Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas on the 28th of June 2009 at the age of 54, he was an Indian screenwriter, playwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema.
Born on the 5th of May 1955 in Chalakudy, Kerala, he showed an initial interest in writing short stories, but failed to make a mark in that genre. He made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987).
He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Sasneham (1990), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999).
Fresh with the play’s commercial and critical success, Lohithadas was introduced to K. G. George by actor Thilakan.
It did not help Lohithadas to start a career in Malayalam cinema.
But it was K. G. George who gave the basic core idea of the story, later which was developed by Lohithadas to make the film Kireedam.
Later, Thilakan introduced Lohithadas to director Sibi Malayil when Sibi was searching for a good writer for his films.
Thus Lohi’s first movie screenplay Thaniavarthanam was directed by Malayil and became a success.
Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several memorable Malayalam movies.
His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Dasharatham (1989), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993).
The scripts that he had written over the years will be enough for future generations to understand the genius of Lohithadas, who turned director with Bhoothakkannadi (1997).
Some of the hugely popular scripts written by Lohithadas include Thaniyavarthanam, Ezhuthappurangal (1987), Kudumbapuranam, Mukthi (1988), Kireedom, Jathakam, Mudra, Mahayanam, Dasaradham (1989), Sasneham, His Highness Abdullah, Kuttettan (1990), Bharatham, Amaram, Dhanam (1991), Kamaladalam, Aadharam, Kauravar, Valayam (1992), Padheyam, Venkalam, Valsalyam, Chenkol (1993), Thoovalkkottaram, Sallapam (1996), Bhoothakkannadi, Karunyam (1997), Ormacheppu, Kanmadam (1998), Joker, Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Arayannangalude Veedu (2000), Soothradharan (2001), Kasthuriman, Chakram (2003), Kasthuriman –Tamil (2005), Chakkaramuthu (2006) and Nivedyam (2007).
He won quite a number of awards for his writings and also for direction. His cameos in films like Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal, Udayananu Tharam and Shakespeare M A (Malayalam) were also noted.
Lohithadas was also known for introducing a few talents to movies, like Manju Warrier, Meera Jasmine, Bhama among others.
He was married to Sindhu and had two sons, Vijayashankar and Harishankar.
He ventured into direction in 1997 with Bhoothakkannadi and went on to direct another few movies which were critically and commercially very successful with the reality of the characters and the theme.
He was once asked by a German movie artist whether he was a psychologist to depict characters so deeply and arrestingly.
He had never worked for any films other than Malayalam films and was busy with the initial work of two projects in Malayalam which never got finished.