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Kunnath Gopinathan is an Indian film maker and film critic from Trichur. K Gopinathan started working as a Writer while being a student at JNU during the late eighties. His documentaries include "Mundassery: Kalaghattathinte Muzhakkam", "Swaathanthrya Sangeethika -Freedom Songs", "Maythil – 2010 docu-fiction on writer Maythil Radhakrishnan. His feature films include Ithramaathram, an adaptation of the novel by same name by Kalpetta Narayanan. His films have been screened and awarded at several national and international film festivals.
Life
During graduation studies in Sree Kerala Varma college, Thrissur and after he was actively involved in student politics, left political movement, film society movement, new literary and theatre movements. Close friendship and associations during this period with directors such as Pavithran, Chintha Ravi, John Abraham; film and theatre activists such as Suresh Pattali and Jose chiramal and participation in theatre and Film appreciation courses in school of drama and Film and Television Institute of India respectively consolidated his interest in arts and literature, especially in the medium of cinema. This later took him to writing on cinema and cultural issues in general which in turn helped him to venture into documentary productions and first feature film in 2012. As a professor in philosophy, his interest in film studies and film making naturally got reflected in designing interdisciplinary courses in film and philosophy in University of Calicut in the beginning of the new millennium, which was a pioneering effort in the Indian academic domain.
Academic Background
Ph.D., M.A. in philosophy, M.A. from University of Calicut, Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Filmography
Documentaries
- 1997 Mundassery: Kalaghattathinte Muzhakkam
- 1999 Swaathanthrya Sangeethika (Freedom Songs — Three musical episodes)
- 2010 Maythil — docu-fiction on writer Maythil Radhakrishnan
Feature film
- 2012 Ithramathram (2012 film) (adaptation of the novel by same name by Kalpetta Narayanan)
- 2017 Samarpanam
As Writer
- 1996 Book on Feminist Soundarya Sasthram (Feminist Aesthetics) Trans: with Dr. Janaky, Published by Book Worm
- 1998 EMS: Vaakkum Samoohavum (ed.) (EMS: Word & Society) Current Books, Thrissur
- 2003 Film & Philosophy (Edited- English) Published by University of Calicut
- 2005 Cinemayum Samskaravum (film & Culture) Current Books, Thrissur
- 2005 Tarkovsky: Uravidangalilekku Veendum (Tarkovsky: To the Sources Again) Sign Books, Trivandrum
- 2008 Pratheekangal Parayunnathu (What Images Speak) Poorna Publication, Calicut
- 2012 Cinemayude Nottangal (Looks of Cinema) Mathrubhumi Books, Calicut
- Apart from these books, several articles on film and culture have appeared in many anthologies and journals in English and Malayalam
Awards
- Kerala State Government Award for Best Book on Cinema 2005 for the book Cinemayum Samskaravum (Film & Culture)
- All Kerala film Critics Association Award for best book on Cinema 2005 for the book Cinemayum Samskaravum (film & Culture)
- International Film Critics Federation FIPRESCI Award for the best Malayalam film, ITHRAMATHRAM (2012 (17th IFFK) and Entry in Indian Panorama International Film Festival of India 2012
- The biographical documentary Maythil was an official entry to the competition section International Film Festival for Documentary & Short (IFFDSK) 2010
Kerala State Government award for best book on Cinema and All Kerala film critics Association award for best book on cinema 2012 for Cinemayude Nottangal
- Inspire (IFA-2013) award for best debut feature film director 2012
- Mahathma Film Award for best debut director 2012
- Ithramaathram got selected for telecast on Doordarshan National Network under the banner of Best of Indian Cinema.
Ithramaathram Participation Film Festivals
- in Melbourne international film festival Australia
- Competition section for Indian films in 5th Bengaluru international film festival (Biffes)
- Jaipur international film festival, Jaipur, India
Other activities based on film
- Organized Five Day International Seminar on Film & Philosophy in September 2000 in University of Calicut
- 2015 Director 10th edition of international film festival of Thrissur (IFFT)
- 2015 Executive Director 10th ViBGYOR Film Festival
- 2012 Jury member, Kannada films competition section, 7th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2014
- Jury, best writing on television, Kerala state government awards
- Member, Evaluation committee for C-DIT house productions
- Pre-selection jury, ViBGYOR Film Festival