Dr. Biju
Dr. Biju in 2010
Occupations
  • Film director
  • doctor
Years active2005–present
SpouseVijayasree P
Children1
Websitedrbiju.in

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), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2016), Sound of Silence (2017), Painting Life (2018) and Veyilmarangal (2019).

Biju has received three National Film Awards, and his films have been screened at multiple international film festivals and won numerous awards including the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai Film Festival 2019. His films were screened at festivals including Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Moscow, Cairo, Iran (Fajr), Eurasia, Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Oporto, Dhaka, IFFK and IFFI.

His latest film Adrishya Jalakangal, starring Tovino Thomas and Nimisha Sajayan, released in 2023.[1]

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.[2][3] 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.[4]

His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section.[5] 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).[6]

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,[7] and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation.[8] 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.[9]

In 2016, his next film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2016). In 2017, Dr.Biju directed his first non-Malayalam in Pahari, Hindi and Tibetan languages. The film Sound of Silence (2017 film) (2017) won the Best Director award at Kolkata International Film Festival (2017).[10]

In 2018, Dr.Biju directed a film in English language titled Painting Life (2018). The film premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2018). In 2019 Dr.Biju's tenth film Veyilmarangal (2019) premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival (2019). The film won the Golden Goblet award for outstanding artistic achievement.[11]

In 2020, he directed the film House of Orange Trees which premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival 2020. His next film The Portraits (2021) premiered at the Moscow International film festival 2021. In 2021 he directed his first film in Telugu language titled Sthalam (The Land). The film premiered at Dhaka International Film festival 2023.

Filmography

Year Original title English title Language
2005 Saira Saira Malayalam
2008 Raman Travelogue of Invasion Malayalam, English
2010 Veettilekkulla Vazhi The Way Home Malayalam
2012 Akasathinte Niram Colour of Sky Malayalam
2013 Perariyathavar Names Unknown Malayalam
2015 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal Birds With Large Wings Malayalam
2016 Kaadu Pookkunna Neram When The Woods Bloom Malayalam
2017 Sound of Silence Sound of Silence Hindi, Pahari
2018 Painting Life Painting Life English
2019 Veyilmarangal Trees Under the Sun Malayalam
2020 Orange Marangalude Veedu House Of Orange Trees Malayalam
2021 The Portraits The Portraits Malayalam
2022 Sthalam The Land Telugu
2023 Adrishya Jalakangal Invisible Windows Malayalam

Awards and honours

National Film Awards
Year Category Film Result Note
2010 Best Feature Film in Malayalam Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The way home)[12] Won
2013 Best Film on Environmental Conservation Perariyathavar (Names Unknown)[13] Won The film also won Best Actor Award to actor Suraj Venjaramoodu
2015 Best Film on Environmental Conservation Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds with large wings)[14] Won
International Awards
Award Film Festival/Organization Year Nominated work Result
Golden Goblet award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement[15][11] 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival 2019 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won
Jury Prize for Best Film Festival des cinémas indiens de Toulouse/Toulouse Indian Film Festival, France 2020 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won
NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film[16][17] International Film Festival of Kerala 2019 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won
Best International Feature Film Award[18] Chongqing Pioneer Art Film Festival, China 2020 Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) Won
Life Award[19] Imagineindia International Film Festival , Madrid, Spain 2022 The Portraits Won
Critics award Rajasthan International Film Festival, India 2022 The Portraits Won
Prémio da Crítica (Critics award)[20] 39th Oporto International film festival, Portugal, 2019 Painting Life Won
Best Screen Play Award Aurangabad International film festival 2019 Painting Life Won
Best Director[10] 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival India 2017 Sound Of Silence Won
Best Film[21] Indian Film Festival Cincinnati Ohio, USA 2017 Sound Of Silence Won
Special Jury Mention[22] Bangalore International Film Festival, India 2017 Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) Won
World Humanitarian Award[23] Jakarta World Humanitarian Award 2015 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won
Best Film Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won
Best Director Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won
Best Screenplay Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 2016 Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) Won
Best Film on Global Message Jaipur International film festival 2015 Perariyathavar (Names Unknown) Won
Best Screenplay award[24] New York Indian Film Festival, USA 2013 Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) Won
NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film[25] 15th International Film Festival of Kerala 2010 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won
Signis Award – Commendation[26] Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania 2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won
Best Director[27] 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain 2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won
Best Film[27] 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain 2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) Won
Kerala State Film Awards
Year Category Film Result
2010 Best Article on Cinema[28] "Kollaruthu Samvidhayakare" Won
2011 Special Jury Award[28] Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) Won

References

  1. ^ "Tovino Thomas, Nimisha Sajayan to feature in 'Adrishya Jalakangal'". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. ^ K, Bhumika (8 January 2015). "I make films for myself". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  3. ^ Meenakshi Shedde (16 February 2016). "Bollywood and the minority question". Forbes India Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. ^ Meghna George (19 August 2011). "'Veettilekkulla Vazhi is at par with world cinema'". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  5. ^ Vijay G (20 July 2012). "The only Indian film at Shanghai film festival". Rediff. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. ^ "'Perariyathavar' an art film on garbage dumping". News18. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. ^ Deepika Jayaram (12 November 2015). "Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal screened at Geneva - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  8. ^ "63rd National Film Awards: Top acting honours for Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut". The Indian Express. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. ^ James, Anu (8 November 2016). "Watch Kaadu Pookkunna Neram trailer featuring Indrajith Sukumaran, Rima Kallingal". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Los Perros' gets the Best Film award in KIFF international - Outlook". Outlook. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Veyilmarangal' wins acclaim at Shanghai International Film Festival". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  12. ^ Times of India. "National Awards 2010 Winners- Times of India".
  13. ^ Deccan Chronicle. "Winners of the prestigious 61st National Film Awards are...- Deccan Chronicle".
  14. ^ Deccan Chronicle. "It's raining awards for M-town- Deccan Chronicle".
  15. ^ Gokul M. G. (8 July 2019). "'Love is all i return'". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  16. ^ "'They Say Nothing Stays the Same' and 'Jallikattu' win big at IFFK". Malayala Manorama. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Suvarna Chakoram at IFFK for Japanese film 'They Say Nothing Stays the Same-The Hindu". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Veyilmarangal Wins yet another international award-Onlookersmedia". Onlookersmedia.in. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  19. ^ "AWARDS IMAGINEINDIA 2022". Imagine India International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Fantasporto 2019: Conheça os Vencedores" (in Portuguese). Central Comics. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  21. ^ "ഓറഞ്ച് മരങ്ങളുടെ വീട് സിൻസിനാറ്റി ഇന്ത്യൻ ഫിലിം ഫെസ്റ്റിവലിലേക്ക്!; സന്തോഷം പങ്കിട്ട് സംവിധായകൻ!". Samayam (in Malayalam). 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Kyrgyz and Kannada films bag top honours". The Times of India. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  23. ^ Steve Persall (26 May 2016). "Tampa resident Dr. A.K. Pillai wins Indian National Film Award". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  24. ^ Jim Luce (25 May 2013). "NY Indian American Film Festival Triumphant in 13th Year". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  25. ^ Unni R. Nair (31 December 2010). "15th Iffk concludes". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Winners Announced at Annual ZIFF Awards Ceremony". Africultures. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  27. ^ a b Shekhar Hooli (15 June 2011). "Veettilekkulla Vazhi win three awards at Imagine Film Fest". Filmibeat. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  28. ^ a b "State Film Awards (2000–12)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

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