Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas

A. K. Lohithadas, also known as Lohi, was an Indian screenwriter, playwright, film maker, and producer who worked in the Malayalam film industry. He was born on 10 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Thrissur district, Kerala, as the son of Ambazhathil Karunakaran and Lakshmi. He had two siblings, a brother and a sister. He started his career as a playwright and director in the theatre. He wrote and directed several plays, including 'Kattukuthira', 'Kaliyankattu', 'Kaliyamardhanam', 'Kaliyattam', 'Kaliyodam', and 'Kaliyogam'. He made his debut as a screenwriter with Thaniyavarthanam (1987), directed by Sibi Malayil. Together, Sibi Malayil and Lohithadas would later produce several Malayalam movies. He has written screenplays for 35 films in a 24-year-long career, such as Vicharana (1988), Ezhuthapurangal (1988), Kireedam (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Mrugaya (1989), His Highness Abdullah (1990), Sasneham (1990), Bharatham (1991), Amaram (1991), Aadhaaram (1992), Kamaladalam (1992), Vatsalyam (1993), Venkalam (1993), Padheyam (1993), Chenkol (1993), Chakoram (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999). He later became a director, and made his directorial debut with Bhoothakkannadi (1997). He later wrote and directed Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Joker (2000), and Kasthooriman (2003). He also produced some of his films, such as Kasthooriman and Nivedyam (2007). Most of his works were critically and commercially successful. His works were recognised from his very first venture Thaniyavarthanam, which brought him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He won six Kerala State Film Awards, one National Film Award, and fourteen Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Script in his career. He was known for his rich, detailed, and realistic screenplays, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters of Malayalam cinema of all time. He died on 28 June 2009 due to a heart attack at his home in Aluva, where he had been living for two-three years. His body was taken to his home in Lakkidi in Palakkad district, where he was cremated with full state honours. He is survived by his wife Sindhu and two sons named Harikrishnan and Vijayashankar.