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Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Born	Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Occupation	film director
Spouse	Lisy

Priyadarshan is a popular Indian movie director. He hails from the state of Kerala, South India. He has directed numerous popular hit movies in Malayalam in the 1980s and 1990s. In Bollywood, he is known for making remakes of Malayalam films, not always his own, and seldom with attribution.

Contents 1 Film career in Malayalam 2 Making of remakes 3 Movies 4 Writer 5 Awards 6 Accusations of plagiarism 7 Family 8 External links

Priyadarshan aspired to be a cricketer. However his hopes of a career in cricket were cut short following an injury to his left eye by a cricket ball. Around the same period many of his friends from Thiruvananthapuram joined the film industry including actor Mohanlal, singer M. G. Sreekumar, producer Suresh Kumar are few among them.

Priyadarshan's father was a librarian in Thiruvananthapuram. It was here that he got the opportunity to read literary works of famous writers. His fascination for comics and fairy tales still reflects in his movies.

Priyadarshan ventured into film director by accident. His first movie Poochakkoru Mookkuthi in Malayalam was a block buster. His success is generally attributed to the new outlook, particularly slaptstick comedy which is extensively used in his films. Mohanlal has played the lead character in some most successful films directed by Priyadarshan. Their best work till date has been considered as Chithram (Malayalam, 1987). Their another movie Kilukkam was one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam movie.

Apart from Malayalam films Priyadarshan has also directed Hindi, Tamil and Telugu movies. His foray into Bollywood was with the movie Muskurahat (1993) remake of malayalam film Kilukkam. This was a failure at the boxoffice and it went largely unnoticed. His first successful Hindi film was Gardish, a remake of the malayalam film Kireedam (1989).

He made his second foray into Hindi films with the remake of the acclaimed Kamal Haasan starrer Thevar Magan (Tamil) in Hindi. The film was titled Virasat and was made with the help of writer Vinay Shukla. The success of the film established Priyadarshan as a sought after director in Bollywood along with the cast and crew of the film including Tabu, Ravi K Chandran (cinemotography) and Anu Malik (music).

He later directed a string of remakes including Hera Pheri (2000) ( remake of "Ramji Rao Speaking"), Hungama (2003) (remake of Poochakkoru Mookkuthi), Hulchul (2004) (remake of Godfather), Garam Masala (2005) (remake of Boeing Boeing) and Chup Chup Ke (2006) (remake of Punjabi House). Priyadarshan has worked with banners like Sahara One, Percept Picture Company, Venus, K Sera Sera as a director.

Priyadarshans movies are famous for their rich exotic visuals, songs and simple humour. One of his most visually appealing works was the award winning Thenmavin Kombath (Malayalam, 1994). As a director he has refined his technique of story telling over the years. This can be seen in Kilukkam (1991, Malayalam), Abhimanyu (1992, Malayalam) and Kaalapaani (1996). He often works with the technical team comprising of N. Gopalakrishnan (editor), S. Kumar (cinemotography) and Sabu Cyril (art director).

Some of the remakes of Priyadarshan however failed to achieve boxoffice success. These include Muskurahat, Kabhi Na Kabhi (1997) (not a remake), Doli Sajake Rakhna (1998) (remake of Aniyathipravu), Yeh Tera Ghar Ye Mera Ghar (2002), (remake of Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam)and Kyonki (2005)(remake of Thaalavattom).

This table lists the remakes Priyadarshan has made in Hindi vs the original film:

Film in Hindi	Year - Cast	Original Film in Malayalam	Year - Cast
Untitled Remake	2007 (Announced)- Akshay Kumar,Paresh Rawal	Ishtam	Dileep, Nedumudi Venu. Director - Sibi Malayil
Dhol	2007 - Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Khemu, Rajpal Yadav, Sharman Joshi	In Harihar Nagar	1990 - Mukesh, Saikumar, Suresh Gopi. Director - Siddique-Lal
Bhool Bhulaiya	2007 (Release - Oct 12 - India) - Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja,Amisha Patel	Manichitrathazhu	1993 - Mohanlal,Suresh Gopi,Shobana Director - Fazil
Bhagam Bhag	2006 - Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta	Mannar Mathai Speaking	1995 - Mukesh, Saikumar, Innocent, Vaani Viswanath. Director - Mani.C.Kappan
Chup Chup Ke	2006 - Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor	Punjabi House	1998 - Dileep, Mohini. Director - Rafi & Macartin
Kyon Ki	2005 - Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Rimi Sen	Thalavattam	1986 - Mohanlal, Karthika, Lizy. Director - Priyadarshan
Garam Masala	2005 - Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Paresh Rawal	Boeing Boeing	1985 - Mohanlal, Mukesh, Sukumari. Director - Priyadarshan
Hulchul	2004 - Akshay Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Amrish Puri	Godfather	1991 - Mukesh, Kanaka, N.N. Pillai. Director - Siddique & Lal
Satyaghat - Crime Never Pays	2003- Mohanlal, Rami Reddy	Abhimanyu	1992 - Mohanlal, Rami Reddy, Director - Priyadarshan
Hungama	2003 - Akshay Khanna, Rimi Sen, Aftab Shivadasani	Poochakkoru Mookkuthi	1984 - Mohanlal, Menaka, Shankar. Director - Priyadarshan
Laysa Laysa	2002 (Tamil) - Shaam, Trisha Krishnan, Madhavan	Summer in Bethlahem Cheppu	1998 - Jayaram, Suresh Gopi, Manju Warrier. Director - Sibi Malayil 1980 - Mohanlal. Director - Priyadarshan
Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar	2001 - Sunil Shetty, Mahima Chaudhry	Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam	1986 - Mohanlal, Karthika. Director - Satyan Anthikad
Hera Pheri	2001 - Sunil Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal	Ramji Rao Speaking	1989 - Mukesh, Saikumar, Innocent. Director - Siddique & Lal
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna	1998 - Akshay Khanna, Jyothika	Aniyathi Pravu	1997 - Kunchako Boban, Shalini. Director - Fazil
Virasat	1997 - Anil Kapoor, Tabu, Pooja Batra	Thevar Magan (Tamil)	1992 - Kamal Haasan, Revathi, Gauthami. Director - Bharathan
Saat Rang Ke Sapne	1997 - Arvind Swamy, Juhi Chawla	Thenmavin Kombath	1994 - Mohanlal, Sobhana. Director - Priyadarshan
Gardish	1993 - Jackie Shroff, Amrish Puri	Kireedam	1989 - Mohanlal, Thilakan. Director - Sibi Malayil
Chori Chori	1988 - Mithun Chakravorthy, Gauthami (hindi version directed by K.BAPPAIAH)	Chithram	1988 - Mohanlal, Renjini. Director - Priyadarshan
Muskurahat	1992 - Jay Mehta, Revathi	Kilukkam	1989 - Mohanlal, Revathi. Director - Priyadarshan

• Untitled (2008)....with Akshay Kumar
• Bhool Bhulaiya (2007) (completed)
• Dhol (2007) (completed)
• Bhagam Bhag (2006)
• Chup Chup Ke (2006)
• Malamaal Weekly (2006)
• Kyon Ki (2005)
• Garam Masala (2005)
• Hulchul (2004)
• Vettam (2004)
• Hungama (2003)
• Kilichundan Mampazham (2003)
• Satyaghath: Crime Never Pays (2003)
• Laysa Laysa (2002)
• Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001)

... aka Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar (India: Hindi title: alternative transliteration)

• Kakkakuyil (2001)
• Hera Pheri (2000)
• Snegithiye (2000)
• Megham (1999)

... aka Meghom (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration)

• Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998)
• Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998)
• Chandralekha (1997)
• Saat Rang Ke Sapne (1997)
• Virasat (1997) (as Priyadarsan)
• Kala Pani (1996)

... aka Kalaa Paani (India: Hindi title: alternative transliteration) ... aka Kalapani (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration) ... aka Saza-E-Kala Pani (India: Hindi title: dubbed version) ... aka Sirai Chaalai (India: Tamil title)

• Gandeevam (1994)

... aka Gandheevam (India: Telugu title: alternative transliteration)

• Minnaram (1994)
• Thenmavin Kombath (1994)
• Gardish (1993)
• Midhunam (1993)
• Muskurahat (1992) (as Priyadarsan)
• Abhimanyu (1991)
• Advaitham (1991)
• Gopura Vasalile (1991)
• Kilukkam (1991)
• Nirnayam (1991)
• Akkareakkareakkare (1990)

... aka Akkare Akkare Akkare (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration)

• Kadathanadan Ambadi (1990)
• Vandanam (1989)
• Aryan (1988)
• Chithram (1988)
• Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988)

... aka Mukundanetta... Sumithra Vilikkunnu (India: Malayalam title)

• Oru Muthassi Katha (1988)
• Vellanakalude Naadu (1988)
• Cheppu (1987)
• Rakkuyilin Rajassadasil (1986)
• Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986)
• Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (1986)
• Dheem Thariktia Thom (1986)
• Hello My Dear: Wrong Number (1986)
• Ninnishtam Ennishtam (1986)
• Thalavattam (1986)

... aka Thaalavattam (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration)

• Aram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985)
• Boeing Boeing (1985)
• Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985)
• Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985)
• Punnaram Cholli Cholli (1985)
• Oodarathuammava Aalariyam (1984)
• Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984)

• Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw (2006) (story)
• Chup Chup Ke (2006) (story and screenplay)
• Malamaal Weekly (2006) (screenplay) (story)
• Kyon Ki (2005) (screenplay)
• Garam Masala (2005) (screenplay)
• Vettam (2004)
• Wanted (2004/I) (screenplay and dialogue)
• Hungama (2003) (screenplay) (story)
• Kilichundan Mampazham (2003) (screenplay and dialogue)
• Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001) (story)

... aka Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar (India: Hindi title: alternative transliteration)

• Kakkakuyil (2001) (screenplay) (story)

• Chandralekha (1997) (dialogue) (screenplay) (story)
• Oru Yaatra Mozhi (1997) (story)
• Kala Pani (1996) (story)

... aka Kalaa Paani (India: Hindi title: alternative transliteration) ... aka Kalapani (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration) ... aka Saza-E-Kala Pani (India: Hindi title: dubbed version) ... aka Sirai Chaalai (India: Tamil title)

• Gardish (1993) (screenplay)
• Muskurahat (1992) (story) (as Priyadarsan)
• Pyar Hua Chori Chori (1992) (story)

... aka Love on the Sly

• Gopura Vasalile (1991)
• Nirnayam (1991) (story)

• Chithram (1988)
• Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) (dialogue) (screenplay)

... aka Mukundanetta... Sumithra Vilikkunnu (India: Malayalam title)

• Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (1986)
• Thalavattam (1986)

... aka Thaalavattam (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration)

• Boeing Boeing (1985) (story and screenplay)
• Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985)
• Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984)
• Bhookambam (1983) (dialogue) (screenplay)
• Kuyiline Thedi (1983)

Priyadarshan has won awards both from the State and Central government for his movies, He won the Kerala State Award for Best Director in 1995. He made a mulitilingual Kalapaani (1996) which told the story of freedom fighters in the jail at Andaman and Nicobar islands. It became as showcase for talented technicians from Malayalam to get noticed at the national level. It bagged 4 National Awards including awards for Santosh Sivan (cinematography) and Sabu Cyril (art direction).

Several critics have pointed out that Priyadarsan relies on plagiarism of other films, particularly critically accepted Hollywood pieces. Even his hindi remakes of malayalam movies (of Sathyan Anthikkad and Siby Malayil) are far inferior to the originals.Strong similarities between plots can be found in Thalavattam and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Maalaamaal Weekly is a direct lift from the movie Waking Ned. Other films accused of plagiarism are Vandanam (Stakeout), Boeing Boeing (Boeing Boeing), and Vettom (French Kiss),chandralekha(while she was sleeping).

Priyadarshan met his wife, Malayalam actress Lizy, on the sets of his second film. They have worked together in twelve movies. He has two children, daughter Kalyani and son Sidharth. Actor Mohanlal is one of Priyadarshan's closest friends.

• Priyadarshan at the Internet Movie Database
• Inuaguration of his Studio - Four Frames

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