Ranjith

Ranjith Balakrishnan (born 5 September 1964) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist, producer, and actor who works in Malayalam cinema.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ranjith wrote scripts for several small budget films, mainly for Kamal, including Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal (1989), Pradeshika Varthakal (1989) and Pookkalam Varavayi (1991).

Another director with whom Ranjith worked during this period was Viji Thampi.

He graduated from the School of Drama and Fine Arts, Thrissur, in 1985.

Ranjith's entry into Mollywood was accidental, he was inspired by his friend, the late film producer and director Alex I. Kadavil, in whose residence he had stayed for his debut in the film industry.

In 1987, he made his debut as a writer in Oru Maymasa Pulariyil, produced by Alex I. Kadavil and directed by V. R. Gopinath.

In 1988, Ranjith made his formal entry into the film world by writing the story for Orkkapurathu, an adventure film directed by Kamal, with Mohanlal in the lead role.

The immediate success of Orkkapurathu brought Ranjith several opportunities to work in films.

This team released Witness (1988), Nanma Niranjavan Sreenivasan (1990), Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam (1989) and Kaalalpada (1990), all with Jayaram in the lead role.

In 1992, he wrote Neelagiri for I. V. Sasi, which underperformed at the box office.

This was followed by Johnnie Walker, directed by Jayaraj, which was noted for its different filmmaking style and was a commercial success at the box office.

1993 was significant in Ranjith's career: Devasuram, his film based on the life of his father-figure, Mullassery Rajagopal, turned out to be a huge box office hit.

With Mohanlal in the lead and directed by I.V. Sasi, Devasuram was both critically and commercially acclaimed; Mohanlal's performance was lauded and it opened a new genre of feudal stories in Malayalam cinema.

Within two months of the release of Devasuram, Ranjith's next movie, Maya Mayuram (directed by Sibi Malayil and again starring Mohanlal) was released, but was not as successful.

According to Ranjith, Maya Mayuram is one of his best films and its failure affected him greatly.

Ranjith mentioned in an interview that several directors passed on the opportunity to make Maya Mayuram, and it was Mohanlal who convinced Sibi Malayil to get involved.

After writing Yadavam (directed by Jomon and starring Suresh Gopi), Ranjith worked with Shaji Kailas for Rudraksham, again starring Suresh Gopi, who was at the peak of his career.

This film generated significant hype in the market as Shaji Kailas-Suresh Gopi was a hot selling team at the time, but the loose script and clichéd humorless dialogues led to Rudraksham becoming a flop.

His next piece of work, Rajaputhran, directed by Shajun Karyal, again with Suresh Gopi in the lead, became a superhit.

In 1997, Ranjith teamed up again with Shaji Kailas for Asuravamsham, starring Manoj K. Jayan and Biju Menon; the film yielded an average commercial response.

Towards the end of 1997, Ranjith penned Aaraam Thampuran, which went to become one of the biggest hits of his career.

This film was also a turning point in the career of Mohanlal, and with it Ranjith gained a reputation as a commercially viable scriptwriter.

Then came Kaikudanna Nilavu, in 1998, directed by Kamal, starring Jayaram, yet another average grosser.

In 1998 Ranjith scripted Summer in Bethlehem, directed by Sibi Malayil, starring Suresh Gopi and Jayaram, a super hit.

In 1999, Ranjith and Shaji Kailas produced the film Ustaad, directed by Sibi Malayil, starring Mohanlal.

The year 2000 began with the release of Narasimham, directed by Shaji Kailas.

With Mohanlal playing the lead role, this film became one of the biggest hits ever in the history of Malayalam cinema at the time.

Yet again in 2000, together with Director Shaji, Ranjith repeated history: his Onam release Valliettan starring Mammooty was a commercial success.

This was his last script for Shaji Kailas and with this film Ranjith became the most successful scriptwriter of the time.

Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with Ravanaprabhu, the sequel to Devaasuram.

In 2001, Ranjith made his directorial debut with Ravanaprabhu, the sequel to Devasuram.

With Mohanlal appearing in dual roles as father and son, this film turned out to be another blockbuster.

The success of his directorial debut led Rashtra Deepika to name Ranjith the Man of the year.

In 2002 Ranjith came back with another successful film, Nandanam, starring Navya Nair and a new face, Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Ranjith produced this film along with his friend, actor Siddique.

Nandanam, revolving around an innocent girl, her love for Lord Sri Krishna and her beau, was an entirely different and unexpected theme from Ranjith at the time.

Despite the film not having a big star cast, fights, or punchy dialogues– and being shelved after some pre-production activities– it became a hit.

His films Thirakkatha and Indian Rupee won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

He is also the current chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.

Ranjith was born in Balussery and grew up in Perambra in Kozhikode District, Kerala.He studied in Perambra Higher Secondary School.