{{Short description|Indian film director and cinematographer (1935–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Crossbelt Mani | image = | caption = | birth_name = K. Velayudhan Nair | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1935|04|22}} | birth_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kingdom of Travancore, British India<br>(present day Kerala, India) | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2021|10|30|1935|04|22}} | death_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|Cinematographer}} | years_active = 1968 – 1990 | spouse = Sreemathiyamma | children = 2 | parents = {{Unbulleted_list|Krishna Pillai|Kamalamma}} }}
'''K. Velayudhan Nair''', better known by his stage name '''Crossbelt Mani''' (22 April 1935 – 30 October 2021), was an Indian film director and cinematographer, who worked in the Malayalam cinema.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/07/04/stories/2002070402690200.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140906174012/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/07/04/stories/2002070402690200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2014|title=Throwback to a love saga|date=4 July 2002|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=26 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Anand|first=Shilpa Nair|date=2 September 2015|title=Never at cross purposes|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/velayudhan-nair-aka-cross-belt-mani-on-his-blockbuster-film-that-completes-45-years-this-year/article7607751.ece|access-date=30 October 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/CrossBelt%20Mani-2598 |title=CrossBelt Mani:Profile and Biography, Malayalam Movie Director CrossBelt Mani latest Photo Gallery | Video Gallery, Malayalam Movie Director CrossBelt Mani, CrossBelt Mani Filimography, CrossBelt Mani Films and Cinemas, CrossBelt Mani Awards and Nominations |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906205417/http://www.metromatinee.com/artist/CrossBelt%20Mani-2598 |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He directed more than 40 Malayalam movies and worked as a cinematographer for ten movies.<ref name="malayalachalachithram">{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=1889|title=Cross Belt Mani|publisher=malayalachalachithram.com|accessdate=6 September 2014}}</ref> He became popular with his second movie ''Cross Belt'' in 1970 and adopted ''Crossbelt'' to his name.<ref name="spicyonion">{{cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/person/crossbelt-mani-movies-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906203715/http://spicyonion.com/person/crossbelt-mani-movies-list/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 September 2014|title=Complete List of Crossbelt Mani Movies | Crossbelt Mani Filmography | Spicyonion.com|publisher=spicyonion.com|accessdate=6 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="nthwall">{{cite web|url=http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Crossbelt-Mani/celebrities/4564102769|title=Crossbelt Mani's Movies, Latest News, Video Songs, wallpapers, New Images, Photos, Biography, Upcoming Movies.- Nth Wall|publisher=nthwall.com|accessdate=6 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906203958/http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Crossbelt-Mani/celebrities/4564102769|archivedate=6 September 2014}}</ref> Veteran director Joshiy worked as an assistant director under him.
==Personal life==
Velayudhan Nair with the stage name Crossbelt Mani hailed from Thiruvananthapuram.<ref>{{cite news|title=ക്രോസ്ബെല്റ്റ് മണി ആക്ഷന് സിനിമകളിലെ ഒറ്റയാന്|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/article-malayalam-news-1.633158|publisher=mathrubhumi.in|accessdate=29 October 2015}}</ref> He was born to Valiyashalayil Madhavivilasathu Krishna Pillai and Kamalamma on 22 April 1935. He was married to Iranayil Bhagavathimandirathu Sreemathiyamma. They had a son, Krishnakumar, and a daughter, Roopa.<ref>{{Cite news|title=സിനിമാ സംവിധായകന് ക്രോസ് ബെല്റ്റ് മണി he also married raj kokila and lived with her for a considerable time. അന്തരിച്ചു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/crossbelt-mani-passes-away-1.6134603|access-date=30 October 2021|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref><ref name="msidb">{{cite web|title=Profile of Malayalam Director Cross Belt Mani|url=https://en.msidb.org/qSearch.php?q=Cross%20Belt%20Mani|url-status=live|publisher=en.msidb.org|accessdate=6 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030182836/https://en.msidb.org/qSearch.php?q=Cross%20Belt%20Mani |archive-date=30 October 2021 }}</ref>
Mani died on 30 October 2021, at the age of 86 at his home in Thiruvananthapuram.<ref>{{Cite news|title=സംവിധായകൻ ക്രോസ്ബെൽറ്റ് മണി അന്തരിച്ചു; വിടവാങ്ങിയത് ആദ്യകാല ഹിറ്റ്മേക്കർ|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/10/30/malayalam-movie-director-crossbelt-mani-passes-away.html|access-date=30 October 2021|website=|publisher=Malayala Manorama}}</ref> He was suffering from various illnesses associated with old age at the time of his death.
==Filmography==
===Direction=== {{Div col}} * Midumidukki (1968) * Cross Belt (1970) * Manushyabandhangal (1972) * Puthrakameshti (1972) * Naadan Premam (1972) * Shakthi (1972) * Kaapaalika (1973) * Nadeenadanmaare Aavasyamundu (1974) * Velicham Akale (1975) * Penpada (1975) * Kuttichaathan (1975) * Thaamarathoni (1975) * Chottaanikkara Amma (1976) * Yudhabhoomi (1976) * Neethipeedham (1977) * Penpuli (1977) * Pattaalam Janaki (1977) * Aanayum Ambaariyum (1978) * Black Belt (1978) * Pancharathnam (1979) * Youvanam Daaham (1980) * Eettappuli (1983) * Thimingalam (1983) * Bullet (1984) * Chorakku Chora (1985) * Black Mail (1985) * Revenge (1985) * Ottayan (1985) * Kulambadikal (1986) * Pensimham (1986) * Urukkumanushyan (1986) * Naaradan Keralathil (1987) * Devadas (1989) * Commander (1990) {{div col end}}
===Cinematography=== * Bullet (1984) *Chorakku Chora (1985) *Black Mail (1985) * Revenge (1985) *Ottayan (1985) *Kulambadikal (1986) *Urukkumanushyan (1986) *Naaradan Keralathil (1987) * Commander (1990)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0542339}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mani, Crossbelt}} Category:1935 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Malayalam film cinematographers Category:Malayalam film directors Category:Film directors from Thiruvananthapuram Category:20th-century Indian photographers Category:Cinematographers from Kerala