P. Chandrakumar

P. Chandrakumar Biography

P. Chandrakumar is a Malayalam film director, cinematographer, and film distributor. His younger brother P. Sukumar is a popular cinematographer, actor and film director who works in Malayalam cinema. In 1988, he directed Adipapam, an erotic film based on the bible, for which he is known most. It is regarded as the first super hit soft porn film in Malayalam cinema, which began a new trendsetter in Malayalam cinema for soft porn. He was only 19 when he directed his first film in 1977, and hence one of the youngest film directors of Malayalam film industry. He made 29 films with actor Madhu, who produced 6 of them as well.

P. Chandrakumar hails from Kollengode, Palakkad district. His father was a policeman and also as venom doctor. Chandrakumar too took the job as a visha vaidyan when he has turned just 14. He also learnt Kathakali and performed before tourists in the Kollengode Palace. Once film producer Vasu Menon got a snake bite and he approached Chandrakumar for venom treatment. When he understood that his ‘doctor’ is a Kathakali artist too, he invited him to film industry, which proved to be a turning point of P. Chandrakumar’s career.

He was only 14 when he began his film career as an assistant director of P. Bhaskaran. Ummachu (1971) was the first movie, for which he played the role of an assistant director. Manassoru Mayil in 1977 marked his directorial debut at the age of 19, and some of his films later include - Jala Tharangam, Rosa I Love You, Kalpana House, Kaattu Kallan, Air Hostess, Thadavara, Adikaram etc which include a few B-grade films too. He got into film distribution in the 1980s. He took a break from industry in 1993.

Published: January 04, 2020

Updated: January 04, 2020