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{{Short description|Indian film director and cinematographer}}
{{Short description|Indian film director and cinematographer (1952–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Shaji N. Karun
| name              = Shaji N. Karun
|image = {{CSS image crop
| image             = File:Shri Shaji N. Karun, Director of the film ‘Kutty Shrank’, at the presentation of the film, during the 40th International Film Festival (IFFI-2009), at Panaji, Goa on November 27, 2009.jpg
|Image = Shri Shaji N Karun alongwith other directors speaking on ‘Meet The Juries’ during the 40th International Film Festival (IFFI-2009), at Panaji, Goa on November 30, 2009.jpg
|bSize = 850
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| caption = Shaji N. Karun, [[International Film Festival of India|IFFI]] ([[40th International Film Festival of India|2009]])
| birth_name        = Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran
| birth_name        = Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=y|1952|1|1}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=y|1952|1|1}}
| birth_place        = [[Kollam]], [[Kerala]], India
| birth_place        = [[Kollam]], [[Travancore–Cochin]], India
| death_date        =  
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=y|2025|04|28|1952|01|01}}
| death_place        =  
| death_place        = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| restingplace      =  
| restingplace      =  
| restingplacecoordinates =  
| restingplacecoordinates =  
| othername          =  
| othername          =  
| occupation        = Film director, [[cinematographer]]
| occupation        = Film director, cinematographer
| yearsactive        = 1974 - present
| yearsactive        = 1974–2025
| spouse            = Anasuya Devaki Warrier
| spouse            = Anasuya Devaki Warrier
| domesticpartner    =  
| domesticpartner    =  
| children          = Anil Shaji<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://faculty.iisertvm.ac.in/shaji/IISER_Home/About_Me.html |title=Anil Shaji |website=faculty.iisertvm.ac.in |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram|IISER Thiruvananthapuram]] |location=Kerala, India |publication-place=Kerala, India |access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> <br /> Appu Shaji<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=CrW7cykAAAAJ |title=Appu Shaji - Google Scholar Citations |website=scholar.google.com |access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref>
| children          = Anil Shaji<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://faculty.iisertvm.ac.in/shaji/IISER_Home/About_Me.html |title=Anil Shaji |website=faculty.iisertvm.ac.in |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram|IISER Thiruvananthapuram]] |location=Kerala, India |access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> <br /> Appu Shaji<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=CrW7cykAAAAJ |title=Appu Shaji - Google Scholar Citations |website=scholar.google.com |access-date=2020-03-13 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202093154/http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CrW7cykAAAAJ&hl=en |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| father            = N. Karunakaran
| father            = N. Karunakaran
| mother            = Chandramati
| mother            = Chandramati
| website            = http://www.shaji.info
| website            = {{URL|https://www.shajinkarun.com/}}
| awards            = 1989, Special Mention, Caméra d'Or, Cannes Film Festival (Piravi), FIRST Charlie Chaplin Award 1989 (Piravi) on Sir Chaplin's 100th birth day, Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence (Cinematography),Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres from Govt of FRANCE, Padmashree by Govt of India 2011<ref name="padma">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364|title=Press Information Bureau|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>
| awards            = 1989, Special Mention, Caméra d'Or, Cannes Film Festival (Piravi), FIRST Charlie Chaplin Award 1989 (Piravi) on Sir Chaplin's 100th birth day, Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence (Cinematography), Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres from Govt of FRANCE, Padmashree by Govt of India 2011<ref name="padma">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364|title=Press Information Bureau|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''Shaji Neelakantan Karun''' (born 1 January 1952) is an Indian film director and [[cinematographer]]. His debut film ''[[Piravi]]'' (1988) won the [[Caméra d'Or]] – Mention d'honneur at the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]]. He was the premiere chairman of the [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the executive chairman of the [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK) from 1998 to 2001. He is best known for his award-winning films ''Piravi'' (1988), ''[[Swaham]]'' (1994), ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (1999) and ''[[Kutty Srank]]'' (2009). He won the [[National Film Award for Best Direction|National Award for Best Director]] for his debut film ''Piravi''. He also won two [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Director|Kerala State Film Awards for Best Director]] for his films ''Swaham'' and ''Vanaprastham''. Currently, he is the Chairman of [[Kerala State Film Development Corporation]].


==Biography==
'''Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran''' (1 January 1952 – 28 April 2025), better known as '''Shaji N. Karun''', was
Shaji N. Karun was born on New Year's Day, 1952, as the eldest son of Mr. N. Karunakaran and Mrs. Chandramati in present-day [[Kollam district]] in the former state of [[Travancore]] state (now [[Kerala]]), India. The family moved to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the capital of the state in 1963. He did his schooling in Palkulangara H.S. and took a bachelor's degree from [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]]. In 1971 he entered the [[Film and Television Institute of India]], where he took his diploma in [[cinematography]]. His diploma film ''Genesis'' (1974), directed by Rahul Dasgupta, got many awards and started his career. He won the GOLD medal on graduation in 1974. After graduation, he worked in ISRO Ahmedabad, Mumbai TV, Madras Film Industry on contract basis till 1975 when [[Kerala State Film Development Corporation]] (KSFDC)  was about to realize. He became responsible with founder Chairman P R S Pillai, and its then Managing Director G.Vivekanandan for the planning, designing future visions of KSFDC to bring back the Film Industry that was till then rooted in Madras. His role with the participation in meaningful cinema activities through the contribution of KSFDC and well-known giants in Malayalam filmmakers resulted in many landmark achievements to the Malayalam Cinema nationally and Internationally.
an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film ''[[Piravi]]'' (1988) won the [[Caméra d'Or]] – Mention d'honneur at the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]]. He was the inaugural chairman of the [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the executive chairman of the [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK) from 1998 to 2001. He is best known for his award-winning films ''Piravi'' (1988), ''[[Swaham]]'' (1994), ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (1999) and ''[[Kutty Srank]]'' (2009). He won the [[National Film Award for Best Direction|National Award for Best Director]] for his debut film ''Piravi''. He also won two [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Director|Kerala State Film Awards for Best Director]] for his films ''Swaham'' and ''Vanaprastham''. He was the Chairman of [[Kerala State Film Development Corporation]] from 2019 to 2025 until his death.
1998, He started and presided the first film academy in India as [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] under Government of Kerala and leadership of then Cultural Minister Marxist Late Shri T K Ramakrshnan. It is in the same year he started the International Film Festival (IFFK) as competitive and further [[FIAPF]] recognized the festival as International competitive under his tenure. He has presented three films- Piravi, Swaham, Vanaprastham consecutively to Cannes official sections, a rare achievement for any filmmakers worldwide,  where the film Swaham was in competition of Cannes in 1994. Since then, till now, no films from INDIA selected to compete for Cannes' Palme d'Or. He is the Only Malayalam filmmaker who achieved three national best films (Piravi, Vanaprastham, Kuttysrank) for the Malayalam language.
 
== Early life and career ==
Shaji N. Karun was born on New Year's Day, 1952, as the eldest son of N. Karunakaran and Chandramati in present-day [[Kollam district]] in the former state of [[Travancore]] state (now [[Kerala]]), India. The family moved to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the capital of the state, in 1963. He did his schooling in Palkulangara High School and took a bachelor's degree from [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]]. In 1971 he entered the [[Film and Television Institute of India]], where he took his diploma in [[cinematography]]. His diploma film ''Genesis'' (1974), directed by Rahul Dasgupta, got many awards and started his career. He won the gold medal on graduation in 1974. After graduation, he worked in ISRO Ahmedabad, Mumbai TV, Madras Film Industry on contract basis until 1975 when [[Kerala State Film Development Corporation]] (KSFDC)  was about to emerge. He became responsible with founder Chairman P R S Pillai, and its then Managing Director G.Vivekanandan for the planning, designing future visions of KSFDC to bring back the Film Industry that was until then rooted in Madras. His role with the participation in meaningful cinema activities through the contribution of KSFDC and well-known giants in Malayalam filmmakers resulted in many landmark achievements to the Malayalam Cinema nationally and internationally.


==Personal life==
In 1998, he started and presided over the first film academy in India as [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] under Government of Kerala and leadership of then Cultural Minister Marxist Late Shri T K Ramakrishnan. It was in the same year he started the International Film Festival (IFFK) as competitive that further [[FIAPF]] recognized the festival as internationally competitive under his tenure. He has presented three films: Piravi, Swaham, Vanaprastham consecutively to Cannes official sections, a rare achievement for any filmmakers worldwide,  where the film Swaham was in the competition of Cannes in 1994. Thereafter, after 30 years, in 2024, the film by Ms Payal Kapadia from INDIA was selected to compete for Cannes's Palme d'Or. He was the only Malayalam filmmaker who achieved three national best films (Piravi, Vanaprastham, Kuttysrank) for the Malayalam language. He was conferred the J.C. Daniel Award 2023 for his lifetime achievement in a film career, the most prestigious award in cinema from the Government of Kerala.
Shaji married Anasuya Warrier, daughter of Dr. [[P. K. R. Warrier]], who was his neighbor in [[Trivandrum]] for quite some time, on 1 January 1975. After a brief stint in the south Indian city of [[Madras]], he returned to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1976 where he got an appointment as film officer in the newly formed state Film Development Corporation. They have 2 sons, Anil and Appu. His association with the legendary Malayalam filmmaker [[G. Aravindan]] began at this time. Then he continued working with notable directors like [[G. Aravindan]], [[K. G. George]] and [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] as a cinematographer.<ref name="thampu">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078381/|title=Thampu|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref><ref name="panchavadipalam">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215029/|title=Panchavadi Palam|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> His career also spreads to many activities by Government of India and Kerala where he served in the capacities of advisory status on policy decisions. 20th International film festival of Kerala conducted by the government of Kerala, in 2015 December 4–11, under his advisory capacity is marked by the Press and film lovers as the best of the festivals held so far. Aug 2018, he is selected for the position of 8th President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Arts & Literary Organization) an Association for Art and Letters. On 31 May 2019, the government of Kerala has appointed him as the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation and assumed the position from 17 June 2019.


== Career in film direction ==
== Film direction ==
[[File:Malayalam-directore-padmashri-shaji-n-karun-presenting-a-lecture-at-saarang-2011-iit-madras.jpg|right|200px|Shaji N. Karun giving a lecture at Saarang 2011, IIT Madras]]
[[File:Malayalam-directore-padmashri-shaji-n-karun-presenting-a-lecture-at-saarang-2011-iit-madras.jpg|right|200px|Shaji N. Karun giving a lecture at Saarang 2011, IIT Madras]]
Shaji made his directorial debut with the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Piravi]]'' ("The Birth", 1988), which won him the prestigious ''[[Caméra d'Or]] – Mention d'honneur'' at the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]]. While ''Piravi'' was about the grief of a father who loses his son, Shaji's second film, ''[[Swaham]]'' (1994) continued with the theme of grief. ''Swaham'' was selected to compete at the [[1994 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="cannes-1994.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2980/year/1994.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Swaham |access-date=30 August 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> ''[[Vaanaprastham]]'' ("The Final Dance", 1999) dealt with the identity crisis faced by an actor. [[Mohanlal]] played the lead role in this film. He directed the film ''Nishad'', made in Hindi, which was completed in May 2002, and premiered in the Fukuoka International Film Festival held in September 2002 in Japan.  His latest film is titled [[Kutty Shranku|Kutty Srank]] with [[Mammootty]] playing the lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=16033|title=Indian Entertainment News, Movie News, Movie Features – Bollywood – Tamil – Telugu – Malayalam – Kannada Movies|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref> The film was released theatrically in Kerala in July 2010.[[Swapaanam]] with Jayaram and Kadambari has premiered at Dubai International Film Festival on 8 December 2013, a rare recognition for Malayalam Cinema as the World premier screening outside India. ''[[Olu (film)|Olu]]'', his latest film, under 'fantasy perception' and narrative, had chosen the inaugural film of Indian Panorama film selections presented in [[International Film Festival of India]] Goa-2018. OLU has also been chosen as the "OPENING FILMS" of TWO major International film festivals- International film festival of INNSBRUCK 2019.AUSTRIA, ISOLA Cinema International film festival 2019, SLOVENIA. ''Olu'' also won the [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]] (2018) award in the [[66th National Film Awards]].
Shaji made his directorial debut with the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Piravi]]'' ("The Birth", 1988), which won him the prestigious ''[[Caméra d'Or]] – Mention d'honneur'' at the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]]. While ''Piravi'' was about the grief of a father who loses his son, Shaji's second film, ''[[Swaham]]'' (1994) continued with the theme of grief. ''Swaham'' was selected to compete at the [[1994 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="cannes-1994.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2980/year/1994.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Swaham |access-date=30 August 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> ''[[Vaanaprastham|Vanaprastham]]'' ("The Final Dance", 1999) dealt with the identity crisis faced by an actor. [[Mohanlal]] played the lead role in this film. He directed the film ''Nishad'', made in Hindi, which was completed in May 2002, and premiered in the Fukuoka International Film Festival held in September 2002 in Japan.  His latest film is titled [[Kutty Shranku|Kutty Srank]] with [[Mammootty]] playing the lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=16033|title=Indian Entertainment News, Movie News, Movie Features – Bollywood – Tamil – Telugu – Malayalam – Kannada Movies|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807231206/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=16033|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was released theatrically in Kerala in July 2010. [[Swapaanam]] with Jayaram and Kadambari has premiered at Dubai International Film Festival on 8 December 2013, a rare recognition for Malayalam Cinema as the World premiere screening outside India. ''[[Olu (film)|Olu]]'', his latest film, under 'fantasy perception' and narrative, had chosen the inaugural film of Indian Panorama film selections presented in [[International Film Festival of India]] Goa-2018. OLU has also been chosen as the "OPENING FILMS" of TWO major International film festivals- International film festival of INNSBRUCK 2019, AUSTRIA, ISOLA Cinema International film festival 2019, SLOVENIA. ''Olu'' also won the [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]] (2018) award in the [[66th National Film Awards]].
 
He also made around a dozen short films and documentaries. Besides making films, Shaji Karun has been active as a juror at many international film festivals and an active participant in governmental and academic arenas. He was the inaugural Chairman of the [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the Executive Chairman of [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] from 1998 to 2001.


He has also made around a dozen short films and documentaries. Besides making films, Shaji Karun has been active as a juror at many international film festivals and an active participant in governmental and academic arenas. He was the Premiere Chairman of the [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the Executive Chairman of [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] from 1998 to 2001.
== Further projects ==
As of January 2018, Shaji was completing the post-production of a new movie titled ''Olu'' with Shane Nigam and Esther Anil playing the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/AVAproductions/photos/a.413851068682571.93567.276433902424289/1538253452908988/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/276433902424289/1538253452908988 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=AVA Productions|website=facebook.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=August 2018}} In an interview not long before his death, Shaji revealed that ''[[Olu (film)|Olu]]'' is the tale of a girl who gets gang-raped and sank to the bottom of the backwaters where she can mysteriously survive and live for the next nine months&nbsp;– until she delivers her 'baby from rape'. The film attempts to convey her perception of innocent feminine desires&nbsp;– spiritual and transcendental feelings."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.picklemag.com/new/news/will-olu-be-indias-best-chance-to-make-its-comeback-in-the-2018-cannes-festival-official-competition-/354/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102132254/https://www.picklemag.com/new/news/will-olu-be-indias-best-chance-to-make-its-comeback-in-the-2018-cannes-festival-official-competition-/354/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2018|title=Pickle|website=picklemag.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>


== Upcoming projects ==
His project Gaadha was announced in September 2012, though was expected to commence shooting by November 2014, it has been postponed until further notice. Music was to be composed by the Polish composer [[Zbigniew Preisner]].
As of January 2018 Shaji is completing the post-production of a new movie titled ''Olu'' with Shane Nigam and Esther Anil playing the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/AVAproductions/photos/a.413851068682571.93567.276433902424289/1538253452908988/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/276433902424289/1538253452908988 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=AVA Productions|website=facebook.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=August 2018}} In a recent interview, Shaji revealed that ''[[Olu (film)|Olu]]'' is the tale of a girl who gets gang raped and sunk to the bottom of the backwaters where she can mysteriously survive and live for the next nine months -until she delivers her ‘baby from rape’. The film will attempt to convey her perception of innocent feminine desires – spiritual and transcendental feelings."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.picklemag.com/new/news/will-olu-be-indias-best-chance-to-make-its-comeback-in-the-2018-cannes-festival-official-competition-/354/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102132254/https://www.picklemag.com/new/news/will-olu-be-indias-best-chance-to-make-its-comeback-in-the-2018-cannes-festival-official-competition-/354/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2018|title=Pickle|website=picklemag.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>


His project Gaadha was announced in September 2012. Though was expected to commence shooting by November 2014, it has been postponed till further notice. Music was to be composed by the Polish composer [[Zbigniew Preisner]].
In May 2022 Shaji N. Karun announced his next project based on the life of Amrita Sher-Gil, pioneer of Indian modern art. In an interview with Jisha Surya of News9Live the cinematographer-director said that the multilingual movie would be based on the biographical writings of Sher-Gil. Conceived as an Indo-French-US collaborative project, the movie would have international actors and technicians. Karun approached a Mexican actor to play the lead role of the Hungarian-Indian painter.


In May 2022 Shaji N Karun announced his next project based on the life of Amrita Sher-Gil, pioneer of Indian modern art. In an interview with Jisha Surya of News9Live The cinematographer-director said that the multilingual movie will be based on the biographical writings of Sher-Gil. Conceived as an Indo-French-US collaborative project, the movie will have international actors and technicians. Karun has approached a Mexican actor to play the lead role of the Hungarian-Indian painter.
== Personal life and death ==
Shaji married Anasuya Warrier, daughter of [[P. K. R. Warrier]], who was his neighbor in [[Trivandrum]] for quite some time, on 1 January 1975. After a brief stint in the south Indian city of [[Madras]], he returned to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1976 where he got an appointment as film officer in the newly formed state Film Development Corporation. They have 2 sons, Anil and Appu. His association with the legendary Malayalam filmmaker [[G. Aravindan]] began at this time. Then he continued working with notable directors like [[G. Aravindan]], [[K. G. George]] and [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] as a cinematographer.<ref name="thampu">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078381/|title=Thampu|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref><ref name="panchavadipalam">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215029/|title=Panchavadi Palam|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> His career also spread to many activities by the Government of India and Kerala where he served in the capacities of advisory status on policy decisions. The 20th International film festival of Kerala conducted by the government of Kerala, on 4–11 December 2015 under his advisory capacity was marked by the Press and film lovers as the best of the festivals held so far. In August 2018, he was selected for the position of 8th President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Arts & Literary Organization) an Association for Art and Letters. On 31 May 2019, the government of Kerala appointed him as the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation. He assumed the position on 17 June 2019 and held it until his death in April 2025.
 
Karun died at his home in Thiruvananthapuram on 28 April 2025, at the age of 73.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shaji N Karun: A filmmaker's hat-trick tryst with Cannes |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/28/shaji-n-karun-filmmaker-hat-trick-tryst-with-cannes-film-festival.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Shaji N Karun: A filmmaker's hat-trick tryst with Cannes |language=en}}</ref>


== Awards and milestones ==
== Awards and milestones ==


===National and international honors===
===National and international honors===
* '''Life Time Achievement Award- 12th Jaipur International Film Festival INDIA-2020'''
* J. C. Daniel Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Government of Kerala 2024
* '''Life Time Achievement- Tyrol : IFFI Prize''' (2014) Innsbruck Film Festival, AUSTRIA  
* Life Time Achievement Aawrd- 10th International Youth Film Festival Colombo by Government of Sri Lanka-2024
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2011 INDIA<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |year=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>
* Life Time Achievement Award- 12th Jaipur International Film Festival INDIA-2020
* Life Time Achievement- Tyrol : IFFI Prize (2014) Innsbruck Film Festival, AUSTRIA
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2011 INDIA<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | year=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015 | archive-date=19 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215108/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]] (1999) FRANCE
* [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]] (1999) FRANCE
* '''The first Sir Charles Chaplin Award to commemorate the centenary of Chaplin's birth''' (1989) Edinburgh International Film Festival ,UK
* The first Sir Charles Chaplin Award to commemorate the centenary of Chaplin's birth (1989) Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK


===As a cinematographer===
===As a cinematographer===
* Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence, [[Hawaii International Film Festival]] (1989)
* Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence, [[Hawaii International Film Festival]] (1989)
* [[National Film Awards|National Film Award]]: ''[[Thampu]]'' (''Circus Tent'') (1979)
* [[National Film Awards|National Film Award]]: ''[[Thampu]]'' (''Circus Tent'') (1979)
* Awards from the Government of Kerala: ''[[Kanchana Sita]]'' (1977), ''[[Esthappan]]'' (1981), ''Onnumuthal Poojayam Vare'' (1986)
* Awards from the Government of Kerala: ''[[Kanchana Sita]]'' (1977), ''[[Esthappan]]'' (1981), ''Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare'' (1986)


===As a director===
===As a director===
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* [[London Film Festival]], Outstanding Film: ''[[Piravi]]'' (1989)
* [[London Film Festival]], Outstanding Film: ''[[Piravi]]'' (1989)
* [[Locarno International Film Festival]], Grand Jury Prize (Silver Leopard): ''[[Piravi]]'' (1989)
* [[Locarno International Film Festival]], Grand Jury Prize (Silver Leopard): ''[[Piravi]]'' (1989)
* [[Hawaii International Film Festival ]], Best film ''[[Piravi]]'' (1989)
* [[Chicago International Film Festival ]], USA, Silver Hugo
* [[Fajr Film Festival]]. Iran Crystal Simorgh
* [[Bergamo Film Meeting ]], Italy Rosa Camuna 1990
* [[International Film Festival Innsbruck iffi.at]], Austria Best Film 1995
* [[Bergamo Film Meeting ]], Italy Bronze Rosa Camuna 1995
* [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]: ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' was screened in the ''[[Un Certain Regard]]'' section of the festival (1999)<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/5384/year/1999.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Vanaprastham |access-date=26 December 2010|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>
* [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]: ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' was screened in the ''[[Un Certain Regard]]'' section of the festival (1999)<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/5384/year/1999.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Vanaprastham |access-date=26 December 2010|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>
* [[Mumbai International Film Festival ]], FEPRISCI Prize, 1999
* [[International Istanbul Film Festival]], Grand Jury Prize: ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (2000)
* [[International Istanbul Film Festival]], Grand Jury Prize: ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (2000)


Line 100: Line 105:


==Filmography as director==
==Filmography as director==
* ''[[Oolu]]'' (2018)
*''[[Piravi]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Swapaanam]]'' (2013)
*''[[Swaham]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Kutty Shranku]]'' (2009)
*''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Nishad (2002 film)|Nishad]]''       (2002)
*''[[Nishad (filma)|Nishad]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Vanaprastham]]'' (1999)
*''[[A.K.G]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Swaham]]''       (1994)
*''[[Kutty Shranku]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Piravi]]''       (1988)
*''[[Swapaanam]]'' (2014)
*''[[Oolu]]'' (2018)
 
===Documentaries===
* ''[[Pranan]]'' (World Premiere at [[IDSFFK]] 2025)


===Short films===
===Short films===
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==As a cinematographer==
==As a cinematographer==
* ''Genesis'' (1974)
* ''Genesis'' (1974)
* ''[[Lakshmi Vijayam]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Lakshmi Vijayam (1976 film)|Lakshmi Vijayam]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Njavalppazhangal]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Njavalppazhangal]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Kanchana Sita]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Muhoorthangal]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Muhoorthangal]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Thampu]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Thampu]]'' (1978)
Line 152: Line 160:
* ''[[Panchagni]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Panchagni]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Oridathu]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Oridathu]]'' (1987)
* ''Marattam'' (1988)  
* ''Marattam'' (1988)
* ''[[Unni (1989 film)|Unni]]'' (1989)
* ''Antim Nyay'' (1993)
* ''Antim Nyay'' (1993)
* ''[[Sargam (1992 film)|Sargam]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Sargam (1992 film)|Sargam]]'' (1992)
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Shaji N. Karun}}
{{Commons category|Shaji N. Karun}}
[https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/allegations-of-harassment-misogyny-pile-up-against-ksfdc-chairman-shaji-n-karun]
* {{IMDb name|id=0440267|name=Shaji N. Karun}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0440267|name=Shaji N. Karun}}
* Harassment of women filmmakers and female colleagues https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/allegations-of-harassment-misogyny-pile-up-against-ksfdc-chairman-shaji-n-karun
* [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/shaji-n-karun-is-pukasa-president/article24672501.ece Shaji N. Karun is Pukasa president]     
* [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/shaji-n-karun-is-pukasa-president/article24672501.ece Shaji N. Karun is Pukasa president]     
* https://www.news9live.com/art-culture/cinema/news9-exclusive-filmmaker-shaji-n-karun-announces-biopic-on-amrita-sher-gil-170310?infinitescroll=1
* https://www.news9live.com/art-culture/cinema/news9-exclusive-filmmaker-shaji-n-karun-announces-biopic-on-amrita-sher-gil-170310?infinitescroll=1
Line 167: Line 178:
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Shaji N. Karun}}
{{Shaji N. Karun}}
{{National Film Award Best Feature Film|state=collapsed}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestDirection}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestDirection}}
{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}
{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Karun, Shaji N.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karun, Shaji N.}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam film directors]]
[[Category:Malayalam film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Kerala Film Critics Association Awards winners]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]
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[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Artists from Kollam]]
[[Category:Artists from Kollam]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:Malayalam film producers]]
[[Category:Malayalam film producers]]
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[[Category:Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award]]
[[Category:Best Feature Film National Film Award winners]]

Latest revision as of 00:37, 24 March 2026


Shaji N. Karun
Born
Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran

(1952-01-01)1 January 1952
Kollam, Travancore–Cochin, India
Died28 April 2025(2025-04-28) (aged 73)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
OccupationFilm director, cinematographer
Years active1974–2025
Spouse(s)Anasuya Devaki Warrier
ChildrenAnil Shaji[1]
Appu Shaji[2]
Parents
  • N. Karunakaran (father)
  • Chandramati (mother)
Awards1989, Special Mention, Caméra d'Or, Cannes Film Festival (Piravi), FIRST Charlie Chaplin Award 1989 (Piravi) on Sir Chaplin's 100th birth day, Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence (Cinematography), Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres from Govt of FRANCE, Padmashree by Govt of India 2011[3]
Websitewww.shajinkarun.com

Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran (1 January 1952 – 28 April 2025), better known as Shaji N. Karun, was an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film Piravi (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the inaugural chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the executive chairman of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) from 1998 to 2001. He is best known for his award-winning films Piravi (1988), Swaham (1994), Vanaprastham (1999) and Kutty Srank (2009). He won the National Award for Best Director for his debut film Piravi. He also won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Director for his films Swaham and Vanaprastham. He was the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation from 2019 to 2025 until his death.

Early life and career[edit | edit source]

Shaji N. Karun was born on New Year's Day, 1952, as the eldest son of N. Karunakaran and Chandramati in present-day Kollam district in the former state of Travancore state (now Kerala), India. The family moved to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state, in 1963. He did his schooling in Palkulangara High School and took a bachelor's degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1971 he entered the Film and Television Institute of India, where he took his diploma in cinematography. His diploma film Genesis (1974), directed by Rahul Dasgupta, got many awards and started his career. He won the gold medal on graduation in 1974. After graduation, he worked in ISRO Ahmedabad, Mumbai TV, Madras Film Industry on contract basis until 1975 when Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) was about to emerge. He became responsible with founder Chairman P R S Pillai, and its then Managing Director G.Vivekanandan for the planning, designing future visions of KSFDC to bring back the Film Industry that was until then rooted in Madras. His role with the participation in meaningful cinema activities through the contribution of KSFDC and well-known giants in Malayalam filmmakers resulted in many landmark achievements to the Malayalam Cinema nationally and internationally.

In 1998, he started and presided over the first film academy in India as Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under Government of Kerala and leadership of then Cultural Minister Marxist Late Shri T K Ramakrishnan. It was in the same year he started the International Film Festival (IFFK) as competitive that further FIAPF recognized the festival as internationally competitive under his tenure. He has presented three films: Piravi, Swaham, Vanaprastham consecutively to Cannes official sections, a rare achievement for any filmmakers worldwide, where the film Swaham was in the competition of Cannes in 1994. Thereafter, after 30 years, in 2024, the film by Ms Payal Kapadia from INDIA was selected to compete for Cannes's Palme d'Or. He was the only Malayalam filmmaker who achieved three national best films (Piravi, Vanaprastham, Kuttysrank) for the Malayalam language. He was conferred the J.C. Daniel Award 2023 for his lifetime achievement in a film career, the most prestigious award in cinema from the Government of Kerala.

Film direction[edit | edit source]

Shaji N. Karun giving a lecture at Saarang 2011, IIT Madras
Shaji N. Karun giving a lecture at Saarang 2011, IIT Madras

Shaji made his directorial debut with the Malayalam film Piravi ("The Birth", 1988), which won him the prestigious Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. While Piravi was about the grief of a father who loses his son, Shaji's second film, Swaham (1994) continued with the theme of grief. Swaham was selected to compete at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.[4] Vanaprastham ("The Final Dance", 1999) dealt with the identity crisis faced by an actor. Mohanlal played the lead role in this film. He directed the film Nishad, made in Hindi, which was completed in May 2002, and premiered in the Fukuoka International Film Festival held in September 2002 in Japan. His latest film is titled Kutty Srank with Mammootty playing the lead role.[5] The film was released theatrically in Kerala in July 2010. Swapaanam with Jayaram and Kadambari has premiered at Dubai International Film Festival on 8 December 2013, a rare recognition for Malayalam Cinema as the World premiere screening outside India. Olu, his latest film, under 'fantasy perception' and narrative, had chosen the inaugural film of Indian Panorama film selections presented in International Film Festival of India Goa-2018. OLU has also been chosen as the "OPENING FILMS" of TWO major International film festivals- International film festival of INNSBRUCK 2019, AUSTRIA, ISOLA Cinema International film festival 2019, SLOVENIA. Olu also won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography (2018) award in the 66th National Film Awards.

He also made around a dozen short films and documentaries. Besides making films, Shaji Karun has been active as a juror at many international film festivals and an active participant in governmental and academic arenas. He was the inaugural Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the Executive Chairman of International Film Festival of Kerala from 1998 to 2001.

Further projects[edit | edit source]

As of January 2018, Shaji was completing the post-production of a new movie titled Olu with Shane Nigam and Esther Anil playing the lead roles.[6][non-primary source needed] In an interview not long before his death, Shaji revealed that Olu is the tale of a girl who gets gang-raped and sank to the bottom of the backwaters where she can mysteriously survive and live for the next nine months – until she delivers her 'baby from rape'. The film attempts to convey her perception of innocent feminine desires – spiritual and transcendental feelings."[7]

His project Gaadha was announced in September 2012, though was expected to commence shooting by November 2014, it has been postponed until further notice. Music was to be composed by the Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner.

In May 2022 Shaji N. Karun announced his next project based on the life of Amrita Sher-Gil, pioneer of Indian modern art. In an interview with Jisha Surya of News9Live the cinematographer-director said that the multilingual movie would be based on the biographical writings of Sher-Gil. Conceived as an Indo-French-US collaborative project, the movie would have international actors and technicians. Karun approached a Mexican actor to play the lead role of the Hungarian-Indian painter.

Personal life and death[edit | edit source]

Shaji married Anasuya Warrier, daughter of P. K. R. Warrier, who was his neighbor in Trivandrum for quite some time, on 1 January 1975. After a brief stint in the south Indian city of Madras, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram in 1976 where he got an appointment as film officer in the newly formed state Film Development Corporation. They have 2 sons, Anil and Appu. His association with the legendary Malayalam filmmaker G. Aravindan began at this time. Then he continued working with notable directors like G. Aravindan, K. G. George and M. T. Vasudevan Nair as a cinematographer.[8][9] His career also spread to many activities by the Government of India and Kerala where he served in the capacities of advisory status on policy decisions. The 20th International film festival of Kerala conducted by the government of Kerala, on 4–11 December 2015 under his advisory capacity was marked by the Press and film lovers as the best of the festivals held so far. In August 2018, he was selected for the position of 8th President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Arts & Literary Organization) an Association for Art and Letters. On 31 May 2019, the government of Kerala appointed him as the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation. He assumed the position on 17 June 2019 and held it until his death in April 2025.

Karun died at his home in Thiruvananthapuram on 28 April 2025, at the age of 73.[10]

Awards and milestones[edit | edit source]

National and international honors[edit | edit source]

  • J. C. Daniel Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Government of Kerala 2024
  • Life Time Achievement Aawrd- 10th International Youth Film Festival Colombo by Government of Sri Lanka-2024
  • Life Time Achievement Award- 12th Jaipur International Film Festival INDIA-2020
  • Life Time Achievement- Tyrol : IFFI Prize (2014) Innsbruck Film Festival, AUSTRIA
  • Padma Shri in 2011 INDIA[11]
  • Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1999) FRANCE
  • The first Sir Charles Chaplin Award to commemorate the centenary of Chaplin's birth (1989) Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK

As a cinematographer[edit | edit source]

As a director[edit | edit source]

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Filmfare Awards Souths:

Filmography as director[edit | edit source]

Documentaries[edit | edit source]

Short films[edit | edit source]

  • Wild Life of Kerala (1979)
  • Kerala Carnival (1980)
  • Kannikal (1986)
  • Sham's Vision (1996)
  • Bhavam (1998)
  • G. Aravindan (2000)
  • Big Man & Small World (2002)
  • Yathrakkidayil (2004)
  • Moving Focus-A Voyage with K G Subramanyan (2006)
  • AKG (2007)
  • "Fine Balance" (2010)
  • "Waiting" (2011)
  • Signature film- INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (2012)
  • "Artist Namboodiri-'NERUVARA'/'trueline' " (2015)

As a cinematographer[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Anil Shaji". faculty.iisertvm.ac.in. Kerala, India: IISER Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Appu Shaji - Google Scholar Citations". scholar.google.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Festival de Cannes: Swaham". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Indian Entertainment News, Movie News, Movie Features – Bollywood – Tamil – Telugu – Malayalam – Kannada Movies". Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "AVA Productions". facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Pickle". picklemag.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Thampu". IMDb.
  9. ↑ "Panchavadi Palam". IMDb.
  10. ↑ "Shaji N Karun: A filmmaker's hat-trick tryst with Cannes". Shaji N Karun: A filmmaker's hat-trick tryst with Cannes. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Piravi". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Vanaprastham". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 26 December 2010.

External links[edit | edit source]

[1]

Template:Kerala State Film Award Best Cinematography

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