A. K. Lohithadas

Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (10 May 1955 – 28 June 2009) was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, film maker, and producer who worked in the Malayalam film industry.^[1][2] In a career spanning over two decades, his films have won a National Film Award, six Kerala State Film Awards, and fourteen Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script.^[3]

A. K. Lohithadas
Born	(1955-05-10)10 May 1955 Chalakkudy, Thiru-Kochi (Present day Thrissur, India)
Died	28 June 2009(2009-06-28) (aged 54) Kochi, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupations	Screenwriter Playwright Director Producer
Years active	1986–2009

Lohithadas made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987). He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Vicharana (1988), Ezhuthapurangal (1988), Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Mrugaya (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Sasneham (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Vatsalyam (1993), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999).^[4] He later became a director, and made his directorial debut with Bhoothakkannadi (1997). He later wrote and directed Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003).^[5] He died on 28 June 2009 due to a heart attack.^[6]

Early life

Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', as he is often referred to) was born on 5 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Thrissur district, Kerala, as the son of Ambazhathuparambil Karunakaran and Lakshmi.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Lohi's first movie screenplay was Thaniavarthanam directed by "Sibi Malayil".^{[citation needed]} Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several Malayalam movies.^{[citation needed]} His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Dasharatham (1989), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Dhanam (1991), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993). Other works include Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Sasneham (1990) for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram, Venkalam(1991) for Bharathan.^{[citation needed]}

He later became a filmmaker and made works such as Bhoothakkannadi (1997), Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Arayannangalude Veedu (2000), Joker (2000), Kasthooriman (2003) (which he himself produced), and Nivedyam (2007).^[7] Most of his works were critically and commercially successful. His works were recognised from his very first venture Thaniyavarthanam, which brought him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story.^{[citation needed]}

"Nizhalukal Inachernna Naattuvazhikal" ('നിഴലുകൾ ഇണചേർന്ന നാട്ടുവഴികൾ' – എം. ശബരീഷ്, പാപ്പാത്തി ബുക്സ്) is a book about his life and film career.^{[citation needed]}

Death

On 28 June 2009, he died from a heart attack.^[8][9] His body was taken to his home in Lakkidi in Palakkad district, where he was cremated with full state honours.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

 

Lohithadas along with director Bharathan and cinematographer Ramachandra Babu at the location of Venkalam.

National Film Awards

• 1998 – Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director – Bhoothakannadi^[10]

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1987 – Best Story – Thaniyavarthanam^[11]
• 1997 – Best Film – Bhoothakannadi^[12]
• 1997 – Best Screen Play – Bhoothakkannadi^[12]

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 2005 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film Portraying Woman in Good Light – Kasthuri Maan^[13]

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards^[14]

• 1989 – Best Screenplay – Dasharatham
• 1991 – Best Screenplay – Bharatham
• 1996 – Best Screenplay – Sallapam, Thooval Kottaram
• 1997 – Second Best Film – Bhoothakkannadi
• 1997 – Best Story – Bhoothakkannadi
• 1998 – Second Best Film – Ormacheppu
• 1998 – Best Screenplay – Ormacheppu
• 1998 – Second Best Film – Nivedyam
• 1999 – Best Screenplay – Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal
• 2003 – Second Best Film – Kasthooriman

Asianet Film Award

• 1999 – Best Script Writer Award – Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Screenwriter

Year	Title	Director
2007	Nivedyam	Self
2006	Chakkara Muthu	Self
2005	Kasthuri Maan (Tamil)	Self
2003	Chakram	Self
2003	Kasthooriman	Self
2001	Soothradharan	Self
2000	Arayannangalude Veedu	Self
2000	Joker	Self
1999	Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal	Sathyan Anthikkad
1998	Ormacheppu	Self
1998	Kanmadam	Self
1997	Karunyam	Self
1997	Bhoothakannadi	Self
1996	Sallapam	Sundardas
1996	Thooval Kottaram	Sathyan Anthikkad
1996	Udhyanapalakan	Harikumar
1995	Saadaram	Jose Thomas
1994	Chakoram	Venu
1994	Sagaram Sakshi	Sibi Malayil
1993	Chenkol	Sibi Malayil
1993	Padheyam	Bharathan
1993	Vatsalyam	Cochin Haneefa
1993	Venkalam	Bharathan
1992	Kamaladalam	Sibi Malayil
1992	Valayam	Sibi Malayil
1992	Kauravar	Joshi
1992	Aadharam	George Kithu
1991	Dhanam	Sibi Malayil
1991	Amaram	Bharathan
1991	Bharatham	Sibi Malayil
1991	Kanalkkattu	Sathyan Anthikkad
1990	His Highness Abdullah	Sibi Malayil
1990	Sasneham	Sathyan Anthikkad
1990	Kuttettan	Joshi
1990	Radha Madhavam	Suresh Unnithan
1990	Maalayogam	Sibi Malayil
1989	Mrigaya	I. V. Sasi
1989	Mahayanam	Joshi
1989	Mudra	Sibi Malayil
1989	Jaathakam	Suresh Unnithan
1989	Dasharatham	Sibi Malayil
1989	Kireedam	Sibi Malayil
1988	Mukthi	I. V. Sasi
1988	Kudumbapuranam	Sathyan Anthikkad
1988	Vicharana	Sibi Malayil
1987	Ezhuthapurangal	Sibi Malayil
1987	Thaniyavarthanam	Sibi Malayil

Director

Year	Title	Cast
1997	Bhoothakannadi	Mammootty, Sreelakshmi
1997	Karunyam	Jayaram, Murali, Divya Unni
1998	Ormacheppu	Lal, Chanchal, Dileep
1998	Kanmadam	Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal
2000	Arayannangalude Veedu	Mammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
2000	Joker	Dileep, Manya, Nishanth Sagar
2001	Soothradharan	Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Bindu Panicker
2003	Kasthoorimann	Kunchacko Boban, Meera Jasmine
2003	Chakram	Prithviraj, Meera Jasmine, Chandra Lakshman
2005	Kasthuri Maan (Tamil)	Prasanna, Meera Jasmine
2006	Chakkara Muthu	Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jishnu
2007	Nivedyam	Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu

Actor

Year	Title	Role
1999	Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal	Himself
2005	Udayananu Tharam	Director Prathapan

References

1. "In the memory of Lohithadas". The Hindu. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
2. "Kazchavattom". goodreads.com. 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
3. "Lohithadas Awards". FilmiBeat. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
4. "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff.com. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
5. "A K Lohithadas (1955–2009): Tribute to a legend". Rediff Movies. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
6. . The Hindu. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
7. . Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
8. . Sify. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
9. . Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
10. "45th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
11. . Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
12. . Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
13. . cinesouth.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
14. "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 - 2012". Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A. K. Lohithadas.

• A. K. Lohithadas at IMDb
• 'Cinema of Malayalam' profile