K. S. Sethumadhavan

Life and career

K. S. Sethumadhavan was born to Subrahmanyam and Lakshmiyamma at Palghat, Madras Presidency, British India on 15 May 1931. He had three sisters and one brother. His childhood was spent in Palakkad and in North Arcot, Tamil Nadu. He completed his degree in biology from Government Victoria College, Palakkad. He debuted in the film industry as the assistant director to K. Ramnath. He later assisted directors L. V. Prasad, A. S. A. Swamy, Sunder Rao Nadkarni.

He debuted as an independent film director with Veeravijaya, a Sinhalese film in 1960. His first Malayalam film was Gnana Sundari, produced by T. E. Vasudevan under the banner of Associates Pictures based on a short story by Muttathu Varkey. He then went on to direct over 60 films including noted films Odayil Ninnu, Daaham, Sthanarthi Saramma, Koottukudumbam, Vazhve Mayam, Ara Nazhika Neram, Anubhavangal Palichakal, Karakanakkadal, Achanum Bappayum, Punarjanmam, Chattakkari, Oppol, Marupakkam, Kannada Movie Manini.

His film Achanum Bappayum won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, a part of National Film Awards, in 1973. His Tamil film Marupakkam won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1991. Thus it became the first Tamil film to win the award, the feat was repeated by Kanchivaram in 2007.

In 1996, his Telugu film Stri won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director 4 times: for films Ara Nazhika Neram (1970), Karakanakkadal (1971), Pani Theeratha Veedu (1972) and Oppol (1980). He was the jury member for the National Film Awards in 1975 and 1980. In 1982, he was the chairman of the jury for the Kerala State Film Awards. He was the chairman of the National Film Awards jury in 2002, and was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award for the year 2009, honouring his achievements and contribution to Malayalam Cinema. In 2011, he was honoured with the Chalachitra Ratnam Award by the Kerala Film Critics Association.

His son Santosh Sethumadhavan is also a filmmaker who remade the 1974 cult classic Chattakkari in 2012 but failed to create any impact, owing to the remake being overshadowed by the original film.

Sethumadhavan died at his home in Chennai on 24 December 2021, at the age of 90.

Awards

; Filmfare Awards South

• 1972 – Filmfare Award for Best Director - Malayalam : Punarjanmam
• 1973 – Filmfare Best Director Award (Malayalam) : Pani Theeratha Veedu
• 1974 – Filmfare Best Director Award (Malayalam) : Chattakari
• 1980 – Filmfare Best Director Award (Malayalam) : Oppol

; Kerala State Film Awards

• 1970 – Best Director : Aranazhika Neram
• 1971 – Best Director : Karakanakadal
• 1971 – Third Best Film: Karakanakadal
• 1972 – Best Director : Panitheeratha Veedu
• 1972 – Best Film: Pani Theeratha Veedu
• 1974 – Second Best Film: Chattakari
• 1980 – Best Director : Oppol
• 1980 – Best Film: Oppol
• 2009 – J. C. Daniel Award

; Nandi Awards

• 1995 – Nandi Special Jury Award for Stri

; National Film Awards

• 1965 – Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Odayil Ninnu
• 1969 – Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Adimakal
• 1971 – Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Karakanakadal
• 1972 – Best Film on National Integration for Achanum Bappayum
• 1972 – Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Panitheeratha Veedu
• 1980 – Second Best Feature Film for Oppol
• 1990 – Best Feature Film for Marupakkam
• 1990 – Best Screenplay for Marupakkam
• 1994 – Best Feature Film in Tamil for Nammavar
• 1995 – Best Feature Film in Telugu for Stri

Selected filmography

• Jnana Sundari (1961)
• Kannum Karalum (1962)
• Susheela (1963)
• Nithya Kanyaka (1963)
• Omanakuttan (1964)
• Manavatty (1964)
• Anna (1964)
• Odeyil Ninnu (1965)
• Daaham (1965)
• Sthanarthy Saramma (1966)
• Rowdy (1966)
• Archana (1966)
• Ollathu Mathi (1967)
• Naadan Pennu (1967)
• Kottayam Kolacase (1967)
• Yakshi (1968)
• Thokkukal Katha Parayunnu (1968)
• Paal Manam (1968) - Tamil
• Bharyamar Sookshikkuka (1968)
• Kootu Kudumbam (1969)
• Kadalpalam (1969)
• Adimakal (1969)
• Kalyaana Oorvalam (1970) - Tamil
• Vazhve Mayam (1970)
• Mindapennu (1970)
• Kuttavali (1970)
• Kalpana (1970)
• Ara Nazhika Neram (1970)
• Amma Enna Stree (1970)
• Thettu (1971)
• Oru Penninte Katha (1971)
• Line Bus (1971)
• Karakanakadal (1971)
• Inqulab Zindabbad (1971)
• Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971)
• Punarjanmam (1972)
• Devi (1972)
• Aadhyathe Katha (1972)
• Achanum Bappayum (1972)
• Panitheeratha Veedu (1973)
• Kaliyugam (1973)
• Chukku (1973)
• Azhakulla Saleena (1973)
• Kanyakumari (1974)
• Jeevikkan Marannu Poya Sthree (1974)
• Chattakari (1974)
• Naalai Namadhe (1975) - Tamil
• Makkal (1975)
• Chuvanna Sandhyakal (1975)
• Julie (1975) - Hindi
• Priyamvada (1976)
• Ormakal Marikkumo (1977)
• Amme Anupame (1977)
• Yehi Hai Zindagi (1977) - Hindi
• Nakshathrangale Kaaval (1978)
• Manini (1979) - Kannada
• Oppol (1980)
• Nijangal (1982) - Tamil
• Ariyatha Veethikal (1984)
• Aarorumariyathe (1984)
• Avidathepole Ivideyum (1985)
• Sunil Vayassu 20 (1986)
• Venal Kinavukal (1991)
• Marupakkam (1991) - Tamil
• Nammavar (1994) - Tamil
• Stri (1995) - Telugu

References

• 'Cinema of Malayalam' profile

References

1. Venkiteswaran, C.S. (2022-01-07). "Tribute: The departure of director K.S. Sethumadhavan marks the end of a glorious era in South Indian cinema". The Hindu.
2. Rediff – [http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/may/29kss.htm Interview]
3. (8 Sep 2021). "Legend of Honour award for director Sethumadhavan Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
4. Venkiteswaran, C.S. (2010-06-18). "Auteur par excellence". The Hindu.
5. (13 May 2010). "J.C. Daniel Award for Sethumadhavan". The Hindu.
6. Weblokam – [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0212/29/1021229043_1.htm Profile] {{webarchive. link. (21 November 2007)
7. Baskaran, Sundararaj Theodore. (2013). "The Eye of the Serpent: An Introduction To Tamil Cinema". Westland.
8. "പ്രശസ്ത ചലച്ചിത്ര സംവിധായകൻ കെ.എസ്.സേതുമാധവന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". Malayala Manorama.
9. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)". [[Andhra Pradesh (magazine).