Date:08/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040850900500.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

J.C. Daniel Award for P. Ramdas

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P. Ramdas, director and producer of the first neo-realistic Malayalam film in Malayalam, has been selected for the J.C. Daniel Award for 2007.

Mr. Ramdas who produced and directed ‘Newspaper Boy,’ under the banner Adarsh Kalamandir, was selected by a jury headed by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and comprising Kerala State Film Development Corporation chairman K.G. George, Chalachitra Academy chairman K.R. Mohanan, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi chairman Murali, Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan vice-chairperson Radhamony and musician K. Omanakutty.

Minister for Culture M.A. Baby told presspersons in the presence of the jury members here on Monday that the decision was taken considering the unique contribution of Mr. Ramdas to cinema.

Mr. Ramdas, inspired by world cinema, produced the film while he was a student. ‘Newspaper Boy’ heralded a change in Malayalam cinema. It also reacted to the social realities in Kerala. The film was released in 1955, before the release of Satyajit Ray’s ‘Pather Panchali.’

The J.C. Daniel Award comprises a purse of Rs.1 lakh and citation. The award will be presented at the Durbar Hall.

A documentary on Mr. Ramdas ‘A neo-realistic dream’ has been produced earlier by V.S. Rajesh. It is directed by Pradeep Nair.