J. Sasikumar
Nambiathusseril Varkey John, better known by his screen name Sasikumar, was an Indian film director who worked in Malayalam cinema. One of the most prolific directors in world cinema, he has directed more than 141 films in his career which began in the mid-1960s. He is often referred to as Hitmaker Sasikumar due to the commercial success of his films.
Sasikumar holds record for directing most films after Telugu film director Dasari Narayana Rao, most films having the same actor as hero Prem Nazir in 84 films and the most films directed in a year, 15 films in 1977. He died in 2014 at the age of 86.
Early life
He was born on 14 October 1927 to N L Varkey and Mariya in Allappuzha, Kerala. His original name was N.V. John. He had displayed a great flair for acting in dramas even when he was a boy of 10. He completed his school education from Leo Thirteenth High school, Alleppey and St. Ephrem's School, Mannanam. During his college life he had represented Kerala University football team. He passed out as a graduate in Economics from Sacred Hearts College, Thevara.Career
Early work
During his studies in the schools and colleges, he had proved his flair for acting in dramas especially of the Shakespearean genre. Later on, Kunchacko of Udaya Studios, Alleppey, identified his talent and gave him a role to act in his film Visappinte Vili in which he acted as villain against the Evergreen Hero, Prem Nazir. This happened to be the first film in Malayalam in which a villain fights with the hero without a dupe and that role was performed with aplomb by Sasikumar. Subsequently, in addition to acting in several films produced by Udaya Studios he worked as the Assistant director of Kunchacko in those films. It was Kunchacko who identified that Sasikumar had in his repertoire the necessary talent and skills required for a director of movies.Later on, he joined Merryland Studios, owned by the veteran director-producer P. Subramaniam. It was under his tutelage that Sasikumar was transformed into a great director. While in Merryland he worked with many renowned actors of that time, including T. K. Balachandran, Prem Nazir and Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair. He worked as associate director to P. Subramaniam in addition to acting in some roles himself. Sasikumar still considers P.Subramanyam as a fatherly icon who had showered upon him fatherly affection and regards during his tenure at Merryland. The first independent film directed by Sasikumar was a documentary, namely ONAKKAZHCHA for Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited regarding the use and effectiveness of fertilizers in agriculture.
Peak years
Following the advice of his friend Prem Nazir, Sasikumar went to Chennai in the 1960s. He directed Thommante Makkal and Porter Kunjali for Thomas Pictures in 1965. He also directed, along with P. A. Thomas, the movie Kudumbini for Thomas Pictures, which received a Certificate of Merit at the annual National Film Awards. Subsequently, he directed an art film, Kavalam Chundan, which was a flop. As a result,a dejected Sasikumar decided to give up film direction and return to Kerala to join his father's oil mill business. It was Prem Nazir who encouraged him to return to Chennai where he directed the commercial film Jeevitha Yaathra which became a major hit. After this, Sasikumar understood that he couldn't make an art film like Kavalam Chundan with producers' money. But after his change of style from art to commercial films he never looked back.Sasikumar went on to direct a long list of films, most of which succeeded at the box office. He was fondly called Hitmaker by the Malayalam film fraternity. Along with Prem Nazir he helped many producers who had lost their land and jewellery through movie production. Sasikumar holds the record for the maximum number of hit films made in Malayalam. Eighty-four films which he directed had Prem Nazir as hero and in 1977 he directed 15 films which all fared well at the box office. Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Adoor Bhasi, S. P. Pillai, Madhu, Jose Prakash, Sheela, Vijayasree, K.R.Vijaya, Sharada, Vidhubala, Lakshmi, Sreelatha, Jayabharathi, Sreevidya, Nanditha Bose, Unni Mary, Kamal Hassan, Sukumaran, Soman, Ravikumar, Jayan, Vincent, Sobhana, Shankar, Mammootty and Mohanlal all acted in his films. Kaviyoor Ponnamma, who had acted in the role of a mother in his old movie Thommante Makkal which had a story with a Christian background acted in the same movie, remade with a Hindu background and retitled Swanthamevide Banthamevide taking the same role after 25 years. Some years later, Sasikumar remade the same movie under the title "Raja Vazhcha". It was Sasikumar who introduced a new sophisticated villain to the Malayalam film world in the form of "Silver Head" enacted by Jose Prakash in one of his old films. During his long career in film he has directed more than 140 films in Malayalam and one film in Tamil. The trio consisting of Sasikumar, Sreekumaran Thampy and M.K Arjunan was the rage of the period 1969–1980.
Acting
Sasikumar acted in small roles in films like Thiramala, Sreerama Pattabhishekam, Velakkaran, Thommante Makkal, Seetha, Snehadeepam, Umma, Bhakta Kuchela, Snapaka Yohannan, Kattumaina, Visappinte Vili, Oral Koodi Kallanayi etc. He has also written the story, cinema script and dialogue for many of his films.Style
Sasikumar's films were not meant for active analysis by the intelligentsia or the critics, but for the common man especially the working class who sought some solace and relief from the hard and harsh realities of everyday life. His films occupied a special niche in this regard by providing wholesome entertainment to the masses. The themes of these films generally dealt with the problems of the common man and the injustice prevalent in society.Collaborators
Sasikumar launched the career of Malayalam film music composer Ravindran with his film Choola. The renowned Malayalam music director M. K. Arjunan became popular after scoring music for Sasikumar's movie Rest House. Other films had music by other well-known composers – Devarajan, A. T. Ummer, Salil Chowdhury, Shyam, Johnson and M. S. Viswanathan. His lyricists included Vayalar Rama Varma, Sreekumaran Thampy, O. N. V. Kurup, P. Bhaskaran and K. Jayakumar, but Sreekumaran Thampy has been the lyricist in most of his films. All the songs in his film Devadasi of which the music was scored by Salil Chowdhury became great hits even though the film was not released on account of some problems with its producer, Adoor Padmakumar.Senthil, the famous comedian in Tamil films, was introduced to film audiences through the film "Ithikkara Pakki" and Jagathy Sreekumar, a comedian of Malayalam films, through his film "Chattambi Kalyani". Jayabharathy was introduced to the Malayalam film world by Sasikumar through his movie "Pen Makkal". His assistants Crossbelt Mani, Baby, P. G. Viswambharan, Thampi Kannanthanam, and Asokan became successful independent directors later on. Some of the artists whom he had actively promoted and supported during his heyday have now become national icons and awardees. If cinema is considered a medium of entertainment Sasikumar has been an immense success. He created movies as per the zeitgeist. He gave the people of those times what they wanted and what they expected of him. And they wanted to see his movies again and again.
World records
- Maximum number of films directed by any director: 141
- Maximum number of films having the same actor as hero : 84
- Maximum number of films directed in a year by any director in world cinema : 15 films in 1977
Death
Sasikumar suffered from age-related health problems towards the end of his life. He lost his wife following a period of brief illness and his son died subsequently following a heart attack. He died at a hospital in Kochi on 17 July 2014 at the age of 87. He was buried according to Christian rites at St. Michael's Church Alappuzha, his home-town. This doyen of Malayalam cinema is survived by his two children Usha John and Sheela Robin.Filmography
- Kudumbini
- Jeevitha Yaathra
- Thommante Makkal
- Porter Kunjali
- Pennmakkal
- Koottukar'
- Kanmanikal
- Kavalam Chundan
- Balyakalasakhi
- Vidyarthi
- Velutha Kathreena
- Love in Kerala
- Rest House
- Rahasyam
- Rakthapushpam
- Lanka Dahanam
- Bobanum Moliyum
- Pushpanjali
- Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka
- Brahmachari
- Anveshanam
- Thiruvabharanam
- Thekkan Kattu
- Thaniniram
- Panchavadi
- Padmavyooham
- Interview
- Divyadharsanam
- Sethu Bandhanam
- Poonthenaruvi
- Pancha Thanthram
- Night Duty
- Sindhu
- Sammanam
- Pulivalu
- Pravaham
- Picnic
- Palaazhi Madhanam
- Padmaragam
- Chattambi Kalyani
- Alibabayum 41 Kallanmaarum
- Abhimanam
- Aaranya Kaandum
- Swimming Pool
- Pushpa Sarem
- Pickpocket
- Kayamkulam Kochunniyude Maghan
- Kamadhenu
- Amrudha Vahini
- Ajayanum Vijayanum
- Vishukkani
- Varadhakshina
- Thuruppu Gulam
- Saghakkale Munottu
- Rathi Manmathan
- 'Randu Lokam
- Parivarthanam
- Panchamrutham
- Muttathe Mulla
- Mohavum Mukthiyum
- Mini Mol
- Lakshmi
- Chathur Vedam
- Aparaajitha
- Akshaya Paathram
- Sathru Samharam
- Nivedhyam
- Ninakku Njanum Enikku Neeyum
- Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham
- Mudhra Mothiram
- Mattoru Karnan
- Kanyaka
- Kalpa Vriksham
- Jayikkanaayi Janichavan
- Bharyayum Kamukiyum
- Nithya Vasantham
- Choola
- Manava Dharmam
- Vellayani Paramu
- Ormayil Nee Mathram
- Devadasi
- Theenalangal
- Prakadanam
- Oru Varsham Oru Maasam
- Karipuranda Jeevithangal
- Ithikkara Pakki
- Kodumudikal
- Theerathinu Ariyumo Thirayude vedana
- Attimari
- Ellam Ninakku Vendi
- Dhruva Sangamam
- Theekali
- Nagamadathu Thampuratti
- Thuranna Jail
- Sooryan
- Post Mortem
- Madrasile Mon
- Koaritharicha Naal
- Jumbulingam
- Keni
- Yuddham
- Sandhya Vandanam
- Pourasham
- Mahabali
- Kolakomban
- Kattaruvi
- Chakravalam Chuvannappol
- Attakkalasam
- Arabikadal
- Swanthamevide Bandhamevide
- Makale Mappu Tharu
- Ivide Thudangunnu
- Pathamudayam
- Ezhu Muthal Onpathu Vare
- Azhiyatha Bandhangal
- Makan Ente Makan
- Mounanombaram
- Ente Kanakkuyil
- Shobaraj'
- Kunjattakilikal
- Iniyum Kurukshethrum
- Ente Entethu Mathram
- Manasil Oru Manimuthu
- Mauna Nombaram
- Akalangalil
- Jaithra Yaathra
- Ithu Ente Neethi
- Nagapanchami
- Rajavazhcha
- Paadatha Veenayum Paadum
- Dollar
- FACT, namely ONAKKAZHCHA
- Panchamurtham
- Oralkoodi Kallanayi
- Woodlex Furniture