Thiruvanthapuram: Known for his path-breaking films and extremely innovative and distinctive style of movie making, Shaji Karun died here on Monday, industry sources told the media. He was 73. Karun had been unwell for some time and was battling health issues, they said. The death of the well-known filmmaker comes just days after he was honoured with the J C Daniel Award for lifetime contribution to Malayalam cinema, the highest film honour instituted by the Kerala state government, at a function in the state capital. One of the pioneers of new wave cinema in Malayalam, Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran, popularly known as Shaji N Karun, was among the few filmmakers who took the legacy of Malayalam cinema to the international audience breaking all the barriers.
His debut film Piravi was screened at nearly 70 international film festivals and his second film, Swaham (1994), was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His Vanaprastham (1999) was also screened at Cannes. Karun’s films have won seven national awards and as many Kerala State Awards. The film, Kutty Srank by Shaji Karun, bagged the national award for Best Feature Film in 2010. A recipient of the Padma Shri and the French honour Order of Arts and Letters, Karun was the premiere chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. He also served as the chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).
FTII, Pune mourns Shaji’s demise
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) posted their heartfelt condolences on X (formerly Twitter) as they wrote, “The Film and Television Institute of India, Pune deeply mourns the passing away of our distinguished alumnus, Shri Shaji N Karun. A master storyteller and a pioneer of Malayalam cinema, his work enriched Indian filmmaking. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
The Film and Television Institute of India, Pune deeply mourns the passing away of our distinguished alumnus, Shri Shaji N Karun.
A master storyteller and a pioneer of Malayalam cinema, his work enriched Indian filmmaking.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/9slN9fIQGB— FTII (@FTIIOfficial) April 28, 2025
Rediff.com reported how, when Subhash K Jha had recently queried Shaji Karun why he made only seven film in 33 years, he had said, ‘My last directorial Oolu was made in 2018 but it released in 2019. I can’t rush to a new film just because I have to. Making films is a meditation for me.
‘The inspiration has to come from within. It cannot be forced. Additionally, I’ve a big responsibility on my shoulder as the chairperson of the Films Development Corporation in Kerala. I have to make sure that the responsibility given to me — of ensuring all-round improvement and development in the Kerala film industry — is well executed.
‘Once I get the problems sorted, I will move on and let the others deal with the execution of my ideas. But for now, I am totally involved with this job. As it is, two years have gone because of COVID. I have two films in hand.
“On my request, the chief minister of Kerala gave me this job of upgrading cinema in Kerala, so that comes first. Once the process of development starts, I will get back to making a film. This time, I promise you there won’t be a five year gap.’ Tragically, Shaji’s promise remained unfulfilled.
Malayalam Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, who was very close to Shaji Karun, was devastated at the news of Shaji Karun’s demise, also reported Rediff.com.
“He was a tremendous artist of a very high order, gone too soon. He not only reshaped the visual language of Indian Cinema through his cinematography in Aravindan’s films, Shaji sir gave us all a sense of direction through his mainstream work as a cameraman.
“As a director, he was profoundly successful. I can’t pinpoint a more personal yet political and poignant film on the Emergency than Piravi. In the times where clutter was identified as voices, Shaji sir’s cinematic journey — mostly his work in Piravi and Swaham — stood apart as textbooks of artistic pursuit and cinematic brilliance.
“We will miss our dearest, bestest alumni and visionary. This void will never be filled. I will miss him dearly. “He was my elder brother in cinema and in life.”
Piravi, a milestone on mood, characterisation and pace in cinema: Ananth Mahadevan
Ananth Mahadevan bonded closely with Shaji Karun over their cinema. “Shaji Karun was the last real master filmmaker that we have. He followed the footsteps of Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Aravindan, first as a cinematographer, then as a filmmaker. “His Piravi is a milestone in Indian cinema, not only winning laurels at Cannes but a mandatory textbook on mood, characterisation and most importantly, pace in cinema. It is a film I go back too every time I am criticised for ‘pace’ in my films.
“Shaji followed it up with the equally brilliant Vanaprastham, a film that is Mohanlal’s best performance.”Shaji Karun has been one of the driving forces in my film career. He watched all my films and we have had healthy discussions on them.”
Late on Monday night, renowned photographer, Ram Rahman recalled on Meta-Facebook:
Rahman writes, “Sad news of the passing of Shaji Karun. Pretty sure that is him right behind Girish Karnad’s head on the bus from Ayodhya to Lucknow airport. Sahmat Muktnaad 1993. Umayalpuram Sivaraman and Shaji (seen in) back row…Shaji and his team had brought the print of Aravindan’s ‘Kanchan Sita’ which we had planned to screen publicly. It didn’t happen because of the threats of violence we received and many of our public programs had to be cancelled. Sahmat (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust) salutes his memory.”
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