Malayalam director KG George, who ushered in new wave of filmmaking in 80s, passes away in Kochi

Legendary director-screenwriter KG George, known for heralding a new wave of filmmaking in the 1980s in Malayalam cinema, passed away in Kakkanad, Kochi, on Sunday. He was 77.

George, who was undergoing treatment for various ailments at an old-age home in Kakkanad, is known some of the best movies in the industry including Panchavadi Palam, Yavanika, Irakal, Adaminte Vaariyellu and Mela. His last movie was the Mammootty-starrer Elavamkodu Desam, which released in 1998.

Touted as the inspiration for several leading filmmakers and scripwriters in the Malayalam film industry since the 80s, George made his directorial debut with Swapnadanam in 1976. Prior to this, he had worked as an associate director and assistant director in Ramu Kariyat’s Maaya and Nellu – both of which he had also scripted.

Known for straddling both artistic quality and entertainment in his movies, his films were widely acclaimed with movie such as Swapnadanam, Yavanika, Adaminte Variyellu and Irakal still have a cult-following among film aficionados and enthusiasts. George was also honoured with the Kerala government’s JC Daniel award for his invaluable contributions to Malayalam cinema in 2015.

In an era that also witnessed works of some of the greats in the industry including Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Bharathan, Padmarajan and G Aravindan, George’s works stood out as he was able to pave the way for films that had superior making quality and content, without sticking to either the so-called commercial and art film brackets.

Another trait that made him one of the greatest Malayalam cinema has ever seen, is how he could ace any genre – be it a thriller, a political satire or even dark family drama. While some of the die-hard fans would feel that the director, who stopped making films in 1998, had so much to offer to the industry and its audience, George, in director Lijin Jose’s documentary 8 ½ Intercuts: Life and Films of KG George that is currently streaming on Neestream, said that he was content with the films that he had made. All of them would serve as a textbook for film enthusiasts in the time to come.