J.C. Daniel Award for Adoor

Award to be distributed at State Film Awards function

Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has been chosen for the prestigious J.C. Daniel Award for 2016. The J.C. Daniel Award, conferred by the State government annually in recognition to an individual’s contributions to Malayalam cinema, carries a purse of ₹1 lakh, a plaque, and a citation.

He was chosen for the award by a jury chaired by filmmaker K.G. George and comprising filmmakers Kamal, T.K. Rajeevkumar, and Fazil, and Culture Secretary Rani George.

From 1972

Making his debut back in 1972, Adoor ushered in the new wave in Malayalam cinema with Swayamvaram , about the struggles of a newly wed couple.

The film won four National Awards that year, including the Best Feature Film and Best Director.

Elippathayam , one of his most-acclaimed films, conveyed the slow disintegration of feudalism in the State through the close study of a middle-aged man, as he struggles to cope with the changes around him.

The film had won the British Film Institute’s award. Most of his other films, including Anantaram , Vidheyan , Mathilukal , Kodiyettam and Nizhalkuthu , are considered landmarks in the history of Malayalam cinema.

Film society movement

Adoor has also been instrumental in beginning the film society movement in Kerala more than 50 years ago with the formation of the Chithralekha Film Society, soon after completion of the filmmaking course in the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. In addition to being feted internationally, he has won the National Film Awards 16 times and the State Film Awards 17 times.

The nation honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984 and Padmba Vibhushan in 2006.

The award will be presented at the State Film Awards function to be held in Thalassery.