P. Venu

P. Venu
Born
Pattathil Venugopala Menon

(1940-11-08)8 November 1940
Purannatukara, Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, British India
Died25 May 2011(2011-05-25) (aged 70)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesVenu, Udhyogastha Venu
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
  • lyricist
[1]
Years active1967–2011
Notable work
[2]
SpouseSasekala[3](1972-2011)
ChildrenVijay Menon, Sridevi Menon[4]
AwardsKala Prathiba (Kerala Film Critics Association) 2005[5]

P. Venu (8 November 1940 – 25 May 2011), was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and lyricist with over 20 films to his name. His directorial venture Udhyogastha in 1967 was the first-ever multi-star cast film of south India.[6] His work in Malayalam cinema was significant and most influential, covering all themes and genres over a career spanning more than 40 years. His most recognized film C.I.D. Nazir, in 1971, revolutionized movie-making in the investigative genre in Malayalam cinema. Following this film's commercial and critical success, he came up with two more in the series - Taxi Car in 1972 and Prethangalude Thazhvara in 1973, as the first investigative sequels in Malayalam cinema.[7] His last film, Parinamam (The Change) released in 2003, won an honour for the Malayalam cinema on the global stage by winning the Best Screenplay Award at the Ashdod International Film Festival in Israel. In 2005, he was bestowed the Kala Prathiba (Icon of Creative Arts) by the Kerala Film Critics Association for his contribution to the Malayalam cinema. He was also an active member of MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association). He published his book titled Udyogastha Muthal (meaning ‘Udyogastha Onwards’) in 2010, reminiscing his life as a filmmaker and his experiences in the film industry.[8]

  1. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  2. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  3. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  4. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  5. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  6. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  7. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.
  8. ^ Venu (2010). Udyogastha Muthal (in Malayalam). Kannur: Kairali Books India. ISBN 978-93-80696-43-0.