P. A. Backer

P. A. Backer (1940 – 22 November 1993) was one of the new-wave Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s.

Life sketch Backer was born in 1940 to Ahamed Musliar and Fathima of Kanippayyoor near Kunnamkulam in Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin (now part of Kerala state, India). While still a student, Backer worked as a journalist for Kuttikal and Poomottukal. He then worked as an assistant and production manager to director Ramu Kariat (1960), including on Chemmeen (1965).

He turned director in 1975 with Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol which won for him the State award for best director. Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (When the River Kabani Turned Red), a bold movie about a leftist political activist, was released during the Indian Emergency. Some other notable movies by Backer are Manimuzhakkam (Peal of Bells), Chuvanna Vithukal (Red Seeds/Seeds of revolution), Sree Narayana Guru and Sanghaganam (Chorus). Manimuzhakkam, based on the novel Murippadukal by Sarah Thomas, won the National Film Award for Best Regional Film and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film. Sree Narayana Guru won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. His last film as a director was Innaleyude Baaki (The Balance of Yesterday; 1988).

He died on 22 November 1993, aged 53, at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. He was survived by his wife Anita Backer.

Filmography Backer directed the following films: Sakhavu (incomplete film) Innalayude Baaki (1988) Sree Narayana Guru (1985) Premalekhanam (1985) - based on the novel Premalekhanam by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Charam (1983) Chappa (1982) Unarthupattu (1980) Manninte Maril (1979) Sanghaganam (1979) Chuvanna Vithukal (1978) Mani Muzhakkam (1976) - based on the novel Murippadukal by Sarah Thomas Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (1976)

Awards Kerala State Film Awards 1970 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Film for Olavum Theeravum 1976 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Film for Manimuzhakkam 1975 - Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film for Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol 1977 - Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film for Chuvanna Vithukal 1975 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Director for Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol 1976 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Manimuzhakkam

National Film Awards 1976 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Manimuzhakkam 1982 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Chappa 1985 - Best Film on National Integration for Sree Narayana Guru