K. M. Madhusudhanan
Encyclopedia
K.M. Madhusudhanan is an Indian film maker and artist. Born in Allapuzha, a coastal district in Kerala, India. Started drawing at a very young age. After his preliminary education, studied painting in Fine Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Later, studied print making at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat. Has exhibited his paintings and drawings in India and abroad. Has focused on cinema for the past 20 years and has directed several documentaries and short fiction films. Bioscope was his first feature film.
Madhusudhanan is deeply concerned with cinema, its history, and the significant political, cultural and sociological roles it has played in India. His films revolve around this theme as a leit motif, as does his art.
He has made several paintings based on Indian cinema. For example, a series of paintings and drawings titled "Archeology of Cinema". Some of the paintings and drawings from this series have been exhibited at several places in India and abroad. Madhusudhanan continues to work on this theme, and adding to the series.
Self Portrait, scripted and directed by Madhusudhanan introduced a new narrative style. Tells the story of a street photographer through news of global wars. The protagonist sees his own image in the pictures of the dead he is called to take for police records. The film was shown at over a dozen international film festivals and received the best film award from Greece. Was selected by the Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA) as part of a selection of Outstanding Short Films from International Festivals.
In 2006, scripted and directed a silent film History is a Silent Film. The life story of a cinema projector repairer. Of him discovering his father, who disappeared during the India Pakistan partition, in a newsreel that comes to him in a projector for repair. This film was also shown at the MoMA, New York, in addition to several other film festivals.
Bioscope, directed in 2008 is also based on visual images. A story of cinema entering interior villages of Kerala. The film depicts villagers receiving modernity with wonder and excitement; and of the destruction of the life of the protagonist who brings cinema to Kerala. The film received several national and International awards.
He is currently working on a film titled Shambharik Kharolika, or the Magic Lantern. It is constructed around the 19th century magic lantern slides, a forerunner of modern cinema. The magic lantern slides, originating in Europe, were historically developed in India by Mahadeorao Patwardhan (who named it Shambharik Kharolika) and his sons during the British era. The father and sons performed the magic lantern slide shows all across the country in India. These historical figures and their lives provide the broad storyline for this film, while their lives are seen in the film through the eyes of two robbers. The film is under post-production.
Lives and works in Delhi and Kerala.
Filmography:
Awards & Recognition:
Self Portrait, 2001
History is a Silent Film, 2006
• Outstanding Film from International Festivals, MoMA, New York
Bioscope, 2008
""Books & Articles""
Madhusudhanan is deeply concerned with cinema, its history, and the significant political, cultural and sociological roles it has played in India. His films revolve around this theme as a leit motif, as does his art.
He has made several paintings based on Indian cinema. For example, a series of paintings and drawings titled "Archeology of Cinema". Some of the paintings and drawings from this series have been exhibited at several places in India and abroad. Madhusudhanan continues to work on this theme, and adding to the series.
Self Portrait, scripted and directed by Madhusudhanan introduced a new narrative style. Tells the story of a street photographer through news of global wars. The protagonist sees his own image in the pictures of the dead he is called to take for police records. The film was shown at over a dozen international film festivals and received the best film award from Greece. Was selected by the Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA) as part of a selection of Outstanding Short Films from International Festivals.
In 2006, scripted and directed a silent film History is a Silent Film. The life story of a cinema projector repairer. Of him discovering his father, who disappeared during the India Pakistan partition, in a newsreel that comes to him in a projector for repair. This film was also shown at the MoMA, New York, in addition to several other film festivals.
Bioscope, directed in 2008 is also based on visual images. A story of cinema entering interior villages of Kerala. The film depicts villagers receiving modernity with wonder and excitement; and of the destruction of the life of the protagonist who brings cinema to Kerala. The film received several national and International awards.
He is currently working on a film titled Shambharik Kharolika, or the Magic Lantern. It is constructed around the 19th century magic lantern slides, a forerunner of modern cinema. The magic lantern slides, originating in Europe, were historically developed in India by Mahadeorao Patwardhan (who named it Shambharik Kharolika) and his sons during the British era. The father and sons performed the magic lantern slide shows all across the country in India. These historical figures and their lives provide the broad storyline for this film, while their lives are seen in the film through the eyes of two robbers. The film is under post-production.
Lives and works in Delhi and Kerala.
Filmography:
- • Balamaniyamma, Documentary, English, Malayalam, 1997
- • O.V. Vijayan, English, Malayalam, Documentary, 2000
- • Self Portrait, Short Fiction, Hindi, 2001
- • History is a Silent Film, Short Fiction, Silent, 2006
- • Mayabazaar, Documentary, Telugu, English, 2006
- • Razor, Blood and Other Tales, Short Fiction, Silent, 2007
- • Bioscope, Feature Film, Malayalam, Tamil, 2008
Awards & Recognition:
Self Portrait, 2001
- • Best Film, Thessaloniki Festival, Greece
- • Outstanding Film from International Festivals, MoMA, New York
History is a Silent Film, 2006
• Outstanding Film from International Festivals, MoMA, New York
Bioscope, 2008
- • Osian Cinefan International Film Festival, NETPAC Jury Award for Best Asian Film
- • Special Mention Jury Award, Mannheim-Heidelberg International Festival, GermanyInternational Filmfestival Mannheim-HeidelbergMannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival is an annual film festival held jointly by the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg. The festival was established in 1952. In Mannheim there are six cinema centres and 19 single cinemas.The festival presents arthouse films of...
- • Best Cinematography Award, SAIFF, New York
- • 5 Kerala State Film Awards
- o Special Jury Award for Direction
- o Best Cinematography
- o Best Editing
- o Best Background Score
- o Best Film Processing Lab
- • Special Jury Award, National Film Awards56th National Film AwardsThe 56th National Film Awards is presented to the best of Indian Cinema released during the year 2008.-Feature Films:Films made in any Indian language shot on 16 mm, 35 mm or in a wider gauge or digital format but released on a film format or video/digital but certified by the Central Board of Film...
""Books & Articles""
- • On Bioscope: Rhythm of Light, Malayalam, Dr. V. Sanil
- • The Gaze of Cinema, Malayalam, Dr. K. Gopinathan
- • K.M. Madhusudhanan’s Bioscope, English, Shekhar Deshpande
- • Scholars Watching Elephant, English, Leo Bankersen
- • Bioscope Script, Malayalam, Published by Mathrubhoomi Books
- • A Turning Point, Interview, Screen India