Resul Pookutty (born 30 May 1971) is an Indian film sound designer, sound editor and audio mixer. He won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in 2008, along with Richard Pryke and Ian Tapp, for Slumdog Millionaire. Pookutty has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Malayalam languages in addition to British films. He is a member of the Executive committee of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Motion Picture Sound Editors guild (MPSE) and Cinema Audio Society of America (CAS). In 2010, the Government of India honored him with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cinema. In the same year, he was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.
Recently Mr. Pookutty was awarded the title Distinguished Engineer by Rocheston, New York. (Distinguished Engineer is an honor awarded to Engineers of repute, selected from across the world in recognition of caliber, technical excellence and accomplishments that are an inspiration to people.
Early life Born into a family in Vilakkupara, near Anchal about 40 km from Kollam, Kerala, India. He was the youngest of eight children. His father was a private bus ticket checker. Pookutty had to walk 6 km to the nearest school and study in the light of a kerosene lamp as his village had no electricity.Tough journey for sound wizard Resul Pookutty The Economic Times, 24 February 2009.
He did his bachelor's degree in physics from Milad-E-Sherief Memorial College, Kayamkulam during 1987–1990. He joined Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram for studying Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, however, he was unable to complete it. In 1995, he graduated from Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He wrote the remaining LLB exam papers and enrolled as an advocate in 2012. Pookutty said that it was his father's desire to make him an advocate.
Career
Pookutty moved to Mumbai after his graduation. He termed it as "a natural immigration as a graduate of the institute." He pointed out that "Ninety-five per cent of the technicians of the Mumbai film industry are alumni of FTII, Pune." Pookutty made his debut in sound design with the 1997 film Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One, directed by Rajat Kapoor. He got his big break with the critically acclaimed 2005 film Black, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He subsequently engineered sound for major productions like Musafir (2004), Zinda (2006), Traffic Signal (2007), Gandhi, My Father (2007), Saawariya (2007), Dus Kahaniyaan, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009), and Enthiran (2010).
Personal life Pookutty is married to Shadia.It's been an unbelievable ride' The Times of India, 24 January 2009. They have two children.
Filmography Year Film Language Notes2003Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without WomenHindi 2004MusafirHindi 2007 Traffic Signal Gandhi, My FatherSaawariya Dus Kahaniyaan 2008 Slumdog MillionaireEnglish Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing 2009 Kerala Varma Pazhassi RajaMalayalam National Film Award for Best Audiography 2010 EnthiranTamil 2011 Ra.OneHindi Adaminte Makan AbuMalayalam 2012 NanbanTamil The Best Exotic Marigold HotelEnglish English VinglishHindi 2013 Kunjananthante KadaMalayalam 2014 KochadaiiyaanTamil Ankhon DekhiHindi Highway YaanTamil 2015 UnfreedomHindi and English PathemariMalayalam 2016 RemoTamil Niruttara Kannada 2017KaabilHindiThe Sound StoryMalayalam2018Kammara Sambhavam 2.0Tamil 2019 KolaambiMalayalam Otha Seruppu Size 7 Tamil National Film Award for Best Audiography2020 TranceMalayalam2021Kaadan/Aranya/Haathi Mere SaathiTamilTeluguHindi Pushpa: The RiseTelugu2022Radhe ShyamTelugu, HindiShabaash MithuHindi2024AadujeevithamMalayalamKerala State Film Award For Best Sound DesignChoo MantarKannadaIn the Belly of a TigerHindiKanguvaTamilPushpa 2: The RuleTeluguBaby JohnHindiVadakkanMalayalam2025Tanvi the GreatHindi2026Batwara 1947Hindi
As director YearFilmLanguageNotesRef.2023OttaMalayalamDebut as a director
Awards 2024: Kerala State film Award for best Sound design for Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life 2019 : National Film Award for Best Audiography for his work in Oththa Seruppu Size 7 2019 : Golden Jury Film Award the best sound designing for Sax by Julius 2016 : Golden Reel award the best sound for documentary India's Daughter 2012 : Zee Cine Award for Best Sound Design for his work in Ra.One. 2010 : National Film Award for Best Audiography for his work in Pazhassi Raja 2010 : Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt.) by Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit 2010 : Padma Shri by Government of India 2009 : Asianet Film Awards – Special Honour Jury Award 2009 : Chakkulathamma Swaravarsha Award 2009 : Bahadoor Award 2009 : Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. 2009 : BAFTA Award for Best Sound along with Glenn Freemantle, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers and Ian Tapp for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. 2005 : Zee Cine Award for Best Audiography for his work in Musafir.
See also List of Indian winners and nominees of the Academy Awards
References
External links
Official webpage
Resul Pookutty – Profile at Variety Resul Pookutty – Filmography and Profile Resul returns after winning the Oscar Interview-chatting Sound Resolution – Resul Pookutty talks about Resul Pookutty Foundation – Fried Eye