{{short description|Indian film director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Ramu Kariat | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|02|01|df=yes}} | birth_place = Engandiyur, Thrissur, Kerala, India | death_date = {{death date and age|1979|02|10|1927|02|01|df=yes}} | death_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | othername = | occupation = Film director | years_active = 1954–1979 | notable_works = ''Chemmeen'', ''Neelakuyil'' | relatives = Devan }}
'''Ramu Kariat''' (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed a number of acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include ''Neelakkuyil'' (1954), ''Minnaminungu'' (1957), ''Mudiyanaya Puthran'' (1961), ''Moodupadam'' (1963) and the National Award winning ''Chemmeen'' (1966).
==Career== He started his career through the Kerala People's Arts Club (K.P.A.C.), a leftist theatre group. He debuted in films by co-directing Thiramala (1953) with Vimal Kumar/P.R.S. Pillai and the path-breaking film ''Neelakkuyil'' in 1954 along with P. Bhaskaran. ''Neelakuyil'' was written by Uroob and starred Sathyan and Miss Kumari was a major commercial success. This film is considered as the first mature film in Malayalam due to the professional approach it had in direction, script, performances and music. Ramu Kariat's co-director of the film P. Bhaskaran and cameraman A. Vincent went on to have illustrious careers themselves.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
After ''Neelakkuyil'', he directed ''Minnaminungu'' (1957), another noted film. His next film was the film version of veteran playwright Thoppil Bhasi's play ''Mudiyanaya Puthran'' (1961). After directing ''Moodupadam'' (1963), he went on to direct ''Chemmeen'' (1965). ''Chemmeen'' is considered as the turning point in Malayalam cinema.{{By whom|date=August 2011}} The film, an adaptation of Thakazhi Sivashankara Pillai's novel in the same name was the first Malayalam film to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. The tragic love story starred Sathyan Madhu and Sheela.
In 1975 he was a member of the jury at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival.<ref name="Moscow1975">{{cite web |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1975 |title=9th Moscow International Film Festival (1975) |access-date=2013-01-04 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194905/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1975 |archive-date=2013-01-16 }}</ref>
He directed fifteen films during his career. He was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly from Nattika in 1965 as a left independent but could not serve in the Legislative Assembly because no one could form the Assembly since there was no majority for any party.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
== Awards ==
* 1954: All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film – ''Neelakuyil''<ref name="2ndawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/2nd_nff_1955.pdf|title=2nd National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=23 August 2011|format=PDF}}</ref> *1954: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''Neelakuyil'' * 1961: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - ''Mudiyanaya Puthran''<ref name="9thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=International Film Festival of India|access-date=8 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> * 1965: National Film Award for Best Feature Film – ''Chemmeen''
== Filmography == {{div col}} *''Neelakkuyil'' (1954) *''Bharata Natyam'' (1956) *''Minnam Minungu'' (1957) *''Mudiyanaya Puthran'' (1961) *''Moodupadam'' (1963) *''Chemmeen'' (1966) *''Ezhu Rathrikal'' (1968) *''Abhayam'' (1970) *''Maaya'' (1972) *''Nellu'' (1974) *''Dweepu'' (1976) *''Kondagali'' (1978) *''Ammuvinte Aattinkutty'' (1978) * ''Sanghaganam''(1979-Acting credit) *''Malankattu'' (1980) {{div col end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|0439253}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kariat, Ramu}} Category:People from Thrissur district Category:Malayalam film directors Category:1927 births Category:1979 deaths Category:Film directors from Thrissur Category:Malayalam screenwriters Category:Screenwriters from Kerala Category:Directors who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award Category:Odia film directors Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters