John Abraham (1937-1987), born in Kuttanad, Kerala, was more famous for his style of living and way of thinking than for his films. He attained a mythical status, living a nomadic kind of life. He rebelled all the established ways of life as well as art.
John studied film direction at Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and he was the most loved 'sishyan' of master film maker Ritwik Ghatak. He assisted Mani Kaul in 'Uski Roti' before moving to Madras and making his first feature film 'Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile'. His second film, 'Agraharathil Kazhuthai' was in Tamil. His third film 'Cheriyachente Kroora Krithyangal' bagged the Kerala State film award for the best feature film. Later, he took the initiative to constitute 'Odessa', a group for good cinema. It was Odessa, with the involvement of common people, that produced John's last film 'Amma Ariyan.
John Abraham died at Kozhikode in a tragic accident on 31 May, 1987.
John receives the Kerala State award for his film 'Cheriyachante Kroora Kruthyangal' from the then Chief Minister E K Nayanar.
FILMOGRAPHY
Koyna Nagar (1967)In English
Priya (1969)John's Diploma film at FTII, Pune, in Hindi.
Hides and Strings (1969)In English
Vidhyarthigale Ithile Ithile (1971)Malayalam film.
Screenplay: M Azad
Cast: Adoor Bhasi, Manorama, S V Ranga Rao, Jayabharati, S P Pillai
Cinematography: Ramachandra
Music: M B Srinivasan
Thrisandhya (1972)In Hindi
Agraharathil Kazhuthai (1978)Direction & Co-Screenplay: John Abraham
Co-Screenplay: Venkat Swaminathan
Cast: M B Srinivasan, Swathi, Savitri, Raman Veeraraghavan
Cinematography: Ramachandra
Editing: Ravi
Music: M B Srinivasan
Cheriyachante Kroora Krithyangal (1979)Direction & Screenplay: John Abraham
Cast: Adoor Bhsdi, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Poornima Jayaram, Abraham Joseph, Venu
Cinematography: Madhu Ambat
Music: Johnson
Amma Ariyan (1986)Direction & Screenplay: John Abraham
Cast: Joy Mathew, Maji Venkitesh, Nilambur Balan, Harinarayan
Cinematography: Venu
Editing: Beena
Music: Sunitha
Produced by Odessa Collective
BOOKS BY JOHNNerchakkozhi (1986)
John Abraham Kathakal (1993)
BOOK ON JOHNJohn Abraham- Editor: K N Shaji (1993)
(courtesy: imdb.com, cinemaofmalayalam.net)
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GREEN
