Shajoon Kariyal

Shajoon Kariyal Biography

Shajoon Kariyal is a Malayalam film director best known for the movie – Vadakkumnathan released in 2006. The movie starred Mohanlal and Padma Priya in lead roles and includes some evergreen melodious songs composed by Raveendran. Vadakkumnathan is one of the last works of this highly accomplished music director of Malayalam movies and the movie was released posthumously, though its music album was released one year ago. The movie too received warm response from critics and film audience.

He was born in Kozhikode in 1966. He started his film career at the age of 18 as an assistant director of famous film director I. V. Sasi in the year 1984. He assisted him in a series of movies for more than a decade which includes Uyarangalil, Anubandham, Karimpinpoovinakkare, Aavanazhi, 1921, Douthyam, Varthamana Kalam, Arhatha, Midhya, Neelagiri and Varnapakittu, and most of them are action thrillers of Mammootty and Mohanlal. He also wrote the script of the super hit movie – Jackpot which starred Mammootty and Gauthami in the lead roles.

Rajaputhran in 1996 marked his directorial debut. The movie starred super stars Suresh Gopi and Shobana in the lead roles. The movie was a box office hit. Later he went on to direct a series of movies – Chettayees, Vadakkumnadhan, Greetings, Saivar Thirumeni, Dreams and Thachiledathu Chundan. Chettayees – the comedy movie with Lal, Biju Menon, Suresh Krishna and Mia George in lead roles was his latest release. The movie released in 2012 received negative response from critics.

He is best remembered for 2006 release - `Vadakkumnathan'. The director had already decided that he would quit the industry if the film is not accepted by audience. The movie went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year and it gave a new image to Mohanlal as well. It included some super hit and melodious songs like Kalabham tharam and Oru kili ettupadumo.

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Updated: July 22, 2014