Shaji N. Karun, the visionary Indian director and cinematographer who redefined Malayalam-language cinema with his meditative visual language and emotionally resonant storytelling, died April 28 at his home in Thiruvananthapuram after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 73.
Karun’s early exposure to classical arts and literature laid the foundation for his cinematic journey. After earning a gold medal in cinematography from the Film and Television Institute of India in 1975, he began his career behind the camera, collaborating with auteurs like G. Aravindan and K.G. George on films like “Thampu,” “Esthappan” and “Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback.”
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Karun’s feature directorial debut, “Piravi” (1988), a poignant tale of a father’s search for his missing son during India’s Emergency period, garnered international acclaim. The film received the Caméra d’Or – special mention at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and won India’s National Film Award for best director. His subsequent films, “Swaham” (1994) and “Vanaprastham” (1999), further solidified his reputation, with “Swaham” being the last film selected for competition at Cannes until Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” in 2024.
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Beyond filmmaking, Karun played a pivotal role in shaping Kerala’s film culture. As the founding chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, he was instrumental in establishing the International Film Festival of Kerala, elevating it to international prominence. He also served as the chair of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, advocating for independent and regional cinema.
Karun’s contributions were recognized with numerous accolades, including Indian honor Padma Shri in 2011 and the Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government in 1999. His films, deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural ethos yet universally resonant, remain timeless explorations of human resilience and longing.
