venkalam Bharathan
1992 Kamaladalam Sibi Malayil
1992 Valayam Sibi Malayil
1992 Kauravar Joshi
1992 Aadharam George Kithu
1991 Dhanam Sibi Malayil
1991 Amaram Bharathan
1991 Bharatham Sibi Malayil
1991 Kanalkkattu Sathyan Anthikkad
1990 His Highness Abdullah Sibi Malayil
1990 Sasneham Sathyan Anthikkad
1990 Kuttettan Joshi
1990 Radha Madhavam Suresh Unnithan
1990 Maalayogam Sibi Malayil
1989 Mrigaya I. V. Sasi
1989 Mahayanam Joshi
1989 Mudra Sibi Malayil
1989 Jaathakam Suresh Unnithan
1989 Dasharatham Sibi Malayil
1989 Kireedam Sibi Malayil
1988 Mukthi I. V. Sasi
1988 Kudumbapuranam Sathyan Anthikkad
1988 Vicharana Sibi Malayil
1987 Ezhuthapurangal Sibi Malayil
1987 Thaniyavarthanam Sibi Malayil

Director edit

Year Title Cast
1997 Bhoothakannadi Mammootty, Sreelakshmi
1997 Karunyam Jayaram, Murali, Divya Unni
1998 Ormacheppu Lal, Chanchal, Dileep
1998 Kanmadam Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal
2000 Arayannangalude Veedu Mammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
2000 Joker Dileep, Manya, Nishanth Sagar
2001 Soothradharan Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Bindu Panicker
2003 Kasthoorimann Kunchacko Boban, Meera Jasmine
2003 Chakram Prithviraj, Meera Jasmine, Chandra Lakshman
2005 Kasthuri Maan (Tamil) Prasanna, Meera Jasmine
2006 Chakkara Muthu Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jishnu Raghavan
2007 Nivedyam Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu

Actor edit

Year Title Role
1999 Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal Himself
2005 Udayananu Tharam Director Prathapan

References edit

  1. ^ "In the memory of Lohithadas". The Hindu. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Kazchavattom". goodreads.com. 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Lohithadas Awards". FilmiBeat. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. ^ "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff.com. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  5. ^ "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff Movies. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Kerala News : A.K. Lohithadas passes away". The Hindu. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Malayalam News | Editorial". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Writer-director Lohithadas passes away!". Sify. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Malayalam News". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  10. ^ "45th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. ^ "State Film Awards (1981–90)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ^ a b "State Film Awards (1991–99)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Tamilnadu govt awards Rajini and Kamal". cinesouth.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  14. ^ "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 - 2012". Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

External links edit

  • A. K. Lohithadas at IMDb
  • 'Cinema of Malayalam' profile Archived 25 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  • [1]