Dr. Biju
| Dr. Biju | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Biju at shooting location | |
| Alma mater | N. S. S. College, Pandalam |
| Occupation | Film director, doctor. |
| Years active | 2005–present. |
| Website |
www |
Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian homoeopathic doctor turned film director and screenwriter. He is best known for films such as Saira (2005), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), and Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2016).
Biju has received three National Film Awards, and his films have been screened at several international film festivals.
Career
Biju debuted into films as writer and director with Saira (2005). It was first part of terrorism trilogy and in 2007 premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival.[1][2] His second film Raman (2008) was selected at Cairo International Film Festival (2009) in the Incredible India category. Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home; 2010) was last film of the trilogy and earned a National Film Award for best Malayalam film in 2010.[3]
His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section.[4] Biju's next film, Perariyathavar (Names Unknown, 2014) received two National Film Awards in 2014 for the Best Actor and Best film on Environment conservation, and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival (2014).[5]
In 2015, he directed Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings; 2015) which was premiered at United Nations, Geneva as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme,[6] and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation.[7] His 2016 film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) was premiered at the Eurasia International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Montreal World Film Festival, in 2016.[8]
Biju has served as jury member of the International Film Festival of Kerala (2011), Fajr International Film Festival (2012), National Film Awards (2013), and the 2015 Oscar selection jury member for best foreign language film.[9]
Filmography
| Year | Language | Original title | English title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Malayalam | Saira | Saira |
| 2008 | Malayalam | Raman | Travelogue of Invasion |
| 2010 | Malayalam | Veettilekkulla Vazhi | The Way Home |
| 2012 | Malayalam | Akasathinte Niram | Color of Sky |
| 2013 | Malayalam | Perariyathavar | Names Unknown |
| 2015 | Malayalam | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal | Birds With Large Wings |
| 2016 | Malayalam | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram | When The Woods Bloom |
| 2017 | Hindi, Tibetan | Sound of Silence | Sound of Silence |
| 2018 | English, Lepcha | Painting Life | Painting Life |
| 2019 | Malayalam (On Pre Production) | Veyilmarangal | Trees Under The Sun |
Recognitions
International Awards
| Festival | Year | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14TH Zanzibar International film festival, Tanzania | 2011 | Special jury Award for Directtion | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 15th International film festival of Kerala | 2010 | NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Best Director | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Best Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| New York Indian film festival | 2013 | Best Screenplay (Dr.Biju) | Akasathinte Niram |
| Jakkarta World Humanitarian award | 2015 | Humanity of film making (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Film | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Direction (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Best Screenplay (Dr.Biju) | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
| Bangalore International Film Festival | 2017 | Special Jury Award for Best Indian Cinema | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram |
| 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Direction (Dr Biju), Indian language films competition | Sound of Silence |
| Indian Film Festival Of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA | 2018 | Best Film, Official competition | Sound of Silence |
National Films Awards
| Year | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best Malayalam Film | Veettilekkulla Vazhi |
| 2013 | Best Film on Environment Conservation | Perariyathavar |
| 2015 | Best Film on Environment Conservation | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal |
Indian Panorama Selections
| Year | Film | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Saira | |
| 2012 | Akasathinte Niram | |
| 2015 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal | Nominated for UNESCO Competition |
| 2016 | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram |
Kerala State Film Awards
| Year | Award | Film/Article |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kerala State Film Award for Best Article on Cinema (Dr.Biju) | Kollaruthu Samvidhayakare |
| 2011 | Kerala State Film Award for Special Jury Award for Direction | Akasathinte Niram |
References
- ↑ K, Bhumika (8 January 2015). "I make films for myself". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ Meenakshi Shedde (16 February 2016). "Bollywood and the minority question". Forbes India Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ Meghna George (19 August 2011). "'Veettilekkulla Vazhi is at par with world cinema'". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ Vijay G (20 July 2012). "The only Indian film at Shanghai film festival". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ "'Perariyathavar' an art film on garbage dumping". News18. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ Deepika Jayaram (12 November 2015). "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal screened at Geneva - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ "63rd National Film Awards: Top acting honours for Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut". The Indian Express. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ James, Anu (8 November 2016). "Watch Kaadu Pookkunna Neram trailer featuring Indrajith Sukumaran, Rima Kallingal". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ "New York Indian Film Festival 2013". www.iaac.us. Retrieved 20 November 2016.