Rajiv Vijay Raghavan is an Indian director, script writer, and producer. Margam , his debut future film, that received national and international recognition, placed him as one of the authentic voices in the art film movement of Indian Cinema and that of Malayalam cinema during 2000s. He had also made a number of award-winning and socially relevant documentaries. Trained in the Film & TV Institute of India, Pune, and assisted G. Aravindan, the great filmmaker of 20th century Indian Cinema.
Life
Rajiv Vijay Raghavan was born on 29 May 1958 in Kottayam, Kerala, South-western India as the son of Mrs. Remani and Mr. K. Ramarajan Nair. He was active in politics and literature in his college days at Kottayam and was a council member of the University Students Union of Kerala University during 1977–78. After graduating in Commerce from the University of Kerala he joined the Film & TV Institute of India, Pune, during 1979–81. Rajiv took a job in Canara Bank on 1981 and worked there for 10 years. In the meantime, he closely acquainted with G. Aravindan, the renowned Indian Filmmaker and Cartoonist and assisted him in 6 feature films during 1981–1991. Rajiv's debut documentary film, Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam,1986 which portrays the life and grace of Saint Alphonsa had won the National Film Award for the best biographical documentary. After resigning from Canara Bank he worked as Producer in Centre for Development of Imaging Technology, Kerala during 1991-98 and made some of the notable film/video documentaries such as Kesari, 1992, Ruin of the Commons, 1993, Nirmithi,1994 and Seeds of Malabar, 1996 that were widely shown and discussed because of their unique style and socio political importance. On 2003, under the banner of Image commune, a collective founded for the sake of promoting the art of filmmaking beyond industry, Rajiv made his milestone film, Margam . Rajiv married to Dr.Miek Cornips from 1989. He has two daughters: Miny and Naomi. Nowadays, he is a resident both in Geleen, Maastricht, Netherlands and in Trivandrum, Kerala, India and working on his new feature filmAalayam , a scenario he co-wrote with Anvar Ali and Dr. S P Ramesh.
Filmography
Assistant Director of Sri. G. Aravindan in 6 feature films during 1981–91. Directed 9 documentaries and short films including Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam,1987 , People Matter-Women’s rights in India, 1988, Kesari, 1992 Mumbai International Film Festival, Ruin of the Commons, 1993 , Nirmithi,1994, Seeds of Malabar, 1996 and Building the Bridge - a story of Gender equity, 2000. Feature Film: Margam , 108 minutes, colour, 2003.
''Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam''http://dff.nic.in/2011/34th_NFF.pdf – a Historical Document
Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam is about a nun from Kerala who would've been declared the first Catholic Saint from India in 2009. While this film conceived and materialized by the young filmmaker during 1985–86, Saint Alphonsa was only a blessed nun as per the norms of Catholic Church though she was famous among the Christian community across Kerala. The print of the film was recovered a few days before the declaration ceremony in Rome and was screened during the holy event.
''Margam'' - A Milestone
Margam , Rajiv's debut feature film is an adaptation of Pithrutharppanam, the famous story by M. Sukumaran. The film bagged 7 major Kerala State Film Awards of the Government of Kerala and one National Film Award of the Government of India for the year 2003. Margam , one of the rarest Malayalam films that received wider critical acclaim at international level, participated in 16 international film festivals and won 6 international awards in different categories including best film and scripting. The Script co-written by Rajiv Vijay Raghavan, Anvar Ali and Dr. S P Ramesh, Cinematography by Venu and the roles performed by Nedumudi Venu and Meera Krishna were also widely appreciated.
