Vinod Mankara


Vinod Mankara is an Indian writer and film maker based in Kerala. He began his career as a freelance journalist for print media and has worked in Delhi and other major cities in India. His career in electronic media began at Surya TV, where he served as Programme Manager. He has been Chief Manager, Programmes at MET, a television channel based in Dubai. He had a stint at Indiavision as Chief Producer. He has been the senior Producer in the Malayalam television channel Asianet. He is a native of Mankara village near Palakkad.

Career

Vinod Mankara has produced more than 600 documentaries, most of them telecast on various channels. He received the Kerala State Film Award for three consecutive times. Eight of his documentaries have received a state award. Beyond or Within, a documentary on occultism received a National Award in 2003. He also has five feature films in his credit. A documentary of painter Raja Ravivarma, BEFORE THE BRUSH DROPPED received the Kerala State Award and NALACHARITHAM ANCHAM DIVASAM, based on Kathakali, received the Kerala Kalamandalam Award. His first feature film KARAYILEKKU ORU KADAL DOORAM received 35 awards including Film critics award for the best debut director and Radio Mirchi award for the best debut lyricist. His second feature film OTTAMANDARAM was based on a true life story and received five Film Critics awards in various categories including the direction. His third feature film PRIYAMANASAM was a Sanskrit movie and won the National Film award for the year 2015. PRIYAMANASAM was the 17th century keralite poet Unnayi varrier and his composition Nalacharitham and it was the opening film in the Indian Panorama section of International Film Festival of India.The film has got entry in to almost all the film festivals of India and received a special jury award for the direction in the Rajasthan International film Festival. His feature film KAMBOJI is a musical thriller in Malayalam which includes last songs of the Malayalam poet O. N. V. Kurup.
Mankara has written numerous articles and seven books. His book KARAYILEKKU ORU KADAL DOORAM is a novel and this is the first time a film is becoming the novel. He was the jury chairman and member in many national and international film festivals and award committees. His documentary NITHYA KALYANI ORU MOHINIYATTA PADHAM is a research work in the origin and development of Mohiniyattam, a lyrical dance form and tracing this art form from 6th century to 19th century. This documentary has won the Kerala Kalamandalam award and also received 2 National film awards and one kerala state government award. Film Kambhojibased on a true story in which he is the script writer, director and co-lyricist with late O. N. V. Kurup. He just finished his new Tamil feature film NITHYA SUMANGALI. His documentary LAASYAM won the Indian Panorama 2018 and screened its world premier in the International film festival of India,Goa. "Mother of Mohiniyattam" is his latest documentary is a biopic of the legentary dance guru kalamandalam Kalyani kutty Amma. Mankara was the show director of the music and dance stage show RITHUBHAHAR which toured in USA in 2015.

Filmography