A. K. Lohithadas

A. K. Lohithadas
Born	Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (1955-05-05)5 May 1955 Chalakudy, Thiru-Kochi (now Kerala), India
Died	Kochi, Kerala, India
Cause of death	Cardiac arrest
Residence	Lakkidi, Ottapalam, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Lohi
Occupation	Screenwriter, film director, film producer
Years active	1987–2009
Spouse(s)	Sindhu
Children	Harikrishnan,Vijayshankar

Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (05 May 1955 – 28 June 2009) was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema.

Lohithadas was known for his rich, detailed, and realistic screenplays. He made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987). He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Sasneham (1990), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999). He later became a director, and has directed films such as Bhoothakkannadi (1997), Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003). He died on 29 June 2009 due to a heart attack.

Biography

Early life

Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', as he is often referred to) was born on 05 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 when his debut script was accepted for the stage by the legendary theatre personality Thoppil Bhasi. Bhasi's Communist Party of India (CPI)-backed drama troupe, the highly successful Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC), produced the play, which led to his winning a state award.

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 Thaniavarthanam was directed by Malayil and became a success. Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several memorable Malayalam movies. His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Dasharatham (1989), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993). Other works include Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999),Sasneham (1990) for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram,venkalam(1991) for Bharathan.

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). 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 screen writers that Malayalam cinema has ever seen.

Death

In the morning of 28 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

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

National Film Awards:

• 1998 – Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director – Bhoothakannadi

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 1999 – Best Popular Film – Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal
• 1997 – Best Film – Bhoothakannadi
• 1997 – Best Screen Play – Bhoothakkannadi
• 1992 – Best Popular Film – Venkalam
• 1991 – Second Best Film – Bharatham
• 1987 – Best Story – Thaniyavarthanam

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:

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

Other awards

• Film Critics award for Best script – Thaniyavarthanam (1987)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Dasharatham (1989)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Kireedam (1989)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Bharatham (1991)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Chenkol (1993)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Chakoram (1994)
• Film Critics award for Best script – Sallapam (1995)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Thooval Kottaram (1996)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Bhoothakannadi (1997)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Ormacheppu (1998)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Joker (1999)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (2000)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Kasthooriman (2003)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Nivedyam (2007)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Bhoothakannadi (1997)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Joker (1999)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Kasthoorimann (2003)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Nivedyam (2007),
• Asianet Film Award
• 1999 – Best Script Writer Award – Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal

Filmography

Screenwriter

Year	Title	Cast	Director
2007	Nivedyam	Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu, Bharath Gopi	Self
2006	Chakkara Muthu	Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Saikumar, Cochin Haneefa	Self
2005	Kasthuri Maan (Tamil)	Prasanna, Meera Jasmine, Sarath Babu	Self
2003	Chakram	Prithviraj, Meera Jasmine	Self
2003	Kasthooriman	Kunchako Boban, Meera Jasmine, Shammi Thilakan	Self
2001	Soothradharan	Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Cochin Haneefa, Bindu Panicker	Self
2000	Arayannangalude Veedu	Mammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Lal, Cochin Haneefa, Siddique	Self
2000	Joker	Dileep, Manya, Mamukkoya, Bindu Panicker	Self
1999	Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal	Jayaram, Thilakan, Samyuktha Varma, Nedumudi Venu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha	Sathyan Anthikkad
1998	Ormacheppu	Lal, Dileep, Chanchal, Rizabawa, Biju Menon	Self
1998	Kanmadam	Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal, Mala Aravindan, Siddique	Self
1997	Karunyam	Jayaram, Murali, Nedumudi Venu, Divya Unni, Janardanan	Self
1997	Bhoothakannadi	Mammootty, Sreelakshmi, Kavya Madhavan, Riza Bava, Mala Aravindan	Self
1996	Sallapam	Dileep, Manju Warrier, Manoj K. Jayan	Sundardas
1996	Thooval Kottaram	Jayaram, Manju Warrier, Sukanya, Murali, Innocent	Sathyan Anthikkad
1996	Udhyanapalakan	Mammootty, Kaveri, Nedumudi Venu, Kalabhavan Mani, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Biju Menon, Mamukkoya, Bindu Panikkar, Cochin Haneefa	Harikumar
1995	Saadaram	Suresh Gopi, Geetha, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Lalu Alex, Srinath	Jose Thomas
1994	Chakoram	Murali, Shanthi Krishna	Venu
1994	Sagaram Sakshi	Mammootty, Sukanya, Thilakan, Cochin Haneefa	Sibi Malayil
1993	Chenkol	Mohanlal, Surabhi, Shanthi Krishna, Thilakan	Sibi Malayil
1993	Padheyam	Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu, Lalu Alex, Chippy	Bharathan
1993	Vatsalyam	Mammootty, Geetha, Sunitha, Siddique, Kaviyoor Ponnamma	Cochin Haneefa
1993	Venkalam	Murali, Urvashi, Manoj K. Jayan	Bharathan
1992	Kamaladalam	Mohanlal, Parvathy, Monisha, Vineeth, Murali	Sibi Malayil
1992	Valayam	Murali, Manoj.K.Jayan, Parvathi, Oduvil Unnikrishnan	Sibi Malayil
1992	Kauravar	Mammootty, Anju, Shanthi Krishna, Murali, Thilakan	Joshi
1992	Aadharam	Murali, Suresh Gopi, Geetha	George Kithu
1991	Dhanam	Mohanlal, Charmila, Murali, Nedumudi Venu	Sibi Malayil
1991	Amaram	Mammootty, Murali, Maathu, Ashokan, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Chithra	Bharathan
1991	Bharatham	Nedumudi Venu, Mohanlal, Urvashi, Lakshmi	Sibi Malayil
1991	Kanalkkattu	Mammootty, Jayaram, Urvashi, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Murali	Sathyan Anthikkad
1990	His Highness Abdullah	Mohanlal, Gauthami, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Jagadeesh, Karamana Janardanan Nair, M. G. Soman	Sibi Malayil
1990	Sasneham	Balachandra Menon, Shobhana, Innocent	Sathyan Anthikkad
1990	Kuttettan	Mammootty, Saritha, Jagadish, Maathu, Lizy, Urvashi	Joshi
1990	Radha Madhavam	Thilakan, Geetha, Jayaram, Parvathy	Suresh Unnithan
1990	Maalayogam	Jayaram, Mukesh, Murali, Parvathy, Innocent, Thilakan	Sibi Malayil
1989	Mrigaya	Mammootty, Sunitha, Urvashi, Lalu Alex	I. V. Sasi
1989	Mahayanam	Mammootty, Seema, Mukesh, Jalaja	Joshi
1989	Mudra	Mammootty, Parvathy, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Madhu	Sibi Malayil
1989	Jathakam	Jayaram, Sithara, Shari, Thilakan, Madhu, Sukumaran	Suresh Unnithan
1989	Dasharatham	Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, Murali, Rekha, Sukumari, Sukumaran, Jayabharathi	Sibi Malayil
1989	Kireedam	Mohanlal, Parvathy, Sankaradi, Thilakan	Sibi Malayil
1988	Mukthi	Mammootty, Urvashi, Rahman, Shobhana, Janardanan	I. V. Sasi
1988	Kudumbapuranam	Balachandra Menon, Ambika, Thilakan, Sreenivasan, Parvathy	Sathyan Anthikkad
1988	Vicharana	Mammootty, Shobhana, Lalu Alex, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathi Sreekumar, Seema	Sibi Malayil
1987	Ezhuthapurangal	Suhasini, Ambika, Parvathy, Nedumudi Venu	Sibi Malayil
1987	Thaniyavarthanam	Mammootty, Mukesh, Saritha, Thilakan	Sibi Malayil

Director

Year	Title	Cast
1997	Bhoothakannadi	Mammootty, Sreelakshmi, Kavya Madhavan
1997	Karunyam	Jayaram, Divya Unni, Murali, Nedumudi Venu
1998	Ormacheppu	Lal, Dileep, Chanchal, Biju Menon
1998	Kanmadam	Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Siddique, Lal
2000	Arayannangalude Veedu	Mammootty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Lal, Cochin Haneefa, Siddique
2000	Joker	Dileep, Manya, Mala Aravindan, Bindhu Panicker
2001	Soothradharan	Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Cochin Haneefa, Bindu Panicker, Kalabhavan Mani
2003	Kasthoorimann	Kunchako Boban, Meera Jasmine
2003	Chakram	Prithviraj, Meera Jasmine
2005	Kasthuri Maan (Tamil)	Prasanna, Meera Jasmine, Sarath Babu
2006	Chakkara Muthu	Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Saikumar, Cochin Haneefa
2007	Nivedyam	Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu, Bharath Gopi

External links

• A. K. Lohithadas at the Internet Movie Database
• 'Cinema of Malayalam' profile
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