Dr. Biju
Dr. Biju | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Biju at shooting location | |
| Alma mater | N. S. S. College, Pandalam |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, doctor. |
| Years active | 2005–present. |
| Website | www |
Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He received India's National Film Awards three times. Dr. Biju is considered one of the most important contemporary voices in Indian cinema. He is one of the rare filmmaker in India who is always raising his voice openly for social justice, Gender equality, Environmental problems, Caste discrimination, about marginalized people issues etc. His films are always addressing these issues. He is best known for films such as Saira (2005), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2015)Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (2016), Sound Of Silence (2017) and Painting Life (2018). His films screened at many international film festivals including Cannes Film Festival, Montreal Film festival, Shanghai Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Cairo Film Festival, Eurasia International Film Festival, Jeonju Film Festival, Fajr Film Festival Tehran, Tallinn Black nights Film Festival, International Film Festival of India etc. He also worked as jury member for many international film festivals across the world.
Career
Dr.Biju was born at Kudassanad a small village in Kerala, India on May 31st, 1971. He graduated in Homeopathic Medicine and joined in Government Medical service in 2004. He was fascinated with cinema by seeing world classics films at Kerala International Film Festivals during his college time. He then turned as a self-taught filmmaker and made his first feature film in 2005. Biju debuted into films as writer and director with Saira (2005). It was first part of terrorism trilogy and in 2007 premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival in the section Cinema of the world .[1][2] His second film Raman (2008) was selected at Cairo International Film Festival (2009) in the Incredible India category. Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home; 2010) was the last film of the trilogy and earned a National Film Award for best Malayalam film in 2010.[3]
His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section.[4] Biju's next film, Perariyathavar (Names Unknown, 2014) received two National Film Award in 2014 for the Best Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu and Best film on Environment conservation, and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival (2014).[5]. The film won the best actor award for Master Govardhan at Fajr International Film Festival Tehran Iran 2015 and best cinematography at Kazan international film festival Russia 2015.
In 2015, he directed Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings; 2015) which was premiered at United Nations, Geneva as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme,[6] and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation.[7]
His 2016 film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) was premiered at the Eurasia International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Montreal World Film Festival, in 2016.[8]. The film got National Film Award for Best Sound Design 2017 to Jayadevan Chakkadath.
His eighth film Sound of Silence [9] is his first Non- Malayalam language film. The film is in Pahari, Tibetan and Hindi Language. The film premiered at Eurasia International Film Festival 2017, Kazakhstan in the main competition section. The film got best director award at Kolkata International Film Festival 2017 and later got a number of international awards.
His next film Painting Life is his first feature film in the English Language. The film premiered at Almaty International film festival and screened at many film festivals across the world. Painting Life won the Critics award at 39th Fantasporto International Film Festival, Portugal 2019 .
Biju has served as jury member of the International Film Festival of Kerala (2011), Fajr International Film Festival (2012), India's National Film Awards (2013), 2015 Oscar selection jury member for best foreign language film from India.[10] Pune international Film Festival (2018) and Rostov International film festival, Russia 2018.
Filmography
| Year | Language | Original title | English title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Malayalam | Saira | Saira |
| 2008 | Malayalam | Raman | Travelogue of Invasion |
| 2010 | Malayalam | Veettilekkulla Vazhi | The Way Home |
| 2012 | Malayalam | Akasathinte Niram | Color of Sky |
| 2013 | Malayalam | Perariyathavar | Names Unknown |
| 2015 | Malayalam | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal | Birds With Large Wings |
| 2016 | Malayalam | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram | When The Woods Bloom |
| 2017 | Hindi, Tibetan | Sound of Silence | Sound of Silence |
| 2018 | English, Lepcha | Painting Life | Painting Life |
| 2019 | Malayalam (On Pre Production) | Veyilmarangal | Trees Under The Sun |
Recognitions
International Awards as Writer-Director
| Festival | Year | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14TH Zanzibar International film festival, Tanzania | 2011 | Special jury Award for Directtion | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 15th International film festival of Kerala | 2010 | NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Best Director | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Best Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| New York Indian film festival | 2013 | Best Screenplay (Dr.Biju) | Akasathinte Niram |
| Jaipur International film festival | 2015 | Best Film on Global Message (Dr.Biju) | Perariyathavar |
| Jakkarta World Humanitarian award | 2015 | Humanity of film making (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Film | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Direction (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Screenplay (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Bangalore International Film Festival | 2017 | Special Jury Award for Best Indian Cinema | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram |
| 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Direction (Dr Biju), Indian language films competition | Sound of Silence (2017 film) |
| Indian Film Festival Of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA | 2018 | Best Film, Official competition | Sound of Silence (2017 film) |
| Aurangabad International Film Festival, India | 2019 | Best Screenplay (Dr.Biju), Official competition | Painting Life |
| 39th Oporto International Film Festival, Portugal | 2019 | Critics Award (Premios Da Critica) for the best film , Official competition section | Painting Life |
National Films Awards
| Year | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best Malayalam Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 2013 | Best Film on Environment Conservation | Perariyathavar |
| 2013 | Best Actor For Suraj Venjaramoodu | Perariyathavar |
| 2015 | Best Film on Environment Conservation | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| 2016 | Best Sound Designer For Jayadevan Chakkadath | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram |
Indian Panorama Selections
| Year | Film | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Saira | |
| 2012 | Akasathinte Niram | |
| 2015 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal | Nominated for UNESCO Competition |
| 2016 | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram |
Kerala State Film Awards
| Year | Award | Film/Article |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kerala State Film Award for Best Article on Cinema (Dr.Biju) | Kollaruthu Samvidhayakare |
| 2011 | Kerala State Film Award for Special Jury Award for Direction | Akasathinte Niram |
References
- ^ K, Bhumika (8 January 2015). "I make films for myself". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Meenakshi Shedde (16 February 2016). "Bollywood and the minority question". Forbes India Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Meghna George (19 August 2011). "'Veettilekkulla Vazhi is at par with world cinema'". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Vijay G (20 July 2012). "The only Indian film at Shanghai film festival". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "'Perariyathavar' an art film on garbage dumping". News18. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Deepika Jayaram (12 November 2015). "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal screened at Geneva - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "63rd National Film Awards: Top acting honours for Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut". The Indian Express. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ James, Anu (8 November 2016). "Watch Kaadu Pookkunna Neram trailer featuring Indrajith Sukumaran, Rima Kallingal". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "'Dr Biju announces Sound of silence in Tibetan and Hindi'". India: Sify. 6 September 2016.
- ^ "New York Indian Film Festival 2013". www.iaac.us. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 21st-century Indian film directors
- Indian homeopaths
- Indian male screenwriters
- Living people
- Malayalam film directors
- Malayalam screenwriters
- Film directors from Kerala
- Screenwriters from Kerala
- 21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Indian male writers
- Directors who won the Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation National Film Award