{{Short description|Indian film director}} {{Indian patronymic|Kunchacko|Maliampurackal Chacko}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Kunchacko | image = Kunchacko.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = M. C. Kunchako | birth_date = {{birth date|1912|02|19|df=yes}} | birth_place = Pulinkunnoo, Travancore, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|1976|06|15|1912|02|19|df=yes}} | death_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | occupation = Film producer, director | years_active = 1947–1976 | spouse = Annamma Kunchacko | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = Kunchacko Boban (grandson), Navodaya Appachan (Brother) | website = | awards = }} '''Maliampurackal Chacko Kunchacko''' (19 February 1912 – 15 June 1976) was an Indian film producer and director who worked in the Malayalam film industry. His venture Udaya Studios influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Madras, Tamil Nadu to Kerala. He is the producer of ''Jeevithanauka'' (1951), starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair.
==Career== In 1947, he established Udaya Studio in Pathirappally, Alappuzha.{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}} In his early days, Kunchacko produced films under the banner of ''K & K Productions'', with the partnership of K. V. Koshy. The company produced 4 films: ''Vellinakshatram'', ''Nalla Thanka'', ''Jeevithanauka'' and ''Visappinte Vili''. ''Jeevithanauka'' (1951), starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair ran for 250 days. During the making of the film ''Achchan'', Kunchacko and Koshy parted ways and each started film-making under separate banners: Kunchacko under Udaya and Koshi under Filmco.<ref name="Profile">weblokam.com - [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0306/14/1030614090_1.htm Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115182244/http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0306/14/1030614090_1.htm |date=15 November 2007 }}</ref> Kunchacko went on to produce ''Achchan, Avan Varunnu'' and ''Kidappadam'' under the banner of Udaya. ''Kidappadam'' was a commercial failure, and that caused Kunchacko to close down Udaya Studio. However, Udaya was opened within a few years with the help of his friend and Kerala state minister T. V. Thomas.{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}}
In 1960, Kunchacko tried his hand in film direction with ''Umma'', which he followed with ''Neeli Saali'' and ''Seetha''. He went on to direct 40 films in his career of many genres including purana stories, ''vadakkan pattu'' stories, comedy films and social themed films. Some of his films are ''Bharya, Unniyarcha, Palattukoman, Sakunthala, Pazhassiraja, Mainatheruvi Kolacase, Ponnapuram Kotta, Anarkali'' and ''Kannappanunni''. His career in film direction went along with his career as film producer. He produced films directed by various directors such as M. Krishnan Nair (''Agni Mrigam, Thara, Kattuthulasi''), A. Vincent (''Gandharva Kshethram''), Thoppil Bhasi (''Oru Sundariyude Katha, Ningalenne Communistakki''), K.S. Sethumadhavan (Koottukudumbam) and K. Raghunath (''Laura Neeyevide'').<ref name="Profile"/> In 1976, Kunchacko died in Madras, Tamil Nadu with musician K. Raghavan for the song recording of the film ''Mallanum Mathevanum''. ''Kannappanunni'' was the last film directed by him.<ref name="Profile"/> His death occurred on the fifth death anniversary (15 June) of the veteran Malayalam actor Sathyan, who acted in many of his films. Kunchako's Udaya Studios faced heavy losses later, and stopped production.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
==Family== Kunchacko was born in a Syro Malabar Catholic family in Alappuzha, Kerala. He hails from the Maliampurakal family. His father, M. M. Chacko, started the first boat service in Kuttanadu. His brother M. C. Punnoose, known as Navodaya Appachan was known for his work in Malayalam cinema, especially as the founder of Navodaya Studio.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-04-23 |title=Producer Navodaya Appachan passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
His son, Boban Kunchacko, was also an actor, director, and producer who was part of a few films produced by Udaya.
His grandson, Kunchacko Boban is also a Malayalam film actor.<ref>{{usurped|[https://archive.today/20130125182115/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/07/10/stories/2004071001510500.htm Boben Kunchacko dead]}} ''The Hindu'', 10 July 2004. {{dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Direction=== *''Kannappanunni'' (1977) *''Chennai Valarthiya Kutty'' (1976); starring Prem Nazir, Sharada, Jayabharathi and Adoor Bhasi, musical score by M. K. Arjunan *''Mallanum Mathevanum'' (1976) *''Cheenavala'' (1975) *''Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre'' (1975) *''Manishada'' (1975) *''Neela Ponman'' (1975) *''Durga'' (1974) *''Thumbolarcha'' (1974) *''Pavangal Pennungal'' (1973) *''Ponnapuram Kotta'' (1973) *''Thenaruvi'' (1973) *''Aromalunni'' (1972) *''Postmane Kananilla'' (1972) *''Panchavan Kadu'' (1971) *''Dattuputhran'' (1970) *''Othenente Makan'' (1970) *''Pearl View'' (1970) *''Susie'' (1969) *''Kodungalluramma'' (1968) *''Punnapra Vyalar'' (1968) *''Thirichadi'' (1968) *''Kasavuthattam'' (1967) *''Mainatharuvi Kola Case'' (1967) *''Anarkali'' (1966) *''Jail'' (1966) *''Tilottama'' (1966) *''Inapravugal'' (1965) *''Shakuntala'' (1965) *''Ayesha'' (1964) *''Pazhassi Raja'' (1964) *''Kadalamma'' (1963) *''Rebecca'' (1963) *''Bharya'' (1962) *''Palattukoman'' (1962) *''Krishna Kuchela'' (1961/I) *''Unniyarcha'' (1961) *''Neeli Sally'' (1960) *''Seeta'' (1960) *''Umma'' (1960)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0475069}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunchacko}} Category:Malayalam film directors Category:1976 deaths Category:1912 births Category:Kerala State Film Award winners Category:Malayalam film producers Category:Film directors from Alappuzha district Category:20th-century Indian people Category:Film producers from Kerala Category:Indian Christians Category:Indian Catholics