P. N. Menon (director)

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P. Narayankutty Menon
British India
(present day Thrissur, Kerala, India)
Died9 September 2008(2008-09-09) (aged 82)
Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Director
  • Art director
  • Promotional poster designer
Years active1963–2008
SpouseBharathi Menon
RelativesBharathan (nephew)

Palissery Narayanankutty Menon alias P. N. Menon (2 January 1926 – 9 September 2008) was an Indian film director and art director in the Malayalam cinema.[1] He is also famous as the Designer of Promotional Posters. Menon was also the uncle of another popular film director Bharathan, being the younger brother of the latter's father. In 2001, he was honoured with the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Early life

Born in

Nagi Reddy
's son appointed him as a paid apprentice in the painting department.

He got a job as an art director in an English play produced by the daughter of the then

Army Chief Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa. Ninamaninja Kalpadukal was his first movie Malayalam movie as the art director and his debut in the field of film direction in the 60s with the film Rosie (1965).[2]

Career

Menon's

Kuttiyedathi (Eldest Sister), again based on a short story by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
.

Perhaps his most successful commercial film was

Chembarathi (Hibiscus) which was based on a script by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan and starred newcomers like Raghavan, Sudhir and Roja Ramani (Sobhana) along with veteran actors like Madhu and Rani Chandra. Another script of Malayattoor Ramakrishnan named Gayathri which was directed by him was awarded the President's Special Film Award Medal for National Integration. Menon's film Malamukalile Daivam, has won National Award
too.

After a long period of absence lasting more than a decade, he directed a film, Nerkkuneraey ("Face to Face"), in (2004).[3]

Poster Designer

Menon made a name as a versatile Poster Designer as well. He artistic posters always helped the film to gain attention of cinegoers. He has also done posters even for

Bollywood films like Anokha Rishta starring Rajesh Khanna. Some of the Malayalam films he had designed posters are Oomakkuyil, Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal, Itha Innu Muthal, Poomadhathe Pennu, Aavanazhi, Amrutham Gamaya and Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal
.

Personal life

His wife's name was Bharathi Menon and they had two daughters, named Rajasree and Jayasree. Popular film director Bharathan was his nephew, and was trained by him in direction. Bharathan predeceased his uncle.

Death

During his last years, Menon lived with his daughter in

Kochi. He suffered from many serious illnesses like Alzheimer's disease during this period. Finally, he died on 9 September 2008 aged 82, at a private hospital in Kochi.[4][5]
He was cremated with full state honours at Ravipuram Crematorium the next day.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

National Film Awards

Filmography

Year Film Notes
1965 Rosie
1970 Olavum Theeravum
1971 Kuttyedathi
1972 Panimudakku
1972
Chembarathi
1972 Mappusakshi
1973 Gayathri
1973 Darsanam
1973
Mazhakkaaru
1973 Chayam
1975 Odakkuzhal
1977 Taxi Driver
1978 Udayam Kizhakku Thanne
1979 Devathai Tamil film
1981 Archana Teacher
1982 Anu Tamil film
1983 Malamukalile Daivam
1983 Kadamba
1983 Glimpses of Kerala Documentary film
1983 Asthram
1989 Padippura
2004 Nerkku Nere

References

  1. ^ "PN Menon".
  2. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: An interview with Malayalam film director P N Menon".
  3. ^ http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/33382/Veteran-Malayalam-filmmaker-P-N-Menon-dead.html[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "P.N.Menon". Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  5. ^ "PN Menon - Malayalam Filmmaker PN Menon Passes Away". Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
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