A. K. Lohithadas


Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, film maker, and producer who worked in the Malayalam Film Industry. Known for his rich, detailed, and realistic screenplays, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters of Malayalam Cinema of all time. In a career spanning over two decades, his films have won a National Film Award, 6 Kerala State Film Awards, and 14 Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script.
Lohithadas made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam. He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Vicharana, Ezhuthapurangal, Kireedam, Dasharatham, Mrugaya, His Highness Abdullah, Sasneham, Bharatham, Amaram, Aadhaaram, Kamaladalam, Vatsalyam, Venkalam, Padheyam, Chenkol, Chakoram, Thooval Kottaram, Sallapam, and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal. He later became a director, and made his directorial debut with Bhoothakkannadi. He later wrote and directed other films such as Karunyam, Kanmadam, Joker, and Kasthooriman. He died on 29 June 2009 due to a heart attack.

Early life

Lohithadas was born on 5 May 1955 in Chalakudy Kerala. He showed an initial interest in writing short stories, but failed to make a mark in that genre. He soon moved into Malayalam theatre in 1986

Career

Fresh with the play's commercial and critical success, Lohithadas was introduced to K. G. George by actor Thilakan. It did not help Lohithadas to start a career in Malayalam cinema. But it was K. G. George who gave the basic core idea of the story, later which was developed by Lohithadas to make the film Kireedam. Later, Thilakan introduced Lohithadas to director Sibi Malayil when Sibi was searching for a good writer for his films. Thus Lohi's first movie screenplay was Thaniavarthanam directed by "Sibi Malayil" was moderate success. Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several memorable Malayalam movies. His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam, Dasharatham, Kireedam, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham,Dhanam, Kamaladalam, and Chenkol. Other works include Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal,Sasneham for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram, venkalam for Bharathan.
He later became a filmmaker and made works such as Bhoothakkannadi, Karunyam, Kanmadam, Arayannangalude Veedu, Joker, Kasthooriman , and Nivedyam.
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.
When he went to Germany for a film festival for screening his first directorial venture Bhoothakkannadi, one of the German filmmakers asked him by seeing this movie whether he is a Psychologist or not. That film was a real and exact depiction of human psychology.
Thilakan has always been proud of Lohithadas who was introduced to Malayalam film industry by him. Lohithadas went on to become one of the most prominent classic screenwriters that Malayalam cinema has ever seen. "Nizhalukal Inachernna Naattuvazhikal" is a book about his life and film career.

Death

In the morning of 27 June 2009, he experienced chest pains and uneasiness at his home at Aluva near Ernakulam and was immediately taken to the Lisy Hospital, Kaloor, Ernakulam, where he was declared dead from a heart attack at 10:50.

Awards

National Film Awards:
Kerala State Film Awards:
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:

Screenwriter

YearTitleDirector
2007NivedyamSelf
2006Chakkara MuthuSelf
2005Kasthuri Maan Self
2003ChakramSelf
2003KasthoorimanSelf
2001SoothradharanSelf
2000Arayannangalude VeeduSelf
2000JokerSelf
1999Veendum Chila VeettukaryangalSathyan Anthikkad
1998OrmacheppuSelf
1998KanmadamSelf
1997KarunyamSelf
1997BhoothakannadiSelf
1996SallapamSundardas
1996Thooval KottaramSathyan Anthikkad
1996UdhyanapalakanHarikumar
1995SaadaramJose Thomas
1994ChakoramVenu
1994Sagaram SakshiSibi Malayil
1993ChenkolSibi Malayil
1993PadheyamBharathan
1993VatsalyamCochin Haneefa
1993VenkalamBharathan
1992KamaladalamSibi Malayil
1992ValayamSibi Malayil
1992KauravarJoshi
1992AadharamGeorge Kithu
1991DhanamSibi Malayil
1991AmaramBharathan
1991BharathamSibi Malayil
1991KanalkkattuSathyan Anthikkad
1990His Highness AbdullahSibi Malayil
1990SasnehamSathyan Anthikkad
1990KuttettanJoshi
1990Radha MadhavamSuresh Unnithan
1990MaalayogamSibi Malayil
1989MrigayaI. V. Sasi
1989MahayanamJoshi
1989MudraSibi Malayil
1989JaathakamSuresh Unnithan
1989DasharathamSibi Malayil
1989KireedamSibi Malayil
1988MukthiI. V. Sasi
1988KudumbapuranamSathyan Anthikkad
1988VicharanaSibi Malayil
1987EzhuthapurangalSibi Malayil
1987ThaniyavarthanamSibi Malayil

Director

YearTitleCast
1997BhoothakannadiMammootty, Sreelakshmi
1997KarunyamJayaram, Murali, Divya Unni
1998OrmacheppuLal, Chanchal, Dileep
1998KanmadamMohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal
2000Arayannangalude VeeduMammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
2000JokerDileep, Manya, Nishanth Sagar
2001SoothradharanDileep, Meera Jasmine, Bindu Panicker
2003KasthoorimannKunchacko Boban, Meera Jasmine
2003ChakramPrithviraj, Meera Jasmine, Chandra Lakshman
2005Kasthuri Maan Prasanna, Meera Jasmine
2006Chakkara MuthuDileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jishnu
2007NivedyamVinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu