FILM DIRECTOR JOHN ABRAHAM’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED

FILM DIRECTOR JOHN ABRAHAM’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED

Late director-screenwriter John Abraham is widely recognized as a genius in Malayalam cinema. Now, a group of his friends  observed his death anniversary at Ernakulam Public Library on May 30. Born in Changanassery in 1937, John Abraham entered films as assistant director to Mani Kaul for Uski Roti (1969), after graduating from FTII with gold medals in screenwriting and film direction. Abraham's debut directorial attempt came in 1967 named Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile. It was the Tamil film Agraharathil Kazhuthai (1977) that elevated Abraham to fame.
John Abraham completed only four films in the short span of his career: Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile, Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Cheriachante Krurakrithyangal (1979) and Amma Ariyan (1986), all four written and directed by him. In 1984, Odessa Collective came into existence under his leadership with a street dramaNayakali in Fort Kochi.
Odessa was an attempt by a group of movie enthusiasts to change the history of film production and distribution by making it a collaborative effort with the public and thus act as an empowering and liberating medium. Their first film Amma Ariyan was produced with contributions from the general public and was screened on a non-commercial basis throughout the state. John Abraham started shooting a documentary based on the life of E.M.S. Namboodiripad, but never completed it. He died in 1987 at the age of 49.

Prof. John Kurakar