Adoor Gopalakrishnan is a highly acclaimed Indian film director, producer, and scriptwriter. With a career spanning over fifty years, he is considered one of the best and most popular filmmakers in India. He played a significant role in the New Indian cinema movement of the 1970s, which focused on realistic issues. Adoor’s films, which showcase the society and culture of Kerala, have gained international recognition and have been premiered at prestigious film festivals such as Venice, Cannes, and Toronto. Alongside renowned filmmakers like Mrinal Sen and Satyajit Ray, Adoor is recognized as one of the most famous filmmakers from India. His notable works include ‘Swayamvaram’, ‘Vidheyan’, and ‘Pinneyum’. Adoor has received numerous honors and awards, including sixteen National Film Awards and seventeen Kerala State Film Awards. He has also been honored with the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan, the fourth and second highest civilian honors in India, as well as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Legion of Honour from the French government.
Quick Facts
- Indian Celebrities Born In July Also Known As: Moutathu Gopalakrishnan UnnithanAge: 82 Years, 82 Year Old Males
- Family:Spouse/Ex-: Sunanda (–2015)father: Madhavan Unnithanmother: Mouttathu Gauri Kunjammachildren: Aswathi DorjeBorn Country: India
- Directors
- Screenwriters
- Height: 5’8″ (173 cm), 5’8″ MalesMore Factseducation: N. S. S. College, Pandalam, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Film and Television Institute of Indiaawards: 1996; 1973 · Kathapurushan; Swayamvaram – National Film Award for Best Feature Film 2005 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award Sutherland Trophy – 1982 · Elippathayam 2006 – Padma Vibhushan National Film Award for Best Direction – 2009; 1990; 1988; Naalu Pennungal; Mathilukal; Anantaram Kerala State Film Award for Best Film – 2008; 1993; 1984; A Climate for Crime; Vidheyan; Mukhamukham 2003; 1994; 1990; Nizhalkkuthu Vidheyan Mathilukal – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 2008; 1995; 1993; A Climate for Crime; Kathapurushan; Vidheyan – Kerala State Film Award for Best Director 1977 · Kodiyettam – Kerala State Film Award for Best Story 1988; 1985 · Anantaram; Mukhamukham – National Film Award for Best Screenplay 2008; 1993 · A Climate for Crime; Vidheyan – Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay 1984 · Cinemayude Lokam – National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema Legion of Honour Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema – 2004 · Cinemanubhavam 1999; 1982 · Kalamandalam Gopi; Krishnanattam – Kerala State Film Award for Best Documentary 2005 · Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair – Kerala State Film Award for Best Short Film 1981 · The Chola Heritage – National Film Award – Special Jury Award
Childhood & Early Life
Adoor Gopalakrishnan was born as Moutathu Gopalakrishnan Unnithan on 3 July 1941, in a village named Mannadi, located in Kerala. He was born into a family whose members were patrons of kathakali, a well-known classical dance form in India.
From quite an early age, he was interested in performing arts and began acting in plays. He also wrote and directed a few of them. He later pursued his higher studies at Gandhigram Rural Institute near Dindigul and passed out in 1961 with a degree in economics, public administration and political science.
For some time, he worked as a Government officer near Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. Eventually, in 1962, he quit his job and decided to enter the world of filmmaking. He studied screenwriting and direction at the Pune Film Institute.
Career
Adoor Gopalakrishnan got a scholarship from the Government of India, and he eventually completed his course from the institute. After the completion of his course, he founded Chithralekha Film Society and Chalachithra Sahakarana Sangham, which was the first film society of Kerala. They produced, distributed and exhibited films in the cooperative sector.
In 1965, he released his first short film titled A Great Day. He continued to release several documentaries as well such as ‘Danger at Your Door-step’, in 1968, ‘Towards National STD’, in 1969, and ‘A Mission of Love’, in 1969.
His first feature film was the Malayalam language drama film ‘Swayamvaram’. It received critical acclaim, and received several awards, including four awards at the 20th National Film Awards. The film was about a man who struggles to maintain his relationship with his wife, at the same time, battling poverty. The movie shows the complexities of life in an urban milieu.
In 1977, he released his second feature film Kodiyettam, which also received two National Awards. The film revolved around a man who tries to move from a meaningless physical existence towards a more fulfilling as well as an emotional one.
His next feature film Elippathayam, was released in 1981. The film revolved around a protagonist who is trapped within himself and unable to understand what’s going on around him. The film is regarded as one of the best works in Indian cinema. The film won the British Film Institute Award, the Kerala State Film Award, the London Film Festival Award, and two National Film Awards.
Over the years, he continued to make several documentaries and feature films, and they continued to gain appreciation and awards. Some of his other works include `Anantaram’ (1987), ‘Mathilukal’ (1990), ‘Kathapurushan’ (1995), ‘Koodiyattam’ (2001), ‘Dance of the Enchantress’ (2007), ‘Naalu Pennungal’ (2007), and ‘Oru Pennum Randaanum’ (2008).
His latest film was released in 2016. It was titled ‘Pinneyum’, a crime drama film, which was inspired by a true story. Other than his work as a reputed filmmaker, he has also held several respected posts. He was a member of the national film award committee in 1974. He was a member jury in several film festivals as well. He had also served as the director of the Pune Film and Television Institute.
Major Works
Adoor Gopalakrishnan has directed, wrote and produced several films throughout his long career. One of his best-known films is Elippathayam, released in 1981. Considered one of the finest Indian films ever made, the film features actors such as Karamana Janardanan Nair, Sharada, and Rajam K Nair. The film revolved around a man, who feels like a rat in a trap, and is unable to understand the changes that are taking place around him.
Another of Gopalakrishnan’s well-known films is Vidheyan, a 1993 drama film. The film explores the master-slave dialect in a setting in South Karnataka. The film won two National Film Awards as well as six Kerala State Film Awards. It starred actors such as Mammootty and MR Gopakumar, who played the lead roles, with well-known actors such as Tanvi Azmi and Sabitha Anand.
Family & Personal Life
Adoor Gopalakrishnan was married to a woman named Sunanda. She passed away in 2015. He has a daughter named Aswathi Dorje.