Navodaya Appachan

Navodaya Appachan Biography

Navodaya Appachan – credited as the showman of the Malayalam film industry was a leading film producer and director associated with Malayalam cinema. He used the official name M.C. Punnoose for his directorial ventures. He established Navodaya Studio and has played a significant role in the expansion and establishment of Malayalam film industry. Many of the famous leading artists of today have started their career through Navodaya Films. His production and directorial venture - My Dear Kuttichathan (1983) is a landmark movie in Indian film history. It was the first 3D film made in India and has been dubbed to many Indian languages, remixed several times and has been very successful. Its Hindi version is titled – Chota Chetan. Manjil Virinja Pookkal – also needs special mention. The movie marked the successful beginning of actors Mohanlal and Shankar on Malayalam silver screen.

His brother Kunchakko is also a leading name of Malayalam film industry as a producer, who established Udaya Studio. Boban Kunchacko, who appeared in a few Malayalam movies, is his nephew. Leading hero of today, Kunchacko Boban is the grandson of Kunchakko (grandnephew of Navodaya Appachan) and hence forms a part of the Malayalam film production empire. Appachan was the producer of 1982 movie - Padayottam, the first south Indian movie to be indigenously shot in the 70 mm film format. The movie cost 50 lakh Indian rupees (in those days a big budget), starred Prem Nazir, Madhu, Mammootty, Mohanlal and Shankar in pivot roles. The first cinemascope movie in Malayalam, Thacholi Ambu was also directed by Appachan. Thus this showman is credited to many ‘Firsts’ of Malayalam cinema and he has directed many blockbusters under the banner of Navodaya Films.

He produced `Bible Ki Kahaniyaan' on Doordarshan. He founded Kishkinta, India's first theme park, in Chennai. In 2011, he was honored with JC Daniel award of the state government for his overall contribution to cinema. He passed away in 2012, after batting with cancer for a couple of years.

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Updated: July 08, 2014