Biju

Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is best known for films such as Saira, Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2016), Sound of Silence (2017), Painting Life (2018) and Veyilmarangal (2019).

Biju has received three National Film Awards, and his films have been screened at multiple international film festivals and won numerous awards including the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai Film Festival 2019. His films were screened at festivals including Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Moscow, Cairo, Iran (Fajr), Eurasia, Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Oporto, Dhaka, IFFK and IFFI.

Career Biju debuted into films as writer and director with Saira (2005). It was first part of terrorism trilogy and in 2007 premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival. His second film Raman (2008) was selected at Cairo International Film Festival (2009) in the Incredible India category. Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home; 2010) was last film of the trilogy and earned a National Film Award for best Malayalam film in 2010.

His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section. Biju's next film, Perariyathavar (Names Unknown, 2014) received two National Film Awards in 2014 for the Best Actor and Best film on Environment conservation, and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival (2014).

In 2015, he directed Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings; 2015) which was premiered at United Nations, Geneva as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme, and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation. His 2016 film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) was premiered at the Eurasia International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Montreal World Film Festival, in 2016.

In 2016, his next film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2016). In 2017, Dr.Biju directed his first non-Malayalam in Pahari, Hindi and Tibetan languages. The film Sound of Silence (2017 film) (2017) won the Best Director award at Kolkata International Film Festival (2017).

In 2018, Dr.Biju directed a film in English language titled Painting Life (2018). The film premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2018). In 2019 Dr.Biju's tenth film Veyilmarangal (2019) premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival (2019). The film won the Golden Goblet award for outstanding artistic achievement.

In 2020, he directed the film House of Orange Trees which premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival 2020. His next film The Portraits (2021) premiered at the Moscow International film festival 2021. In 2021 he directed his first film in Telugu language titled Sthalam (The Land). The film premiered at Dhaka International Film festival 2023.

Filmography Year Original title English title Language 2005 Saira Saira Malayalam 2008 Raman Travelogue of Invasion Malayalam, English 2010 Veettilekkulla Vazhi The Way Home Malayalam 2012 Akasathinte Niram Colour of Sky 2013 Perariyathavar Names Unknown 2015 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal Birds With Large Wings 2016 Kaadu Pookkunna Neram When The Woods Bloom 2017 Sound of Silence Sound of Silence Hindi, Pahari 2018 Painting Life Painting Life English 2019 Veyilmarangal Trees Under the Sun Malayalam 2020 Orange Marangalude Veedu House Of Orange Trees 2021 The Portraits The Portraits 2022 Sthalam The Land Telugu 2023 Adrishya Jalakangal Invisible Windows Malayalam 2025 Papa Buka Papa Buka Tok Pisin

Awards and honours

National Film Awards

Year Category Film Result Note 2010 Best Feature Film in Malayalam Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The way home) Won 2013 Best Film on Environmental Conservation Perariyathavar (Names Unknown) Won The film also won Best Actor Award to actor Suraj Venjaramoodu 2015 Best Film on Environmental Conservation Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds with large wings) Won

International Awards

Award Film Festival/Organization Year Nominated work Result Golden Goblet award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement International Film Festival of Kerala 2019 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won Best International Feature Film Award Chongqing Pioneer Art Film Festival, China 2020 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won Life Award Imagineindia International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain 2022 The Portraits Won Critics award Rajasthan International Film Festival, India 2022 The Portraits Won Prémio da Crítica (Critics award) 39th Oporto International film festival, Portugal, 2019 Painting Life Won Best Screen Play Award Aurangabad International film festival 2019 Painting Life Won Best Director Indian Film Festival Cincinnati Ohio, USA 2017 Sound Of Silence Won Special Jury Mention Bangalore International Film Festival, India 2017 Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) Won World Humanitarian Award Jakarta World Humanitarian Award 2015 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won Best Film Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won Best Director Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won Best Screenplay Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won Best Film on Global Message Jaipur International film festival 2015 Perariyathavar (Names Unknown) Won Best Screenplay award New York Indian Film Festival, USA 2013 Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) Won NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film 15th International Film Festival of Kerala 2010 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won Signis Award – Commendation Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania 2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won Best Director 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain 2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won Best Film "Kollaruthu Samvidhayakare" Won 2011 Special Jury Award Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) Won