He was considered one of the directors who started a new school of filmmaking in Malayalam Cinema and helmed some revolutionary films.
Published Sep 24, 2023 | 1:19 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 24, 2023 | 1:22 PM
KG George was a visionary director.
Veteran Malayalam director KG George passed away at an old age home in Kakkanad in Kochi on Sunday, 24 September at the age of 77. He died around 10.15 am.
He had been staying at the old age home for the past five years, and was under treatment for a stroke.
According to an official of the old age home, George’s condition had been critical for the past two days.
He had been under treatment for the last two months and was put on oxygen support on Sunday morning, the official told reporters.
His cremation is expected to be held on Tuesday as per local body authorities. The ace director is survived by his wife singer Selma George, daughter Thara and son Arun.
His wife Salma is with his son in Goa and they set to Kochi soon after they heard the news of his demise.
KG George was born in Thiruvalla in the Pathanamthitta district. He made his directorial debut with the 1976 film Swapnadnam. Later, he directed films such as Ulkkadal (1979), Mela (1980), Yavanika (1982), Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback (1983), Adaminte Vaariyellu (1983), Panchavadi Palam (1984), Irakal (1986), and Mattoral (1988).
Elavamkodu Desam, released in 1998, was his last movie.
KG George was selected as a jury member for the National Film Awards in 2000 and he also chaired the jury of the Kerala State Film Awards in 2003. He also held the position of chairman of the Film Development Corporation (KSAFDC) for five years.
He was honoured with the JC Daniel Award, the highest award for contributions to Malayalam cinema, by the Kerala government in 2015.
He also received the national award for best feature film Swapnadanam (1976), and also bagged nine state film awards since he started his film career in 1970.
KG George is known as a daring filmmaker who didn’t care about commercial success. He was considered one of the directors who started a new school of filmmaking in Malayalam Cinema. He made some revolutionary films in Malayalam which helped Mammootty in his career.
KG George died at the age of 77.
George’s association with the actor saw films such as Mela, Yavanika, Kadhayku Pinnil, Mattoral and Adaminte Vaariyellu which helped Mammootty to do the roles that were much different from his commercial films.
His last movie Elavamkodu Desam was also with his favourite actor Mammootty, but George expressed his dissatisfaction since the movie didn’t get a good response. He had said that Mammootty was not the same actor who had worked with him in his earlier films.
KG George had only directed 20 movies, but his films had made revolutionary changes in the Malayalam industry and his films were female-oriented ones. Swapnadanam and Aadaminte Variyellu are some of his films which had exceptional female characters.
George’s all-time classic Panchavadi Palam remains a pure political satire as it discusses the scam held by political parties in building a bridge.
This collapse of the bridge in the movie was a much-discussed subject. For example, trolls were made based on this movie, in the case of the newly built Palarivattom flyover in Kochi which underwent major repair works in 2019 only three years after its opening.
The director’s films weren’t accepted by the audience in the 1980s when the ideas of the audience were narrow-minded, but the new age film lovers are celebrating his films.
KG George had introduced many actors in the industry. It includes KB Ganesh Kumar, who was the central character in Irakal.
Remembering KG George, actor Ashokan recollected him receiving good roles in the KG George films.
“He (KG George) made big changes in filmmaking. His films, like Yavanika, are still remembered by the audience. Every minute character in George’s films had an identity. He made a shift in filmmaking in Malayalam cinema,” Ashokan told the media.
Director Kamal opined that KG George made some daring films and his movies are textbooks for film studies.
According to Kamal, all the films of George belong to a cult category. He is an eminent filmmaker in Indian cinema itself and his screenplay writing is also exceptional, he added.
