Hariharan

Hariharan is an Indian film director who has directed over 50 Malayalam films. His movies mainly revolve around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Keralite society. His most notable works include Sharapancharam, Panchagni (1986), Idavazhiyile Poocha Mindappoocha (1979), Amrutham Gamaya (1987), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Sargam (1992), Parinayam (1994) and Pazhassi Raja (2009) which has won him wide critical acclaim. In 2019, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Biography Hariharan studied at St. Thomas College, Thrissur, Universal Arts College, Kozhikode, and Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikara .

He debuted in 1965 as an assistant director under M. Krishnan Nair. He made his directorial debut with Ladies Hostel, which was released in 1973. In the years that followed, he directed several films starring Prem Nazir and Madhu. Babumon was one of his commercially successful films among his early works.

His 1976 movie Panchami gave first major break to Jayan as an actor in Malayalam cinema. In 1979 another movie Sarapanjaram was released with Jayan and Sheela. His films such as Valarthumrugangal, Panchagni, Nakhakshathangal, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam and Ennu Swantham Janakikutty have entered the Indian Panorama of International Film Festival. He has also been honored with a Diploma by the Pyongyang Film Festival of North Korea for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha.

In 1993, Sargam won him the Kerala State Award for Best Director and also National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film also received special honor at the Fukuoka and Swiss film festivals. His next film, Parinayam, won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and took part in about seven film festivals across the world. Ennu Swantham Janakikutty was the inaugural film at the Korean film festival (2000), and it also took part in the London film festival (2000).

Apart from these recognitions he has also won Filmfare and Ramu Kariat Awards for his works on multiple occasions. In 2009, he made Pazhassi Raja. It is based on the life of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the first revolter against the British East India Company. It was written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Later in 2011, he announced another historical film titled Randamoozham with Mohanlal in the lead role and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, which was an adaptation of his novel of the same name. It was to be produced by Gokulam Gopalan, but the project was later shelved.

Filmography

Year Title Script 1973 Ladies Hostel 1974 College Girl 1974 Ayalathe Sundari 1974 Rajahamsam 1974 Bhoomidevi Pushpiniyayi 1975 Madhurappathinezhu 1975 Love Marriage 1975 Babumon 1976 Panchami (film) 1976 Ammini Ammaavan 1976 Themmadi Velappan 1976 Rajayogam P. Balakrishnan 1977 Ivanente Priyaputhran 1977 Sangamam 1977 Sujatha 1977 Tholkan Enikku Manassilla 1978 Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil 1978 Adimakkachavadam 1978 Snehathinte Mukhangal 1978 Yagaswam 1979 Sarapancharam 1979 Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda PoochaM. T. Vasudevan Nair 1980 Lava S. L Puram 1980 Muthuchippikal 1981 Poocha Sanyasi 1981 Valarthumrugangal M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1981 Sreeman Sreemathi 1982 Anuraagakkodathi 1982 Anguram 1983 Evideyo Oru Shathru Unreleased 1983 Varanmaare Aavashyamundu 1984 Poomadathe Pennu 1984 Vellam 1984 Vikatakavi 1986 Panchagni M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1986 Nakhakshathangal M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1986 Anjaam Remake of Sharapanjaram 1987 Amrutham Gamaya M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1987 Mangai Oru Gangai (Tamil) 1987 Njanum Neeyum 1988 Aranyakam M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1989 Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1990 Oliyambukal Dennis Joseph 1992 Sargam Chovallur Krishnan Kutty 1994 Parinayam M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1998 Ennu Swantham Janakikutty M. T. Vasudevan Nair 1999 Prem Poojari P. Balakrishnan 2005 Mayookham Hariharan 2009 Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja M. T. Vasudevan Nair 2013 Ezhamathe Varavu M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Awards

National Film Awards: 2009 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja 1995 - National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues - Parinayam 1993 - National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment - Sargam

Kerala State Film Awards:

2019 - J. C. Daniel Award 2009 - Best Director - Pazhassi Raja 1994 - Best Film - Parinayam 1992 - Best Director - Sargam 1989 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha 1979 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - Idavazhiyile Poocha Mindappoocha

Filmfare Awards: 2019 - Filmfare Award for Lifetime Achievement 2009 - Best Director - Pazhassi Raja 1994 - Best Director - Parinayam 1986 - Best Director - Panchagni

Other awards 2012 - Prem Nazir Award 1993 - V. Shantaram Award