P. N. Menon

P. N. Menon Biography

P. N. Menon was one of the pioneer directors of Malayalam film industry who has directed many award winning and critically high acclaimed movies. He started his film career as a production boy, later became art director and finally became film director with the movie, Rossy. He was one of the best known directors of Parallel cinema of Malayalam. Olavum Theeravum, Chembarathi, Kuttiyedathi, Mappusakshi and Malamukalile Daivam are his masterpiece works. He died in a private hospital in Kochi on September 9, 2008 aged 82. He was survived with his wife Bharathi Menon and two daughters. He is also known as the Designer of Promotional Posters. Apart from Malayalam movies, he has done posters for Bollywood films like Anokha Rishta starring Rajesh Khanna. Nerkkuneraey in 2004 was his last work, which he did after a short break of about 10 years.

He was born in a poor family in Vadakkaanchery in 1928. He completed his studies at Thrissur and Chennai. He came to Chennai at the age of 20 where he studied in School of Art. As he couldn’t find any job here, he moved to Salem where he worked as a production boy for a film studio. When the studio was shut down, he returned back to Chennai. He did odd jobs like sketches and paintings and also did magazine covers to earn a living. Once impressed by his work, he was hired for an apprenticeship in Vahini Studio in the painting department. Then he worked as art director for plays and slowly moved films as an art director.

 ‘Ninamaninja Kalpadukal’ was his debut Malayalam movie as an art director. ‘Rossy’ in 1965 marked his directorial debut. With 1970’s, he became one of the leading directors of Malayalam parallel cinema. ‘Malamukalile Daivam’ won National award for best regional film in 1983.

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Updated: April 15, 2014