Shyamaprasad

Shyamaprasad Biography

Shyamaprasad is a critically well acclaimed director of Malayalam cinema. He has directed many trend setter movies like Agnisakshi, Akale, English, Ritu, Arike, Ore Kadal and Elektra. His movies have been shown in numerous International film festivals and his movies always win Kerala satte awards and National awards most frequently. In the past 15 years, he has done only 10 movies. Yet his name is always suggested by critics for best movie and best director category of Malayalam cinema. Though his movies belong to parallel cinema, they become hit at box office too. Ritu, English and Arike are best instances.  Actors always feel as luck if they get opportunity to work in Shyamaprasad’s movies. Seeing his talent and international fame as a film maker, Shyamaprasad had been invited to serve twice as the jury of the National Film Awards. He is the son of famous BJP leader of Kerala – O.Raja Gopal, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Shyamaprasad completed his degree in Theatre Arts from the School of Drama, Calicut. He received the Commonwealth Scholarship in 1989 and did his Master in Media Production at the Hull University, England. Once returned, he did a few documentary films for television thus giving new definitions to Malayalam documentaries. He debut direction with the Malayalam movie, Kallu kondoru pennu in the year 1998. But it was through his second movie, Agnisakhsi he arose to a National figure. Based on the novel written by Lalithambika Antharjanam, he directed this movie with actress Shobhana in the leading role. This movie is always regarded as one among the best performances of this actress till now. This movie won National award for best Malayalam cinema and Best director and Best film in main stream and critics’ category at Kerala state awards too. This movie entered many foreign film festivals also.

In 2004, his movie Akale won Best Malayalam film in National award category. It won best director and film awards at Kerala state awards too. Geethu Mohandas won best actress award for this movie. he repeated the history for the next movie venture too. The movie was Ore kadal starring Mammootty and Meera Jasmin in leading roles. This movie too, entered many foreign film festivals including Opening film at the International Film Festival of India Indian Panorama. It won critics awards for best movie as well as best direction.

2010 movie Elektra presented him Kerala State Film Award for Best Director. In this movie, actress Manisha Koirala played the leading role. His latest releases Arike and English are also commented as ‘Must watch films for all’. Yes, in true sense, he is the asset of Kerala cinema.  

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Updated: July 04, 2018