SHYAMAPRASAD

SHYAMAPRASAD – Film Director

Shyamaprasad (born 1960 in Kerala, India)  is the son of BJP leader and former Union Minister O. Rajagopal. 

After completing his degree in Theatre Arts from the School of Drama, Calicut University, Shyamaprasad received the Commonwealth Scholarship in 1989 and did his Master in Media Production at the Hull University, England. imbibed the learning received as an intern at the BBC and Channel 4, to Indian television and redefined the parameters of telefilms and documentaries in Malayalam Television with Doordarshan programmes. He continues to push the frontiers of television in his creative role as President, Programming, Amrita Television.

His features for TV and cinema have won him several national and state awards. Agnisakshi and Akale had been adjudged the best regional cinema films of the nation in 1998 and 2004. These films also received as many as nine state awards in all major technical categories including the Best Director.

For television, he has adapted the works of Anton Chekhov (Vivahalochana); Albert Camus (The Just); Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (Viswavikhyathamaya Mookku); Madhavikkutty (Venalinte Ozhivu); N Mohanan (Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal); Sarah Joseph (Nilavariyunnu), N. P. Mohammed (Ullurukkam) and K. Radhakrishnan (Shamanathalam). He was awarded the Best Television Director prize for the year 1993, 1994, and 1996.

His films had been showcased in several prestigious film festivals such as Karlovy Vary, Tokyo, Cairo, Brisbane, Benodet, Tehran, Florence, and Fukuoka.

As a mark of the respect for his talent and experience in the visual media Shyamaprasad had been invited to serve twice as the jury of the National Film Awards. His 2007 production Ore Kadal, based on a Bengali novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay, had an enthusiastic reception by the popular audience in Kerala and was chosen as the inaugural film of the Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India 2007.

His youth film Ritu (Seasons) released in early August 2009 and was received well by mainstream audiences as well as lovers of middle cinema. Film critics have rated rated it highly for its novel concept and its direction.

Elektra, a psychosensual drama starring Manisha Koirala, Prakash Raj and Nayanthara premiered in November 2010. His last venture Arike released in 2012.

In 2009, he won his third National Award, this time for Ore Kadal.

He is married to Sheeba and has two kids. Currently residing in Trivandrum.