Website www.shajikarun.com

Name SHAJI N.KARUN

Expanded Name Shaji Narayanan Karun

Profession Film Maker

Decoration Chevalier dans I'Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the Ministry of Culture, Government of France

‘Prathibha Pranam’ from Govt of Kerala

Filmography

CINEMATOGRAPHER

Worked as Director of Photography for more than 40 Feature Films and 12 Documentaries. It includes the films directed by Shri.G Aravindan , M.T. Vasudevan Nair and others

Recognition

Best Cinematographer.

The Award from the President of India (National Award)

Films- Thampu 1979

The Awards from Government of Kerala (State Award)

Films- Kanchana sita 1977

 Estappan 1981 Onnumuthal Poojyam Vare 1986 

Number of other awards from different organizations like Kerala Film Chamber, Kerala Film Critic Association, Cultural organizations and Film Societies, more than 14 Awards

THE DIRECTOR

Documentary Film

Genesis 1974 Wild life of Kerala 1979 Kerala Carnival 1980 Kannikal 1986 Shams’ Vision 1996 Bhavam 1998 G. Aravindan 1999 Colours of India 2002 ( Under production)

Recognition SHAMS’VISION Best Non Feature Award from the President of India 1996 Best Film from The 2nd International Film Festival for Craft and Arts, Belgium 2000 Feature Film

Piravi (Birth) 1988 Swaham (My Own) 1994 Vanaprastham 1999 Nishad 2002 The Sea 2003(support from PPP & Cinemart with French co production) Mohanjadaro 2006(A film under proposal, A Swiss, Brtish, Indian Production planned at a budget of 70 Crores ($20 Million)

Recognition

PIRAVI

The film has so far participated in more than fifty International Film festivals and bagged more than 25 Awards all over the world. Some important Awards are given below:

1 Sir Charlie Chaplin Award (The inaugural one).

2. Eastman Kodak Award for the Excellence - Cinematographer turning Director. The Achievement as a Cinematographer. The First major International recognition to an Indian Cinematographer. -- Hawaii International Film Festival.

3. Special Mention, Camera D’or Cannes 1989.

4. Grand Jury Prize (Silver Leopard) – Locarno Film Festival.

5. Best Films from a) India b) Fajar, Iran c) Fribourg Switzerland d) Hawaii USA etc.

6. Out standing Film -- London film festival.

7. Silver Hugo- Chicago, second Best Film- Bergamo Italy, Ecumenical Award Switzerland etc.

8. A number of other Awards from Italy, USA, India, Kerala State, Critics etc. Assembling more than 25 Awards

SWAHAM

1. An Entry of Cannes ‘94 in Competition.

2. Best Film from Innsbruck Film Festival Austria.

3. Second Best Film Bergamo Italy.

4. Outstanding Film Hongkong Intl. Film Festival.

5. Best Director, Kerala State Film Award.

6. Best Direction, Jury Award, President of India.

7. A number of other Awards instituted by Government of Kerala, the Cultural, Associations and News Journals, Dailies etc.

Assembling more than 15 Awards in different Category like Direction, Photography, Sound, Acting etc.

VANAPRASTHAM

Produced by Mr. Pierre Assouline & Mr. Mohan Lal Music by Zakir Hussain. Performers: Mohan Lal, Suhasini

1. An official Entry at Cannes International Film Festival 1999 (Un Certain Regard)

2. Selected already for more than 30 International Film Festival, Munich, London, Hawaii, Crotia, Tapai, Pusan, Wales, American Film Institute, Flanders etc.

3. This is the first Indo French Production from South India

4. The film was released all over Europe in more than One hundred regular theatres. An achievement in the history of Indian language Cinema.

5. The Best Feature Film 1999 (Gold Medal from The President of India)

6. Best Actor- National Film Festival of India (Mr. Mohan Lal)

7. Best Editor- National Film Festival of India (Mr. Sreekar Prasad)

8. Best Film- Kerala Film Critic

9. Best Actor- Kerala Film Critic

10. Best Sound Recording- Kerala Film Critic

11. Best Director -Kerala Film Critic

12. Best Director- Kerala State Film Award 99

13. Best Actor- Kerala State Film Award 99

14. Best Sound Recording, Best Make up, Best Costume, Best Editing, Best Cinematography - Kerala State Film Award 99

16. Special Jury Prize – 19th Istanbul International Film Festival 2000

17. FIPRESCI Award for Best Film at 3rd Mumbai International Film Festival

NISHAD

Completed in May 2002. The film was selected to various International Film Festivals like Hawaii, Pusan, New Delhi, Innsbruck, Bangladesh, Mumbai, Sans Francisco, Fribourg, Istanbul etc.

PERSONAL DATA

1. Active Supporter of Parallel film Movement in India.

2. Worked as Manager to the Film Studios under Kerala State Film Development Corporation.

3. Juror to the National Film Festival of India –1988, 1990.

4. International Juror to film festivals such as Milan, Istanbul, North Korea, Fribourgh, Yamagata, Hungry Switzerland, Austria.

5.Advisory member Directorate of Film Festivals India 1989- 1992.

6. Vice Chairman General Council Film and Television Institute of India, Poona.

7. Governing Council Member of Film and television Institute of India Poona 1989- 1992, 1995 –98.

8. Technical Committee and Academic Committee member, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Calcutta.

9. Former Vice Chairman, Kerala lalitha kala Academy.

10. Censor Board Member, Kerala 1990- 1993.

11. Advisory member, International Film Festival of Kerala 1998.

12. Council Member. National Center of Films for Young Persons and Children, Bombay.

13. Advisory member -Bombay International Documentary and short Film Festival 1998.

14. Represented India for many International Film Conferences. East Europe, USA, UK, Europe, East Asia etc.

15. Visiting Professor to Film Institutes of India.

16. Consultant to the Museum of Man, Bhopal Human resources Ministry Government of India.

17. Honorary member (Film studies), East West Center. Hawaii.

18. Governing Council Members, Institute of Journalism by Trivandrum Press Club.

19. C- Dit Academy Council Member for the Post Graduate Course on Science & Development Communication.

20. Governing Body &Executive Board Member South Zone cultural Center. (Govt. of India’ International Cultural Relations).

21. The Premier Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for Film and TV in India under the state Government of Kerala (1998-2001).

22. Chairman- Non Feature Film Jury for the National Film Award 1998.

23. Jury Chairman: Panorama Section for International Film Festival of India 2001

24. The First Filmmaker from India who represented to Cannes International Film Festival with all the films directed- Vanaprastham is the third film and also the third to be selected at Cannes. An honor bestowed on only a handful director in the world.

25. Recipient of the ‘Prathibha Pranamam ’ in the year 2000 (civilian award instituted by the Government of Kerala to the 100 most prominent citizens of Kerala in their respective fields)

26. The Executive Director of the International Film Festival of Kerala 1998-2001

27. Awarded the prestigious decoration Chevalier dans I'Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 2000 by the Ministry of Culture, Government of France.

28. Chairman of the Jury for the Indian Panorama Feature film selection constituted by Government of India for The international film festival of India 2004.