Noted writer-director Lohithadas died today (June 28) around 10.50 in the morning, due to a massive heart attack at a private hospital in Kochi.
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (A. K. Lohithadas) was undoubtedly one of the finest script writers in Malayalam. He could be put in the same pedestal as the greats like M.T Vasudevan Nair, Thoppil Bhasi and Padmarajan.
Lohi died young at 54 and has written some of the finest scripts seeped in realism and had a human touch and pulled at your heart strings.
Like M.T. Vasudevan Nair and late Bharathan, Lohi was a script writer who understood the pulse of the Malayalees and his early films with Sibi Malayil were classic like Thaniavarthanam, Amaram, Kireedam, Dasaratham, His Highness Abdulla, Kamaladalam, before the director bug caught him.
All his early films had a Kerala milieu and told stories about the social and political issues prevailing in the society.
As a director he was mediocre, as he had to make commercial compromises. Some of his memorable films as a director were Bhoothakannadi, Kasturimaan, Aarayannangalude Veedu, Nivediyam.
Said Mammootty: “ Lohi's untimely death is a personal loss for me. He had understood my strengths and weaknesses and created characters that suited me. He told human stories which were rooted in Kerala culture”
Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', as he is often referred to) was born on May 10th, 1955 in Chalakkudi, Kerala. He showed an initial interest was in short-stories, but failed to make a mark in that genre. He soon moved into Malayalam theater in 1986 when his debut script was accepted for the stage by the legendary theater personality Thoppil Bhasi. Bhasi's CPI party backed drama troupe, the highly successful 'Kerala People's Arts Club', produced the play, leading to a state award for Lohithadas.
Fresh with the play's commercial and critical success, Lohithadas moved to Malayalam Cinema by writing for director Sibi Malayil. His first movie screenplay Thaniavarthanam was directed by Malayil and went on to be a success. The Sibi Malayil-Lohithadas combination would later produce several memorable Malayalam movies. On June 28, 2009, he came to Kochi to attend the general body meet of AMMA in the morning, developed uneasiness and was immediately taken to the Lisy Hospital where he was declared dead of cardiac arrest at 10:50 AM.
Awards he Recieved:
45th National Film Award for Best film - Bhoothakannadi (1997)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story - Thaniyavarthanam (1987)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film - Bhoothakannadi (1997)
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for 2nd Best Film - kasthoorimann (1997)
Film Critics award for Best script - Thaniyavarthanam (1987)
Film Critics award for Best script - Dasaratham(1989)
Film Critics award for Best script - kireedom(1990)
Film Critics award for Best script - Bharatham(1991)
Film Critics award for Best script - chenkol(1993)
Film Critics award for Best script - Chakoram(1994)
Film Critics award for Best script - Sallapam(1995)
Film Critics award for Best script- Thoovalkottaram(1996)
Film Critics award for Best script- Bhoothakannadi(1997)
Film Critics award for Best script- Ormacheppu(1998)
Film Critics award for Best script- Joker(1999)
Film Critics award for Best script- Veendum chila veetukaryangal(2000)
Film Critics award for Best script- Kasthooriman(2003)
Film Critics award for Best script- Nivedyam(2007)
Film Critics award for Best Director- Bhoothakannadi(1997)
Film Critics award for Best Director- Joker(1999)
Film Critics award for Best Director- Kasthoorimann(2003)
Film Critics award for Best Director- Nivedyam(2007),
Noted Films
2007 Nivedyam - Vinu Mohan, Bhama, Nedumudi Venu Self
1999 Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal - Jayaram, Samyuktha Varma, Nedumudi Venu Sathyan Anthikkad
1997 Boothakannadi - Mammootty, Lakshmi, Kavya Madhavan Self
1996 Sallappam - Dileep, Manju Warrier, Manoj K. Jayan Sundardas
1996 Thoovalkottaram - Jayaram, Manju Warrier, Murali, Innocent Sathyan Anthikkad
1993 Chenkol - Mohanlal, Surabhi, Santhi Krishna, Thilakan Sibi Malayil
1993 Vatsalyam - Mammootty, Geetha, Kaviyoor Ponnamma Cochin Haneefa
1991 Dhanam - Mohanlal, Charmila, Murali Sibi Malayil
1993 Venkalam - Murali, Urvashi, Manoj K. Jayan Bharathan
1992 Kauravar - Mammootty, Anju, Santhikrishna Joshi
1992 Aadharam - Murali, Suresh Gopi, Geetha George Kithu
1992 Kamaladalam - Mohanlal, Parvathy, Monisha, Vineeth Sibi Malayil
1991 Amaram - Mammootty, Murali, Mathu, Ashokan, Chitra Bharathan
1989 Mudhra - Mammooty, Parvathy , Mahesh Sibi Malayil
1991 Bharatham - Nedumudi Venu, Mohanlal, Urvashi, Lakshmi Sibi Malayil
1990 His Highness Abhdullah - Mohanlal, Gauthami, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu Sibi Malayil
1990 Sasneham - Balachandra Menon, Shobana, Innocent Sathyan Anthikkad
1989 Mahayanam - Mammootty, Seema, Mukesh, Jalaja Joshi
1989 Jathakam - Jayaram, Sithara, Shaari Suresh Unnithan
1989 Kireedom - Mohanlal, Parvathy, Sankaradi, Thilakan Sibi Malayil
1988 Mukthi - Mammootty, Urvashi, Rahman, Shobana I. V. Sasi
1988 Kudumbapuranam - Balachandra Menon, Ambika, Thilakan Sathyan Anthikkad
1999 Joker - Dileep, Manya, Mamukoya, Bindhu Panikar Self
1998 Kanmadham - Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Lal, Mala Aravindan Self
1987 Thaniyavarthanam - Mammootty, Mukesh, Saritha, Thilakan Sibi Malayil
1987 Ezhuthapurangal - Suhasini, Ambika, Parvathy, Nedumudi Venu Sibi Malayil
