Ajayan, also known as Thoppil Ajayan (8 April 1950 – 13 December 2018) was an Indian film director who is of note for his only feature film Perumthachan (The Master Carpenter). The film received positive reviews from critics worldwide. For this film, Ajayan won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director and Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director in 1990. The film earned Santosh Sivan his first national award in cinematography The film also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film in 1990 and was nominated for the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1992. Film Companion, 22 June 2023
In the afterword to his book The Master Carpenter, author M. T. Vasudevan Nair wrote that Ajayan first approached him for a screenplay of his story Manikkakkallu. That did not materialise and later he approached with another dream project Perumthachan. In the end of the afterword, M. T. thanked Ajayan for persuading him to write the screenplay for Perumthachan.
He died on 13 December 2018.‘Perumthachan’ director Thopil Ajayan passes away in Kerala
Early life and career Ajayan was the eldest son of film director and playwright Thoppil Bhasi. He secured a diploma in film technology from the Adyar Film Institute. He started as a camera assistant and later worked as an associate director with Thoppil Bhasi, Bharathan, Padmarajan and K. G. George. Azhimukham 14 December 2018
Filmography
Director Year Film 1991 Perumthachan
Assistant Director Year Film 1984 Panchavadi Palam 1984 Ente Upasana 11 August 2025 1986 Oridathu 1987 Sarvakalashala 11 August 2025
Chief Associate Director Year Film 1981 Oridathoru Phayalvaan 1982 Novemberinte Nashtam
Associate Director Year Film 1978 Rathinirvedam 1983 Koodevide 1986 Kariyilakkattu Pole
Awards
National Film Awards 1990: Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director - Perumthachan
Kerala State Film Award 1990: Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - Perumthachan 1990: Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director
References
External links
'Cinema of Malayalam' profile