Kunchacko

Infobox actor
name = Kunchacko


imagesize=1
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birthname =
birthdate = 1912
birthplace = Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
deathdate = 15 June 1976
deathplace = Madras (now Chennai), Tamilnadu, India
restingplace =
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othername =
occupation = Film producer, director
yearsactive = 1947-1976
spouse = Annamma Chacko
domesticpartner =
children = 4
parents = Mani Chacko, Eliyamma
influences =
influenced = Malayalam film industry
website =
filmfareawards =
nationalfilmawards =
awards =

Kunchacko was a Malayalam cinema producer and director who heavily influenced the Malayalam film industry by redefining the commercial film scenario. [ourkeralam.com - [http://www.ourkeralam.com/artandculture/movie.htm Malayalam Movies] ] His venture Udaya Studios influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Madras, Tamilnadu to Kerala. He is the producer of Jeevithanauka (1955) starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, which is widely regarded as the first superhit in Malayalam film history. [prd.kerala.gov.in - [http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/malayalamcinemamore.htm Malayalam cinema] ] [thikkurissy.com - [http://www.thikkurissy.com/html/movies.html Movies] ] He is the grandfather of popular Malayalam film actor Kunchacko Boban.

Biography

Kunchacko was born to Mani Chacko and Eliyamma in Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha, Kerala, India in 1912. He became interested in the art of filmmaking as he grew up. After finishing Intermediate (Pre-degree equivalent) he made plans to establish a film studio in Kerala. In 1947, incidentally the year of India's independence, he established Udaya Studio in Pathirappally, Alappuzha. He was following the footsteps of J. C. Daniel who established the first film studio in Kerala named "The Travancore National Pictures" in 1926. [cinemaofmalayalam.net - [http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/jcdaniel.html J. C. Daniel Biography] ] In early days Kunchacko produced films under the banner of "K & K Productions", with the partnership of K.V. Koshi.The company produced 4 films: "Vellinakshatram, Nalla Thanka, Jeevithanauka "and" Visappinte Vili". "Jeevithanauka" (1955), starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair was a trendsetter and a big commercial success, running for 250 days. It is widely considered as the first superhit in Malayalam cinema history. During the making of the film "Achchan", Kunchacko and Koshi parted ways and each started filmmaking in separate benners:Kunchacko under Udaya and Koshi under Filmco. [weblokam.com - [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0306/14/1030614090_1.htm Profile] ] Kunchacko went on to produce "Achchan, Avan Vrunnu "and" Kidappadam" under the banner of Udaya. "Kidappadam" was a commercial failure, and that made Kunchacko to close down Udaya Studio. However, Udaya was opened within a few years with the help of his friend and Kerala state minster T. V. Thomas.

In 1960, Kunchacko tried his hand in film direction with "Umma". The film went on to be a hit and it prompted him to proceed with direction. His next films "Neela Saari" and "Seetha" were also commercial successes, consolidating his career as film director. 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 noted 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 noted films directed by various director like M. Krishnan Nair ("Agni, Mrigam, Kattuthulasi"), A. Vincent ("Gandharva Kshethram"), Thoppil Bhasi ("Oru Sundariyude Katha, Ningalenne Communistakki") and K. Raghunath ("Laura Neeyevide"). [weblokam.com - [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0306/14/1030614090_1.htm Profile] ]

Death came for Kunchacko in the form of cardiac arrest when he was in Madras, Tamilnadu with musician K. Raghavan for the song recording of the film "Mallanum Mathevanum". "Kannappanunni" was the last film directed by him, which was Udaya's 75th film. [weblokam.com - [http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0306/14/1030614090_1.htm Profile] ]

Kunchacko's son Boban Kunchacko acted in a few film produced by Udaya. He later ventured into direction with the films "Palattu Kunikkannan, Sanchari" and "Aazhi". His son, Kunchacko Boban is now an established Malayalam film actor. [The Hindu - [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/07/10/stories/2004071001510500.htm Boben Kunchacko dead] ]

Filmography

Direction

#Kannappanunni (1977)
#Chennai Valarthiya Kutty (1976)
#Mailanum 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)
#Neelisally (1960)
#Seeta (1960)
#Umma (1960)

References

*IMDb - [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475069/ Profile]