# Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Adoor Gopalakrishnan (born 3 July 1941) is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer and is regarded as one of the most notable and renowned filmmakers in India. With the release of his first feature film Swayamvaram (1972), Gopalakrishnan pioneered the new wave in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s. In a career spanning over five decades, Gopalakrishnan has made only 12 feature films to date. His films are made in the Malayalam language and often depict the society and culture of his native state Kerala. Nearly all of his films premiered at Venice, Cannes and Toronto International Film Festival. Along with Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, Gopalakrishnan is one of the most recognized Indian film directors in world cinema.
For his films, Gopalakrishnan has won the National Film Award 16 times, next only to Ray and Sen. He also won the Kerala State Film Awards 17 times. He was awarded the State honours Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2006. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2004 for his valuable contributions to Indian cinema. In 2016, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have established an archive and research center, the Adoor Gopalakrishnan Film Archive and Research Center, at their Peck School of Arts where research students will have access to 35 mm prints of the eleven feature films and several documentaries made by Gopalakrishnan.

## Biography

Gopalakrishnan was born on 3 July 1941 in the village of Pallickal (Medayil Bungalow) near Adoor, present-day Kerala.
After securing a degree in Economics, Political Science and Public Administration in 1961 from the Gandhigram Rural Institute, he worked as a Government officer near Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. In 1962, he left his job to study screenwriting and direction at the Film and Television Institute of India Pune. He completed his course from there with a scholarship from the Government of India. With his classmates and friends, Gopalakrishnan established Chithralekha Film Society and Chalachithra Sahakarana Sangham; the organization was the first film society in Kerala and it aimed at production, distribution and exhibition of films in the co-operative sector.
Gopalakrishnan's debut film, the national award-winning Swayamvaram (1972) was a milestone in Malayalam film history. The film was exhibited widely in various international film festivals including those held in Moscow, Melbourne, London and Paris. The films that followed namely Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan and Kathapurushan lived up to the reputation of his first film and were well received by critics at various film festivals and fetched him many awards. However, Mukhamukham was criticized in Kerala while Vidheyan was at the centre of a debate due to the differences in opinion between the writer of story of the film Sakhariya and Gopalakrishnan.
Gopalakrishnan's later films are Nizhalkuthu, narrating the experiences of an executioner who learns that one of his subjects was innocent, and Naalu Pennungal, a film adaptation of four short stories by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai.
All his films have won national and international awards (National award for best film twice, best director five times, and best script two times. His films have also won his actors and technicians several national awards). Gopalakrishnan's third feature, Elippathayam won him the coveted British Film Institute Award for 'the most original and imaginative film' of 1982. The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) has gone to him six times successively for Mukhamukham, Anantharam, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan and Nizhalkkuthu. Winner of several international awards like the UNICEF film prize (Venice), OCIC film prize (Amiens), INTERFILM Prize (Mannheim) etc., his films have been shown in Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, London, Rotterdam and every important festival around the world.
In consideration of his contribution to Indian cinema, the nation honoured him with the title of Padma Shri (India's fourth highest civilian award) in 1984 and Padma Vibhushan (India's second highest civilian award) in 2006.
Gopalakrishnan is settled in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. His daughter Aswathi Dorje is an IPS officer (part of the Assam cadre, 2000 batch), currently acting as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Mumbai since June 2010.
In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Gopalakrishnan signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.
His biography Face to Face: The Cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan (2016) has been written by film scholar Parthajit Baruah of Assam.

## Documentaries and 'New Cinema' movement

Apart from nine feature films, he has over 30 short films and documentaries to his credit. The Helsinki Film Festival was the first film festival to have a retrospective of his films. He has headed the jury at the National Film Awards and many international film festivals.
Apart from his films, Gopalakrishnan's major contribution towards introducing a new cinema culture in Kerala was the constitution of the first Film Society in Kerala, "Chitralekha Film Society". He also took active part in the constitution of "Chitralekha", Kerala's first Film Co-operative Society for film production. These movements triggered a fresh wave of films, called "art films", by directors like G Aravindan, PA Becker, KG George, Pavithran, and Raveendran. At a time this movement was so strong that even popular cinema synthesised with art cinema to create a new genre of films. Bharat Gopi starred as hero 4 times in his ventures.

## Style and trademarks

According to Gopalakrishnan "[i]n movies, the actor is not performing to the audience like the stage actor. Here they are acting for me. I am the audience and I will decide whether it is correct or not, enough or not."

## Controversies

In 2014, Gopalakrishnan, then heading the advisory committee of The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), irked controversy for introducing measures such as delegate passes being given only to those who can speak English since foreign films come with English subtitles, these changes were criticized for promoting old-world elitism and restricting the festival's appeal.
In 2023, he faced criticism for defending the K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts director, Shankar Mohan, accused of violating reservation norms and discriminating based on caste and class. Gopalakrishan's statements, dismissing allegations and emphasizing Shankar Mohan's credentials, have drawn ire.
The students accused Gopalakrishnan, the chairman of the film institute, of shielding the institute director and not addressing their concerns.

## Awards and milestones

Some of the awards and appreciation Gopalakrishnan has won for his films include:
* 2016 - On the occasion of India celebrating its 70th Independence day, news agency NDTV compiled a list called "70 Years, 70 Great Films" and Swayamvaram was among the four Malayalam films that found place in the list.
* 2015 - Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award
* 2013 - Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award C. B. Kumar Endowment for Cinema yum Samskaravum (Essay)
* 2010 - Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) from University of Kerala
* 2006 - Padma Vibhushan — Second highest civilian award from Government of India
* 2004 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award — Lifetime Achievement Award in Film awarded by the Government of India
* 1996 - Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) from Mahatma Gandhi University
* 1984 - Padma Shri — Fourth highest civilian award from Government of India.
* 1984 - Legion of Honour — French order, the highest decoration in France
* National Film Awards — Various categories for Swayamvaram, Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan, Nizhalkkuthu and Naalu Pennungal
* Kerala State Film Awards: — Various categories for Kodiyettam, Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Vidheyan and Oru Pennum Randaanum
* International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) — won consecutively for six feature films (Mukhamukham, Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan and Nizhalkkuthu)
* London Film Festival — Sutherland Trophy — in 1982 for Elippathayam
* British Film Institute Award — Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 — Elippathayam
* Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French Government (2003)
* Lifetime achievement award at Cairo International Film Festival.
National Film Awards (Detailed):
* 1973 - Best Film - Swayamvaram
* 1973 - Best Director - Swayamvaram
* 1978 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Kodiyettam
* 1980 - National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Non-Feature Film) - The Chola Heritage
* 1982 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Elippathayam
* 1984 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemayude Lokam
* 1985 - Best Director - Mukhamukham
* 1985 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Mukhamukham
* 1985 - Best Screenplay - Mukhamukham
* 1988 - Best Director - Anantharam
* 1988 - Best Screenplay - Anantharam
* 1990 - Best Director - Mathilukal
* 1990 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Mathilukal
* 1994 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Vidheyan
* 1995 - Best Film - Kathapurushan
* 2003 - Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Nizhalkkuthu
* 2008 - Best Director - Naalu Pennungal
Kerala State Film Awards (Detailed):
Best Film
* 1977 - Best Film - Kodiyettam
* 1981 - Best Film - Elippathayam
* 1984 - Best Film - Mukhamukham
* 1993 - Best Film - Vidheyan
* 2008 - Best Film - Oru Pennum Randaanum
Best Director
* 1977 - Best Director - Kodiyettam
* 1984 - Best Director - Mukhamukham
* 1987 - Best Director - Anantharam
* 1993 - Best Director - Vidheyan
* 2008 - Best Director - Oru Pennum Randaanum
Best Story
* 1977 - Best Story - Kodiyettam
Best Screen Play
* 1993 - Best Screen Play - Vidheyan
* 2008 - Best Screen Play - Oru Pennum Randaanum
Best Documentary Film
* 1982 - Best Documentary Film - Krishnanattam
* 1999 - Best Documentary Film - Kalamandalam Gopi
Best Short Film
* 2005 - Best Short Film - Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Best Book on Cinema
* 2004 - Best Book on Cinema - Cinemanubhavam
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards (Detailed):
* 1984 - Best Film - Mukhamukham
* 1987 - Best Director - Anantaram
* 1989 - Best Film - Mathilukal
* 1989 - Best Director - Mathilukal
* 1993 - Best Film - Vidheyan
* 1993 - Best Director - Vidheyan
* 1995 - Best Film - Kathapurushan
* 1995 - Best Director - Kathapurushan
* 2016 - Ruby Jubilee Award
A retrospective of his films was conducted in
* Kolkata, by Seagull Foundation for the Arts and Nandan, 2009.
* The Slovenian International Film Festival, 2009.
* The Munich Film Museum, 2009.
* The French Cinematheque, Paris, 1999.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Duration | Category | Awards |
| 1965 | A Great Day | 20 mins | Short fiction | |
| 1966 | A Day at Kovalam | 30 mins | Documentary | |
| 1967 | The Myth | 50 Seconds | Short fiction | Merit Certificate, Expo 67, Montreal |
| 1968 | Danger at Your Door-step | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1968 | And Man created | 8 mins | Documentary | |
| 1968 | Manntharikal (Grains of Sand) | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1969 | Towards National STD | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1969 | A Mission of Love | 30 mins | Documentary | |
| 1966 | Your Food | 60 mins | Documentary | |
| 1970 | Pratisandhi (The Impasse) | 55 mins | Docu-drama | |
| 1971 | Romance of Rubber | 30 mins | Documentary | |
| 1972 | Swayamvaram (One's Own Choice) | 125 mins | Feature film | National Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematographer. Entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival. |
| 1973 | Kilimanooril Oru Dasalakshadhipati (A Millionaire is Born) | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1974 | Guru Chengannur | 17 mins | Documentary | |
| 1975 | Past in Perspective | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1976 | Idukki | 60 mins | Documentary | |
| 1977 | Kodiyettam (Ascent) | 128 mins | Feature film | National Awards for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and Best Actor |
| 1978 | Four Shorts on Family Planning | 16 mins | Documentary | |
| 1979 | Yakshagana | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1980 | Chola Heritage | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1981 | Elippathayam (The Rat Trap) | 121 mins | Feature film | Sutherland Trophy at 1982 London Film Festival National Awards for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and Best Audiography |
| 1982 | Krishnanattam | 20 mins | Documentary | |
| 1984 | Mukhamukham (Face to Face) | 107 mins | Feature film | FIPRESCI Prize, New Delhi, National Awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Audiography |
| 1985 | Eau/Ganga (Ganges-Water) | 140 mins | Documentary | Grand Prize, Cinema du reel, Paris |
| 1987 | Anantaram (Monologue) | 125 mins | Feature film | FIPRESCI Prize, Karlovy Vary. National awards for best director, best screenplay, and best audiography |
| 1990 | Mathilukal (The Walls) | 117 mins | Feature film | FIPRESCI prize, Venice, UNICEF Film Prize, Venice, OCIC Prize, Amiens. National Award for best director, best actor, best regional film and best audiography |
| 1993 | Vidheyan (The Servile) | 112 mins | Feature film | Feature FIPRESCI and Special Jury Prize, Singapore. Interfilm Jury Prize, Mannheim. Netpac prize, Rotterdam. National Award for best actor and best regional film |
| 1995 | Kathapurushan (The Man of the Story) | 107 mins | Feature film | FIPRESCI Prize, National award for the best film |
| 1995 | Kalamandalam Gopi | 43 mins | Documentary | |
| 2001 | Koodiyattam | 180 mins | Documentary | |
| 2002 | Nizhalkuthu | 90 mins | Feature film | FIPRESCI, Mumbai. National award for best regional film |
| 2005 | Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair | 73 mins | Documentary | |
| 2007 | Dance of the Enchantress | 72 mins | Documentary | |
| 2007 | Naalu Pennungal (Four Women) | 105 mins | Feature film | National Award for best director |
| 2008 | Oru Pennum Randaanum (A Climate for Crime) | 115 mins | Feature film | Kerala State award for best director 2009 |
| 2016 | Pinneyum (Once Again) | | Feature film | |
| 2019 | Sukhantyam (A Happy End) | | Short fiction | |