imported>GreenC bot: Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-04-25T04:30:03Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Pranavam Arts International
| logo = Pranavam Arts.png
| logo_size =
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry = [[Film]]
| founded = 1990
| founder = [[Mohanlal]]
| location_city = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]]
| location_country = India
| area_served = India
| key_people = [[Mohanlal]]<br>Suchitra Mohanlal
| products = [[Films]]
| website = 
}}

'''Pranavam Arts International''' (formerly '''Pranavam Arts''' or '''Pranavams International''') was an Indian film [[production company|production]] and [[Film distribution|distribution]] company based in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], founded in 1990 by Indian actor [[Mohanlal]]. Since then the company has produced a total of 11 films, including two of the most-expensive Malayalam films of its time—''[[Kaalapani]]'' (1996) and ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (1999). ''Vanaprastham'' was selected at the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]. The company has won a [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film]] (''Vanaprastham'') and two [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film]] (''[[Bharatham]]'' and ''Kaalapani''). The company's distribution division was called '''Pranamam Pictures'''.

==History==
The company was named after the word ''[[Om|Praṇavaṁ]]'' and logo contains a figure of [[Nataraja]].<ref name=TNIE1>{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article282574.ece|title=A return to glory|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=19 November 2010|accessdate=12 December 2015|last=Express Features|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100101/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article282574.ece|archivedate=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Pranavam Art's first production was the 1990 musical-drama film ''[[His Highness Abdullah]]'' directed by [[Sibi Malayil]] and written by [[A. K. Lohithadas]], in which Mohanlal portrayed a [[contract killer]] who disguise as a singer to infiltrate a palace for killing the head of the family. ''His Highness Abdullah'' became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year and was one of the biggest hits in [[Malayalam cinema]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.|title=When the autowale grab all the limelight|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2013/may/08/When-the-autowale-grab-all-the-limelight-475381.html|accessdate=27 June 2020|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=8 May 2013}}</ref> The film won two [[National Film Awards]]. It was followed by another musical drama, ''[[Bharatham]]'' (1991), again from Malayil-Lohithadas team. The film was a critical and commercial success<ref>{{cite web|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|title=Through the magnifying glass|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/aug/11lo1.htm|publisher=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=27 June 2020|date=22 August 1997}}</ref> and won four [[Kerala State Film Awards]] and three National Film Awards, including the [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film]] and Mohanlal won the [[National Film Award for Best Actor]]. The team collaborated once again for a musical drama, ''[[Kamaladalam]]'' (1992), which was also a critical and commercial success.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article220535.ece | title=A great story teller: Sibi Malayil | work=[[The New Indian Express]] | date=10 January 2010 | accessdate=12 December 2015 | last=B S | first=Shibu | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222094526/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article220535.ece | archivedate=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://calcuttatube.com/mohanlal-to-revive-home-banner-pranavam-arts-after-11-years/71778/|title=Pranavam Arts is back}}</ref>

In 1993, Pranavam produced the [[Priyadarshan]]-directed comical family drama ''[[Mithunam (1993 film)|Mithunam]]'' starring Mohanlal and [[Urvashi (actress)|Urvashi]] as a newly married couple struggling to find time for each other amidst continued issues in their disorganised [[joint family]]. The film was written by [[Sreenivasan]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Times News Network|title=Midhunam was produced by Mohanlal|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know-/Midhunam-was-produced-by-Mohanlal/articleshow/40042909.cms|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219132255/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know-/Midhunam-was-produced-by-Mohanlal/articleshow/40042909.cms|archivedate=19 February 2016|accessdate=12 December 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=11 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the following year, Mohanlal produced and starred in ''[[Pingami]]'', a drama thriller directed by [[Sathyan Anthikkad]], in which he played Captain Vijay Menon who investigates the trail of a murder. ''Pingami'' was not a success in the theatres, but over the years, the film has achieved a [[Cult film|cult following]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Shanker|first=Anoop|title=അച്ഛന്‍റെ മറുപടിയുമായി പിൻഗാമി : Super Character|url=https://www.deepika.com/cinema/Super-Character.aspx|accessdate=9 July 2020|work=[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]|date=15 September 2019|language=ml}}</ref> The period drama ''[[Kaalapani]]'' was released in 1996, directed by Priyadarshan. It was based on the life of Indian freedom fighters incarcerated in the [[Cellular Jail]] in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] during [[British Raj]]. With a budget of ₹2.5 crore, it was then the most-expensive Malayalam film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kaala-paani-a-malayalam-film-banks-on-lavish-budget-freedom-movement-and-multilingual-cast/1/287939.html|title=An Epic Gamble|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 June 1995|accessdate=12 December 2015|first=M. G.|last=Radhakrishnan}}</ref> The film won seven Kerala State Film Awards (including Second Best Film and [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Mohanlal) and four National Film Awards.

Lohithadas wrote and directed Pranavam's seventh production, ''[[Kanmadam]]'' (1998), a drama set in a remote village in [[Palakkad]], where a stranger (portrayed by Mohanlal) reaches to handover the belongings of a man he accidentally killed. The film was a critical and commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|last=ബാബു|first=രാമചന്ദ്ര|title='കന്മദ'ത്തിന്റെ കാഴ്ചാനുഭവങ്ങള്‍|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/weekly/nostalgia/old-issues/kanmadham-movie-malayalam-news-1.1318278|accessdate=27 June 2020|work=[[Mathrubhumi]]|language=ml}}</ref> In the same year, the company produced a detective comedy, ''[[Harikrishnans]]'', starring Mohanlal and [[Mammootty]] as two attorneys investigating a murder. The film was made on a budget of ₹2.5 crore, making it one of the most-expensive Malayalam films at the time. It was also a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. However, the film fell into controversy and company faced legal trouble for releasing two different endings of the film, one of them not certified by the [[Central Board of Film Certification]], the board sent notice for violating The Cinematograph Act. Eventually, the unapproved alternate ending (in which Meera gets to marry Hari) was to be pulled off from theatres to settle the issue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Radhakrishnan|first=M. G.|title=Two endings of 'Harikrishnans' make it a hit but run into rough weather with CBFC|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19981005-two-endings-of-harikrishnans-make-it-hit-but-run-into-rough-weather-with-cbfc-827168-1998-10-05|accessdate=12 December 2015|work=[[India Today]]|date=5 October 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jose|first=D.|title=Double trouble|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/oct/06hari.htm|publisher=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=27 June 2020|date=6 October 1998}}</ref>

In 1999, the company produced the action thriller ''[[Olympiyan Anthony Adam]]'' directed by [[Bhadran (director)|Bhadran]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.in/Olimpian-Anthony-Adam-Mohanlal/dp/B00MTDEI5Y? | title=Olimpian Anthony Adam | publisher=[[Amazon.com]] | date=15 October 2000 | accessdate=3 April 2016 | last=Amazon | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402184000/http://www.amazon.in/Olimpian-Anthony-Adam-Mohanlal/dp/B00MTDEI5Y | archivedate=2 April 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> Mohanlal played Varghese Antony IPS, a cop who is tasked with investigating a terrorist attack that require him to go undercover as a physical trainer in a [[boarding school]]. The film was a moderate success at the box office. In the same year, the company co-produced the Indo-French period drama ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' directed by [[Shaji N. Karun]] and produced by [[Pierre Assouline]]. It was the second [[international co-production]] in [[Malayalam]]. The film depicted the mental agony of a [[Kathakali]] dancer, Kunjikuttan, played by Mohanlal. With a budget of ₹3.8 crore, ''Vanaprastham'' was then the most-expensive Malayalam film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Radhakrishnan|first=M. G.|title=Shaji Karun's latest film uses Kathakali as backdrop to tell tormented dancer's tale|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19980119-shaji-karuns-latest-film-uses-kathakali-as-backdrop-to-tell-tormented-dancers-tale-825434-1998-01-19|accessdate=12 December 2015|work=[[India Today]]|date=19 January 1998}}</ref> It was the first Indian film made in [[Panavision]] format.<ref>{{cite web|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|title=Payback time!|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/mar/11moh.htm|publisher=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=9 July 2020|date=11 March 1999}}</ref> ''Vanaprastham'' was selected at the ''[[Un Certain Regard]]'' section of the [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]. The film won three [[National Film Awards]], including [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film]] and [[National Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Mohanlal,<ref>{{cite web|author=Variety staff|title=Film faves win kudos|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/film-faves-win-kudos-1117783569/|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=9 July 2020|date=11 July 2000}}</ref> and six Kerala State Film Awards (including [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and Best Actor for Mohanlal).

After a 11 year hiatus, the company returned to production in 2010. The company's name was updated to '''Pranavam Arts International''' and co-produced the [[Major Ravi]]-directed military film ''[[Kandahar (2010 film)|Kandahar]]''.<ref name=TNIE1/><ref>{{cite web|author=Moviebuzz|title=Mohanlal revives Pranavam Arts!|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mohanlal-revives-pranavam-arts-news-malayalam-kkfqLGcacibsi.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224072302/http://www.sify.com/movies/mohanlal-revives-pranavam-arts-news-malayalam-kkfqLGcacibsi.html|archivedate=24 December 2015|publisher=[[Sify.com]]|accessdate=12 December 2015|date=15 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was based on the hijacking of the [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] while en route from [[Kathmandu]] to [[Delhi]] in 1999. [[Amitabh Bachchan]] appeared in the film alongside Mohanlal, and it was his maiden Malayalam film. ''Kandahar'' was the third installment in the [[Major Mahadevan]] film series.<ref>{{cite news|last=George|first=Vijay|title=A major mission|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-major-mission/article957107.ece|accessdate=25 February 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 December 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225175628/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-major-mission/article957107.ece|archivedate=25 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> However, unlike its predecessors, the film received negative critical response and under-performed at the box office.

==Filmography==
===Produced===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Notes
|-
| 1990|| ''[[His Highness Abdullah]]'' || [[Sibi Malayil]] ||
|-
| 1991|| ''[[Bharatham]]'' || [[Sibi Malayil]] || Won: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film]]
|-
| 1992|| ''[[Kamaladalam]]'' || [[Sibi Malayil]] ||
|-
| 1993|| ''[[Mithunam (1993 film)|Mithunam]]'' || [[Priyadarshan]] ||
|-
| 1994|| ''[[Pingami]]'' || [[Sathyan Anthikkad]] ||
|-
| 1996|| ''[[Kaalapani]]'' || [[Priyadarshan]] || Won: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film]]
|-
| 1998|| ''[[Kanmadam]]'' || [[A. K. Lohithadas]]||
|-
| 1998|| ''[[Harikrishnans]]'' || [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]] ||
|-
| 1999|| ''[[Olympiyan Anthony Adam]]'' || [[Bhadran]] ||
|-
| 1999|| ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' || [[Shaji N. Karun]] || Indo-French co-production<br />Won: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film]]<br />Selected: [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]
|-
| 2010|| ''[[Kandahar (2010 film)|Kandahar]]'' || [[Major Ravi]] || Co-produced
|}

===Distributed===
Mohanlal distributed films in [[Kerala]] under the company Pranamam Pictures (or Pranamam Movies). The following is an incomplete partial list of films:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Language
! class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|1993
|''[[Mithunam (1993 film)|Mithunam]]''
|Malayalam
|Also producer
|-
|1993
|''[[Pudhiya Mugam]]''
|Tamil
|
|-
|1993
|''[[Gandharvam]]''
|Malayalam
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Pingami]]''
|Malayalam
|Also producer
|-
|1995
|''[[Nirnayam (1995 film)|Nirnayam]]''
|Malayalam
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Kaalapani]]''
|Malayalam
|Co-distributor
|-
|1997
|''[[Iruvar]]''
|Tamil
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Varnapakittu]]''
|Malayalam
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]''
|[[Hindi]]
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Kanmadam]]''
|Malayalam
|Also producer
|-
|1998
|''[[Harikrishnans]]''
|Malayalam
|Also producer
|-
|1999
|''[[Megham]]''
|Malayalam
|
|-
|1999
|''[[Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam]]''
|[[Hindi]]
|
|-
|1999
|''[[Olympiyan Anthony Adam]]''
|Malayalam
|Also producer
|-
|1999
|''[[Vanaprastham]]''
|Malayalam
|Also co-producer
|-
|2000
|''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]''
|Tamil
|
|}

==See also==
* [[Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments]], distribution company co-founded by Mohanlal.
* [[Aashirvad Cinemas]], production company founded by [[Antony Perumbavoor]] that makes Mohanlal films.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rwq_EN-Juw Official Signature Film]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100716132136/http://www.themoviekandahar.com/ Official Website of Kandahar]

{{Mohanlal}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mohanlal]]
[[Category:Companies based in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1990]]
[[Category:Film production companies of India]]
[[Category:Film production companies of Kerala]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Producers who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award]]

Pranavam Arts International - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5