C.S. Venkiteswaran
Encyclopedia
Venkiteswaran Chittur Subramanian is an Indian film critic and writer from Chalakudi, Kerala, India who writes predominantly in English and Malayalam. He won the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 2010. He is known for his insightful analysis of the social aspects of cinema and their artistic fulfillment, conveyed in his lucid style, In the last two decades, his writings and reviews on film and media, in English and Malayalam has been published in journals like Deep Focus, Film International, Cinema in India, Bhashaposhini, Pachakuthira, Indian Express, The Hindu, Mathrubhumi and Madhyamam . His column "Rumblestrip"(1999–2008) in Indian Express talked about the films and media scene in Kerala. He has published a book on the filmmaker K R Mohanan "Samanthara Yathrakal - K R Mohanante Cinema" (Malayalam, 2004)and edited a book along with Lalit Mohan Joshi on the filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
, "A Door to Adoor" (South Asian Cinema Foundation, London, 2005). Three books, containing Venkiteswaran's collection of articles that take a critical look at major trends and milestones in Malayalam cinema, were published by DC Books at the DC International Book Fair and Cultural Fest, 2011. He is also a regular blogger and blogs on his site 'rumblestrip'. He has interviewed many eminent film personalities like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, T.V. Chandran, Werner Herzog etc. . He is also a documentary film-maker and has won the National Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film in 1995 along with M.R. Rajan for "Pakarnattam - Ammannur, The Actor, the lyrical cinematic documentation of the life of Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
, the exponent of the ancient classical Sanskrit theatrical artform of 'Koodiyattam
'. This film also won the Kerala State Award for the Best Documentary category in the same year. His article on the 'TEA-SHOPS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA' was included in the revamped Kerala SCERT Class X English text book in 2011 . Adoor Gopalakrishnan praised Venkiteswaran for his ‘wholly positive and humble’ approach to film criticism, thus being different from many other film critics who according to him practice 'execution' of the films .
. A Post Graduate Doctorate in Commerce and Management from Calicut University, he is currently working as an Associate Professor in Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (Gift), Thiruvananthapuram.
He is married to Muthu Lakshmy, a Sanskrit scholar and daughter of well-known Padma Bhushan awardee, Vaidyabhooshanam K.Raghavan Thirumulpad
, who was an Ayurvedic Doctor. He has two children, a daughter Medha and a son, Gauthaman.
In his spare time he enjoys reading, writing and watching films.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...
, "A Door to Adoor" (South Asian Cinema Foundation, London, 2005). Three books, containing Venkiteswaran's collection of articles that take a critical look at major trends and milestones in Malayalam cinema, were published by DC Books at the DC International Book Fair and Cultural Fest, 2011. He is also a regular blogger and blogs on his site 'rumblestrip'. He has interviewed many eminent film personalities like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, T.V. Chandran, Werner Herzog etc. . He is also a documentary film-maker and has won the National Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film in 1995 along with M.R. Rajan for "Pakarnattam - Ammannur, The Actor, the lyrical cinematic documentation of the life of Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
Padma Bhushan Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar was a master of Kutiyattam, the classical Sanskrit theatrical form indigenous to Kerala...
, the exponent of the ancient classical Sanskrit theatrical artform of 'Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old...
'. This film also won the Kerala State Award for the Best Documentary category in the same year. His article on the 'TEA-SHOPS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA' was included in the revamped Kerala SCERT Class X English text book in 2011 . Adoor Gopalakrishnan praised Venkiteswaran for his ‘wholly positive and humble’ approach to film criticism, thus being different from many other film critics who according to him practice 'execution' of the films .
Personal Information
He was born in Chalakudi, Thrissur district, Kerala, India and is the fourth of six children of Subramanian, C.K. and Thylambal, T.V. He became interested in films at a young age, and soon became a regular at film festivals, and by the mid-seventies he was actively involved in film society movements. He was also part of the Odessa collective and in the making of Amma AriyanAmma Ariyan
Amma Ariyan is a 1986 Malayalam film directed by avant-garde filmmaker John Abraham....
. A Post Graduate Doctorate in Commerce and Management from Calicut University, he is currently working as an Associate Professor in Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (Gift), Thiruvananthapuram.
He is married to Muthu Lakshmy, a Sanskrit scholar and daughter of well-known Padma Bhushan awardee, Vaidyabhooshanam K.Raghavan Thirumulpad
Raghavan Thirumulpad
Vaidyabhooshanam K. Raghavan Thirumulpad was an Ayurvedic scholar and physician hailing from Kerala, the southern state of India. He was born on 20 May 1920 at Chingoli, Alappuzha District of Kerala...
, who was an Ayurvedic Doctor. He has two children, a daughter Medha and a son, Gauthaman.
In his spare time he enjoys reading, writing and watching films.
Awards won
- 2011: Kerala State Television Awards for Best Malayalam article on TV - Avatharippichu Nashtapeduthunna Varthakal in Mathrubhumi weekly.
- 2010: Best Film CriticNational Film Award for Best Film CriticThe National Film Award of India for Best Film Critic is given for Best Criticism of Indian Cinema.Winners:...
(Swarna Kamal) - 2005: Kerala State Film Award for Best Article on CinemaKerala State Film Award for Best Article on CinemaThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Article on Cinema winners:-References:**...
- "Mammootty enna Thaaram"(Malayalam) - 2002: National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention for Film Criticism(English)
- 1995: National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural FilmNational Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural FilmThe National Film Award - Best Arts/Cultural Film winners:...
(Rajat Kamal)- Pakarnnattam - Ammannur the actor , shared with M.R.Rajan - 1995: Kerala State Film Award for Best DocumentaryKerala State Film Award for Best DocumentaryThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Documentary winners:-References:**...
- Pakarnnattam - Ammannur the actor , shared with M.R.Rajan