Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan terms Shaji N. Karun an icon of world cinema

Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer Shaji N. Karun was a flagbearer of the new wave that swept through Malayalam cinema in the 70s. File.
| Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed Shaji N. Karun an icon of world cinema. 

In a condolence message, Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Karun’s works brought national and international repute to Malayalam cinema.

He said Mr. Karun was known for his exquisite frames, which wholesomely captured the theatrical moment. Mr Karun was also an expert in the technical aspects of cinematography, editing, and picturisation. 

Also read | He taught us to go the extra distance in capturing a frame: Sunny Joseph on Shaji N.Karun 

Mr Karun was a flagbearer of the new wave that swept through Malayalam cinema in the 70s. His work, Piravi, immortalised the anguish of a father (Eachara Warrier) who lost his son (Rajan) to State-sponsored terror during the Emergency. 

Mr. Vijayan said Mr Karun’s movies were political. As a moviemaker, Mr Karun was a standard bearer of progressive politics and humanism. “Mr Karun was a staunch Left fellow traveller,” he said. 

Mr. Vijayan remembered Mr. Karun’s contributions as the president of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham State president. “His passing away is a loss for Kerala,” Mr Vijayan said. 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan noted that the late cinematographer had created a niche in world cinema. 

Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Karun could accurately translate the cinematic tales of world-renowned director Aravindan into celluloid. “Mr Karun could read Aravindan’s mind when wielding the camera,” he added.

He said Mr. Karun shirked the trappings of commercial cinema for art. The curators of the Cannes Film Festival selected his movies, including Piravi, Swam, and Vanaprastha, for competition and screening.