P. A. Backer

P.A. Backer (1940–1993) was one of the "new wave" Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s. Backer was born in 1940 in Thrissur, Kerala State.^[1] Whilst still a student Backer worked as a journalist for Kuttikal and Poomottukal.^[2] He then worked as an assistant to director Ramu Kariat (1960).^[1] He made his debut as a producer in 1970 with Olavum Theeravum which won the state awards for the best film and best cinematography.^[3] He turned director in 1975 with Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol which won for him the State award for best director. Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (When the River Kabani Turned Red), a bold movie about a leftist political activist, was released during the Indian Emergency. Some other notable movies by Backer are Manimuzhakkam (Peal of Bells), Chuvanna Vithukal (Red Seeds/Seeds of revolution), Sree Narayana Guru and Sanghaganam (Chorus). Sree Narayana Guru won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. His last film as a director was Innaleyude Baaki (The Balance of Yesterday; 1988). He died on 22 November 1993, aged 53, at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. He was survived by his wife Anita Backer.^[4]

Filmography

• Innalayude Baaki (1988)
• Premalekhanam (1985)
• Sree Narayana Guru (1985)
• Chappa (1982)
• Charam (1981)
• Manninte Maril (1980)
• Unarthupattu (1980)
• Sanghaganam (1979)
• Chuvanna Vithukal (1977)
• Mani Muzhakkam (1977)
• Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (1975)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen (1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. ISBN 9780851704557. 
2. ^ Sanjit Narwekar (1994). Directory of Indian film-makers and films. Flicks Books. ISBN 9780313292842. 
3. ^ National Film Development Corporation of India, India. Directorate of Film Festivals, India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division (1978). Indian cinema. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 
4. ^ "Obituary". Deccan Herald. cscsarchive.org. 1993-11-23. http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/94ff8a4a35a9b8876525698d002642a9/ea0efb4660a9b8a2652572d60039b131/$FILE/A0190123.pdf. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 

External links

• P. A. Backer at the Internet Movie Database
• P. A. Backer at Cinema of Malayalam

Persondata
Name	Backer, P. A.
Alternative names
Short description	Indian director of Malayalam parallel films
Date of birth	1940
Place of birth	Thrissur
Date of death	1993-11-22
Place of death	Thiruvananthapuram