Tollystory: refined layout for clarity and fixed typos

2025-09-12T15:40:10Z

refined layout for clarity and fixed typos

imported>Krishnavilasom Bhageerathan Pilla at 05:55, 19 July 2021

2021-07-19T05:55:22Z

New page

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mankada Ravi Varma
| image = Mankada Ravi Varma.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|6|4}}
| birth_place = [[Mankada]], [[Malappuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|11|22|1926|6|4}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| othername = Raviettan
| occupation = [[Cinematographer]], film director
| yearsactive = 1966–2002
| spouse =
| website =
}}

'''Mankada Ravi Varma''' (4 June 1926 – 22 November 2010) was an Indian cinematographer and director who worked in [[Malayalam cinema]]. He is exclusively known for his association with renowned film-maker [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/112496/directors-cut.html|title=Directpr's Cut|author=S Nanda Kumar|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2007/09/07/stories/2007090750230100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203223207/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2007/09/07/stories/2007090750230100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2007|title=Painting with light|date=7 September 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118027967?refCatId=13|title=Indian cinematographer Varma dies: He worked on Adoor Gopalakrishnan's films|date=24 November 2010|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Shalini|last=Dore}}</ref> He has associated with other major directors such as [[G. Aravindan]] and [[P. N. Menon (director)|P. N. Menon]]. He has also directed two films. He has won two [[National Film Awards]] and seven [[Kerala State Film Awards]] in various categories. In 2006, he was honoured with the [[J. C. Daniel Award]], Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

==Early life ==
Ravi Varma was born at [[Mankada]] in [[Malappuram]] district to K.K. Thampuratti and A.M. Parameswaran Bhattathiripad on 4 June 1926. Varma was keenly interested in photography since a child. He had his graduation from [[Victoria College, Palakkad]] and later learned motion picture photography at the Institute of Film Technology (FTIT) in Chennai.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112360300400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127054224/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112360300400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2010|title=Mankada Ravi Varma dead |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=23 November 2010|location=Chennai, India|date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

==Career==
After his studies from FTIT, he worked as a cinematographer for several documentaries and short films. His debut film was ''Aval'' (1966) was directed by Aziz, another student from the institute. His first notable work was ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]'' (1970), directed by [[P. N. Menon (director)|P. N. Menon]] and scripted by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article907286.ece|title=Cultural circles condole death of ace cameraman Ravi Varma
|author=Press Trust of India
|author-link=Press Trust of India
|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 November 2010|location=Chennai, India|date=23 November 2010}}</ref> It was a landmark film in Malayalam as it was the first Malayalam film to be shot entirely outdoors. Varma remembered those days, "We exploited the available light. The framing and composition of the film were totally different from other feature films. I tried to accommodate all the tones that were available in black-and-white, and shot the film. As I had shot documentaries in very adverse conditions, I decided to make use of all those experiences in a feature film. Usually in poor light, a cinematographer stops shooting. What I did was use it to my advantage."<ref name="Rediff">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-obit-mankada-ravi-varma/20101123.htm|title=Goodbye, Mankada Ravi Varma|author=Shobha Warrier|publisher=[[Rediff]]|access-date=23 November 2010}},</ref>
His other notable works as a cinematographer include ''[[Dikkatra Parvathi]]'' (1973) by [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]], ''Uttarayanam'' (1974) by [[G. Aravindan]], and almost all the works with [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]].

===Association with Adoor===
Ravi Varma had written an article on films in a magazine called ''Sameeksha'' which Gopalakrishnan, a student at the FTII happened to read. He wrote to Ravi Varma asking him to write another piece for a magazine that he was editing from the institute. That was how the association and friendship between renowned director [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]] and Ravi Varma started. Whenever Adoor came down to Kerala, he would make a stop over in Madras and meet him. The friendship that started in the 60s became a professional association in the early 70s when Adoor Gopalakrishnan made ''[[Swayamvaram (1972 film)|Swayamvaram]]'' (1971).<ref name="Rediff"/>

When Adoor Gopalakrishnan watched ''Olavum Theeravum'', he decided that when he made a film, it was Mankada Ravi Varma who would shoot it. When he was ready to make ''Swayamvaram'', he asked Ravi Varma whether he would do the cinematography. But he had no intention to shoot another feature film after ''Olavum Theeravum'', as it had affected his regular work. But he couldn't say 'no' to Adoor. ''Swayamvaram'' was their first effort, one of the first serious films made in Kerala, a film that started a revolution and changed the way films were made in Kerala. The film won not only several National Awards but international acclaim too. Mankada also won the National Award for cinematography.<ref name="Rediff"/> ''[[Elippathayam]]'' (1981) was one of the most acclaimed films came out of their association. In this magnum opus film, Varma even had to draw electric power from the mains of the house they were shooting in, as they had no money to hire a generator.<ref name="Rediff"/>
Other major works by Varma with Adoor include ''[[Kodiyettam]]'' (1977), ''[[Mukhamukham (1984 film)|Mukhamukham]]'' (1984), ''[[Mathilukal]]'' (1990), ''[[Vidheyan]]'' (1993) and ''[[Nizhalkuthu]]'' (2002). He has associated with Adoor in all his films, before he fell ill in 2002. ''Nizhalkuthu'' was their last film. Varma could not complete this work as he fell ill soon after the filming had started. Later, this film was completed by [[Sunny Joseph]]. Adoor rates this film as the best work by Varma. In an interview he said: "I would rate ''Nizhalkuthu'', as Raviettan's best ever work, 30 years after we started our journey together with ''Swayamvaram''."<ref name="Sify">{{cite web|url=http://sify.com/movies/mankada-ravi-varma-passes-away-news-tamil-klxpRJjcfah.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002073903/http://www.sify.com/movies/mankada-ravi-varma-passes-away-news-tamil-klxpRJjcfah.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2012|title=Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|access-date=23 November 2010|publisher=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

===Career as a director===
In 1984, he directed his first film, ''Nokkukuthi'', which won him another National Award and a State award. It was based on a poem by noted Malayalam poet, M Govindan.<ref name="Mathrubhoomi"/> "I made it for my own satisfaction. People who are like me will also get satisfaction of watching my film", says Varma.<ref name="Rediff"/> He also directed ''Kunjikoonan'' in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8311585&programId=1073753765&channelId=-1073751706&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=11|title=മങ്കട രവി വര്‍മ അന്തരിച്ചു|publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=22 November 2010|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

He also wrote a book Chitram Chala Chitram about cinematography which won him the State award for the best book on cinema.<ref name="Hindu"/>

==Death==
Ravi Varma died on 22 November 2010 evening in [[Chennai]].<ref name="Mathrubhoomi">{{cite news|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=101078|title=Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|date=22 November 2010|newspaper=[[Mathrubhumi]]|access-date=23 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124072857/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=101078|archive-date=24 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianetindia.com/news/noted-cinematographer-mankada-ravi-varma-passes_213455.html|title=Cinematographer Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|author=KOL News|date=22 November 2010|access-date=22 November 2010|publisher=[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123120035/http://www.asianetindia.com/news/noted-cinematographer-mankada-ravi-varma-passes_213455.html|archive-date=23 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]] for many years.<ref name="Hindu"/>

[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]] in an obituary to Mankada Ravi Varma has said: "I never asked him why he only worked only with me, as he used to say he wanted to do only good films. Raviettan is the only person to whom I used to courier my script before they were made. His response and clarity on my script encouraged me a lot."<ref name="Sify"/>

==Filmography==

===As cinematographer===
* ''[[Aval (1967 film)|Aval]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Swayamvaram (1972 film)|Swayamvaram]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Dikkatra Parvathi]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Uttarayanam]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Kodiyettam]]'' (1977)
* ''Yakshagana'' (1979)
* ''Chola Heritage'' (1980)
* ''Krishnanattam'' (1982)
* ''Kalamandalam Gopi'' (1995)
* ''[[Elippathayam]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Mukhamukham (1984 film)|Mukhamukham]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Anantaram]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Mathilukal]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Vidheyan]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Kathapurushan]]'' (1996)
* ''Koodiyaattam'' (2001)
* ''[[Nizhalkkuthu]]'' (2002)

===As director===
* ''Nokkukuthi'' (1984)
* ''Kunjikoonan'' (1989)

==Awards==

=== Kerala State Awards ===

* 1970: [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography]] – ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]''
* 1972: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''Swayamvaram''
* 1974: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Uttarayanam]]''
* 1981: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Elippathayam]]''
* 1983: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Nokkukuthi]]''
* 1984: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Mukhamukham (1984 film)|Mukhamukham]]''
* 1986: [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema]] – ''Chitram Chala Chitram''<ref name="Hindu"/>
* 2002: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Nizhalkuthu]]''
* 2005: [[J. C. Daniel Award]] (Honorary)

=== National Awards ===

* 1972: [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]] – ''[[Swayamvaram (1972 film)|Swayamvaram]]''
* 1983: [[National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention]] – ''Nokkukuthi''
* 1999: [[National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Cinematography]] – ''Kalamandalam Gopi''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}
{{National Film Award Special Jury Award Feature Film}}
{{Kerala State Film Award Best Cinematography}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Ravi}}
[[Category:People from Malappuram district]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Malayalam film cinematographers]]
[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Malayalam film directors]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:J. C. Daniel Award winners]]

Mankada Ravi Varma - Revision history

Tollystory: refined layout for clarity and fixed typos

imported>Krishnavilasom Bhageerathan Pilla at 05:55, 19 July 2021