T. K. Pareekutty

T. K. Pareekutty (c. 1909 – 21 July 1969) was an Indian film producer who was active in Malayalam cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. He produced numerous films, including Neelakuyil, Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961), Thacholi Othenan (1964), and Kunjali Marakkar (1967). Pareekutty also introduced Kerala’s first 70 mm theatre in Kochi.

Biography Pareekutty was born in Fort Kochi in 1909. He began his career in the coir trade and owned a fleet of boats before moving into the film business. In 1952, Pareekutty started a film distribution company under the name Chandrathara Pictures. His first major success was Neelakuyil (1954), co-directed by Ramu Kariat and Bhaskaran. The film is often described as a landmark in Malayalam cinema. It became the first South Indian film to receive the President’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film. Several of his productions won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, including Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961), Thacholi Othenan (1964) and Kunjali Marakkar (1967). Beyond film production, Pareekutty also invested in exhibition. He built the Saina Theatre in Fort Kochi, which later became known as Koker’s Theatre, remembered as Kerala’s first 70 mm theatre. Pareekutty died on 21 July 1969.

Filmography + Selected films produced by T. K. Pareekutty Year Title Director(s) Notes 1954 Neelakuyil P. Bhaskaran, Ramu Kariat First Malayalam film to win President’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film 1956 Rarichan Enna Pauran P. Bhaskaran 1961 Mudiyanaya Puthran Ramu Kariat National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 1963 Moodupadam Ramu Kariat 1964 Thacholi Othean P. Bhaskaran National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 1964 Bhargavi Nilayam A. Vincent First horror film in Malayalam cinema 1967 Kunjali Marakkar S. S. Rajan National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 1969 Aalmaram A. Vincent