K. G. George
Encyclopedia
Kulakkatil Geevarghese George (born 1946) is an India
n film director
who work in Malayalam film. George is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Kerala who modernized the Malayalam cinema in the seventies. He is the founder-chairman of MACTA, and continues to be an executive member. He was the chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation
.
(FTII), Pune, K G George started his film career as the assistant to director Ramu Kariat. He made his directorial debut with Swapnadanam (1975) and became a strong presence of the new cinema movement that became active during the early 1970s. The Film Institute may have exposed him to the magic of cinema, but his stint as assistant to the legendary Ramu Kariat in the celebrated `Nellu' must have instilled in him that quality to jell cinematic norms with commercial elements. He was given the tag of a `via media director' together with Padmarajan, Bharathan and Mohan, which was a big compliment in the Eighties when most of his movies were hits.
for best film.
His another movie released in 1980, Kolangal smithereens the common romantic concept about an interior village of Kerala filled with virtues and happiness. Here a village is shown in the clutches of wildfire of jealousy. Yavanika stands out as one of the most commercially successful, yet artistically superior films of 1980s. In the form of a detective thriller, Yavanika explores backstage drama of a traveling drama troop. It won the Kerala State Film Award
for best film. K G George uses the cinema within cinema technique for this film. With hints to the real life incident of suicide of popular actress Shobha, Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
became controversial even before its release. He used a new narrative technique Adaminte Variyellu, by telling the story of unhappy marital lives and oppressions suffered by three urban women. Based on short story by Veloor Krishnankutty, George's Panchavadi Palam
is a satirical comedy with intentionally exaggerated story line and caricature-like characters. It works almost as a political cartoon. Irakal is an in-depth exploration of the psychology of violence. A ruthless rubber baron, Mathukutty, disregards the prevailing moral standards and spawns criminal sons as well as a sexually wayward daughter, Annie. His son, Baby is a psychotic strangler using a nylon wire and is eventually shot dead by his repentant father.
George's last movie was released in 1998, Elavankode Desam, a period movie when mimicry movies ruled the roost. "The audience somehow did not relate to this movie," he says sadly. In between his first film 'Swapnadanam' and 'Elavankode Desam', he created milestones in Malayalam cinema. Seven of his movies were screened at different international festivals.
He was completely different in the way he selected plots and way it was treated. Many of K. G. George's movies will disturb the audience by their straightforward and uncompromising exposal of uncomfortable truths - corruption and decadence in the society around him.
(1998)
Oru Yathrayude Anthyam (1991) (TV)
Ee Kannikoodi (1990)
Mattoral
(1988)
Kathakku Pinnil (1987)
Irakal
(1986)
Panchavadi Palam
(1984)
Adaminte Variyellu (1983)
Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
(1983)
Yavanika
(1982)
Kolangal (1981)
Mela
(1980)
Ini Aval Urangatte (1978)
Mannu
(1978)
Ona Pudava (1978)
Rapadikalude Gatha (1978)
Ulkatal (1978)
Vyamoham (1977)
Swapnadanam
(1975)
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
who work in Malayalam film. George is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Kerala who modernized the Malayalam cinema in the seventies. He is the founder-chairman of MACTA, and continues to be an executive member. He was the chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation
Kerala State Film Development Corporation
Kerala State Film Development Corporation is a organization founded by the Government of Kerala for promoting film making in the state of Kerala, India. It was founded in the year 1975, an era when production of Malayalam film was based in Chennai. KSFDC was formed with a purpose of moving the...
.
Early life
After his diploma from Film and Television Institute of IndiaFilm and Television Institute of India
Film and Television Institute of India , is an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It is fully aided by Central Government of India. It is situated in the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune, India...
(FTII), Pune, K G George started his film career as the assistant to director Ramu Kariat. He made his directorial debut with Swapnadanam (1975) and became a strong presence of the new cinema movement that became active during the early 1970s. The Film Institute may have exposed him to the magic of cinema, but his stint as assistant to the legendary Ramu Kariat in the celebrated `Nellu' must have instilled in him that quality to jell cinematic norms with commercial elements. He was given the tag of a `via media director' together with Padmarajan, Bharathan and Mohan, which was a big compliment in the Eighties when most of his movies were hits.
Film career
His debut movie Swapnadanam was a commercial success while maintaining its artistic quality. It was a marital psychodrama, Swapnadanam rejected all the usual song-dance numbers of popular cinema, yet succeeded in reaching the common mass. Later he turned to the middle-stream cinema and produced some of the best works of Malayalam cinema, which became highly popular with the masses. It was a commercial success as well as critically acclaimed and won several awards. Swapnadanam won the Kerala State Film AwardKerala State Film Award
The Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
for best film.
His another movie released in 1980, Kolangal smithereens the common romantic concept about an interior village of Kerala filled with virtues and happiness. Here a village is shown in the clutches of wildfire of jealousy. Yavanika stands out as one of the most commercially successful, yet artistically superior films of 1980s. In the form of a detective thriller, Yavanika explores backstage drama of a traveling drama troop. It won the Kerala State Film Award
Kerala State Film Award
The Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
for best film. K G George uses the cinema within cinema technique for this film. With hints to the real life incident of suicide of popular actress Shobha, Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback is a 1983 Malayalam film by K. G. George. The movie is loosely based on the real life incident of the death of actress Shobha who committed suicide, following a relationship with director Balu Mahendra.-Plot:...
became controversial even before its release. He used a new narrative technique Adaminte Variyellu, by telling the story of unhappy marital lives and oppressions suffered by three urban women. Based on short story by Veloor Krishnankutty, George's Panchavadi Palam
Panchavadi Palam
Panchavadi palam is a 1984 Malayalam film directed by K. G. George and starring Gopi, and Nedumudi Venu. The screenplay was written by K. G. George, based on a short story of the same name by Veloor Krishnankutty...
is a satirical comedy with intentionally exaggerated story line and caricature-like characters. It works almost as a political cartoon. Irakal is an in-depth exploration of the psychology of violence. A ruthless rubber baron, Mathukutty, disregards the prevailing moral standards and spawns criminal sons as well as a sexually wayward daughter, Annie. His son, Baby is a psychotic strangler using a nylon wire and is eventually shot dead by his repentant father.
George's last movie was released in 1998, Elavankode Desam, a period movie when mimicry movies ruled the roost. "The audience somehow did not relate to this movie," he says sadly. In between his first film 'Swapnadanam' and 'Elavankode Desam', he created milestones in Malayalam cinema. Seven of his movies were screened at different international festivals.
He was completely different in the way he selected plots and way it was treated. Many of K. G. George's movies will disturb the audience by their straightforward and uncompromising exposal of uncomfortable truths - corruption and decadence in the society around him.
Filmography
Elavamkodu DesamElavamkodu Desam
Elavamkodu Desam is a 1998 Malayalam period drama film written and directed by K. G. George. It stars Mammootty and Rajeev in the lead roles, and Kushboo, Thilakan and Babu Nampoothiri in major supporting roles.-Plot:...
(1998)
Oru Yathrayude Anthyam (1991) (TV)
Ee Kannikoodi (1990)
Mattoral
Mattoral
Mattoral is a 1988 Malayalam family drama film directed by K. G. George, and starring Mammootty, Karamana Janardanan Nair and Seema. The film is written by C. V. Balakrishnan and is an adaptation of his own novel titled Jeevithame Ini Enthu? -Plot:...
(1988)
Kathakku Pinnil (1987)
Irakal
Irakal
Irakal is a 1985 Malayalam film, written and directed by K. G. George, and starring Bharath Gopi, Ganesh Kumar, Srividya, Radha, Thilakan, Chandran Nair, Nedumudi Venu and Ashokan....
(1986)
Panchavadi Palam
Panchavadi Palam
Panchavadi palam is a 1984 Malayalam film directed by K. G. George and starring Gopi, and Nedumudi Venu. The screenplay was written by K. G. George, based on a short story of the same name by Veloor Krishnankutty...
(1984)
Adaminte Variyellu (1983)
Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback
Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback is a 1983 Malayalam film by K. G. George. The movie is loosely based on the real life incident of the death of actress Shobha who committed suicide, following a relationship with director Balu Mahendra.-Plot:...
(1983)
Yavanika
Yavanika
Yavanika is a 1982 Indian Malayalam mystery thriller film co-written and directed by K. G. George and starring Bharath Gopi, Mammootty and Jalaja. The film explores backstage drama of a travelling drama group...
(1982)
Kolangal (1981)
Mela
Mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
(1980)
Ini Aval Urangatte (1978)
Mannu
Mannu
Mannu is a 1978 Malayalam film directed by K. G. George with Soman, P. K. Abraham, Sharada and Sukumaran in the lead roles.-Plot:Mannu is about the struggle between Damu, a tenant whose legal right to his land is obscure, and Krishnan Nair, a rapacious landlord. The local leader of the party,...
(1978)
Ona Pudava (1978)
Rapadikalude Gatha (1978)
Ulkatal (1978)
Vyamoham (1977)
Swapnadanam
Swapnadanam
Swapnadanam is a 1976 black-and-white Malayalam-language film that marks the directorial debut of K. G. George. A marital psychodrama, it rejected all the usual song-dance numbers of popular cinema, yet succeeded in reaching the common mass. The film was a commercial success while maintaining its...
(1975)
Awards
Kerala State Film Awards:- 1975 - Best FilmKerala State Film Award for Best FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Film winners:- References :* * Specific...
- SwapnadanamSwapnadanamSwapnadanam is a 1976 black-and-white Malayalam-language film that marks the directorial debut of K. G. George. A marital psychodrama, it rejected all the usual song-dance numbers of popular cinema, yet succeeded in reaching the common mass. The film was a commercial success while maintaining its... - 1975 - Best Screen PlayKerala State Film Award for Best Screen PlayThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Screen Play winners:-References:**...
- SwapnadanamSwapnadanamSwapnadanam is a 1976 black-and-white Malayalam-language film that marks the directorial debut of K. G. George. A marital psychodrama, it rejected all the usual song-dance numbers of popular cinema, yet succeeded in reaching the common mass. The film was a commercial success while maintaining its... - 1978 - Kerala State Film Award for Best film with popular appeal and aesthetic valueKerala State Film Award for Best Popular FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value winners:-References:**...
- Rappadikalude Gatha - 1982 - Best FilmKerala State Film Award for Best FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Film winners:- References :* * Specific...
- YavanikaYavanikaYavanika is a 1982 Indian Malayalam mystery thriller film co-written and directed by K. G. George and starring Bharath Gopi, Mammootty and Jalaja. The film explores backstage drama of a travelling drama group... - 1982 - Best StoryKerala State Film Award for Best StoryThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Story winners:-References:**...
- YavanikaYavanikaYavanika is a 1982 Indian Malayalam mystery thriller film co-written and directed by K. G. George and starring Bharath Gopi, Mammootty and Jalaja. The film explores backstage drama of a travelling drama group... - 1983 - Second Best FilmKerala State Film Award for Second Best FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film winners:- Third Best Film :The Kerala State Film Award for Third Best Film winners:-References:**...
- Adaminte Variyellu - 1983 - Best StoryKerala State Film Award for Best StoryThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Story winners:-References:**...
- Adaminte Variyellu - 1985 - Second Best FilmKerala State Film Award for Second Best FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film winners:- Third Best Film :The Kerala State Film Award for Third Best Film winners:-References:**...
- IrakalIrakalIrakal is a 1985 Malayalam film, written and directed by K. G. George, and starring Bharath Gopi, Ganesh Kumar, Srividya, Radha, Thilakan, Chandran Nair, Nedumudi Venu and Ashokan.... - 1985 - Best StoryKerala State Film Award for Best StoryThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Story winners:-References:**...
- IrakalIrakalIrakal is a 1985 Malayalam film, written and directed by K. G. George, and starring Bharath Gopi, Ganesh Kumar, Srividya, Radha, Thilakan, Chandran Nair, Nedumudi Venu and Ashokan....