Resul Pookutty

Resul Pookutty (born 30 May 1971) is an Indian film sound designer, sound editor and audio mixer. He won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in 2008, along with Richard Pryke and Ian Tapp, for Slumdog Millionaire. Pookutty has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Malayalam languages in addition to British films. He is a member of the Executive committee of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Motion Picture Sound Editors guild (MPSE) and Cinema Audio Society of America (CAS). In 2010, the Government of India honored him with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cinema. In the same year, he was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.

Recently Mr. Pookutty was awarded the title Distinguished Engineer by Rocheston, New York. (Distinguished Engineer is an honor awarded to Engineers of repute, selected from across the world in recognition of caliber, technical excellence and accomplishments that are an inspiration to people.

Early life Born into a family in Vilakkupara, near Anchal about 40 km from Kollam, Kerala, India. He was the youngest of eight children. His father was a private bus ticket checker. Pookutty had to walk 6 km to the nearest school and study in the light of a kerosene lamp as his village had no electricity.

He did his bachelor's degree in physics from Milad-E-Sherief Memorial College, Kayamkulam during 1987–1990. He joined Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram for studying Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, however, he was unable to complete it. In 1995, he graduated from Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He wrote the remaining LLB exam papers and enrolled as an advocate in 2012. Pookutty said that it was his father's desire to make him an advocate.

Career

Pookutty moved to Mumbai after his graduation. He termed it as "a natural immigration as a graduate of the institute." He pointed out that "Ninety-five per cent of the technicians of the Mumbai film industry are alumni of FTII, Pune." They have two children.

Filmography

As director YearFilmLanguageNotesRef.2023OttaMalayalamDebut as a director

Awards 2024: Kerala State film Award for best Sound design for Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life 2019 : National Film Award for Best Audiography for his work in Oththa Seruppu Size 7 2019 : Golden Jury Film Award the best sound designing for Sax by Julius 2016 : Golden Reel award the best sound for documentary India's Daughter 2012 : Zee Cine Award for Best Sound Design for his work in Ra.One. 2010 : National Film Award for Best Audiography for his work in Pazhassi Raja 2010 : Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt.) by Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit 2010 : Padma Shri by Government of India 2009 : Asianet Film Awards – Special Honour Jury Award 2009 : Chakkulathamma Swaravarsha Award 2009 : Bahadoor Award 2009 : Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. 2009 : BAFTA Award for Best Sound along with Glenn Freemantle, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers and Ian Tapp for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. 2005 : Zee Cine Award for Best Audiography for his work in Musafir.