Tollystory at 15:40, 12 September 2025

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{{Short description|Indian film director (1926–2010)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mankada Ravi Varma
| image = Mankada Ravi Varma.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|6|4}}
| birth_place = [[Mankada]], [[Malappuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|11|22|1926|6|4}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| othername =
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
* Cinematographer
* film director
}}
| yearsactive = 1966–2002
| spouse =
| website =
}}

{{family name hatnote|Mankada|Ravi Varma|Indian name|lang=Toponymic}}'''Mankada Ravi Varma''' (4 June 1926 – 22 November 2010) was an Indian cinematographer and director who worked in [[Malayalam cinema]]. He is exclusively known for his association with renowned film-maker [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/112496/directors-cut.html|title=Directpr's Cut|author=S Nanda Kumar|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2007/09/07/stories/2007090750230100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203223207/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2007/09/07/stories/2007090750230100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2007|title=Painting with light|date=7 September 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118027967?refCatId=13|title=Indian cinematographer Varma dies: He worked on Adoor Gopalakrishnan's films|date=24 November 2010|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Shalini|last=Dore}}</ref> He has associated with other major directors such as [[G. Aravindan]] and [[P. N. Menon (director)|P. N. Menon]]. He has also directed two films. He has won two [[National Film Awards]] and seven [[Kerala State Film Awards]] in various categories. In 2006, he was honoured with the [[J. C. Daniel Award]], Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

==Early life ==
Ravi Varma was born at [[Mankada]] in [[Malappuram]] district into the senior branch of the royal family of [[Kingdom of Valluvanad|Valluvanad]], to K.K. Thampuratti and A.M. Parameswaran Bhattathiripad on 4 June 1926. He attended [[Victoria College, Palakkad]] and the Institute of Film Technology (FTIT) in Chennai.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112360300400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127054224/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112360300400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2010|title=Mankada Ravi Varma dead |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=23 November 2010|location=Chennai, India|date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

==Career==
After his studies from FTIT, he worked as a cinematographer for several documentaries and short films. His debut film was [[Aval (1967 film)|''Aval'']] (1966) was directed by P.M.A Aziz, another student from the institute. His first notable work was ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]'' (1970), directed by [[P. N. Menon (director)|P. N. Menon]] and scripted by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article907286.ece|title=Cultural circles condole death of ace cameraman Ravi Varma
|author=Press Trust of India
|author-link=Press Trust of India
|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 November 2010|location=Chennai, India|date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rediff">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-obit-mankada-ravi-varma/20101123.htm|title=Goodbye, Mankada Ravi Varma|author=Shobha Warrier|publisher=[[Rediff]]|access-date=23 November 2010}},</ref>
His other notable works as a cinematographer include ''[[Dikkatra Parvathi]]'' (1973) by [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]], ''Uttarayanam'' (1974) by [[G. Aravindan]], and almost all the works with [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]].<ref name="Rediff"/>

===Association with Adoor===
''[[Elippathayam]]'' (1981) was one of the most acclaimed films came out of their association.<ref name="Rediff"/> He worked mainly with Adoor in his films, before he fell ill in 2002. ''Nizhalkuthu'' was their last film. Varma could not complete this work as he fell ill soon after the filming had started. Later, this film was completed by [[Sunny Joseph]]. In an interview he said: "I would rate ''Nizhalkuthu'', as Raviettan's best ever work, 30 years after we started our journey together with ''Swayamvaram''."<ref name="Sify">{{cite web|url=http://sify.com/movies/mankada-ravi-varma-passes-away-news-tamil-klxpRJjcfah.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002073903/http://www.sify.com/movies/mankada-ravi-varma-passes-away-news-tamil-klxpRJjcfah.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2012|title=Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|access-date=23 November 2010|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

===Career as a director===
In 1984, he directed his first film, ''Nokkukuthi'', which won him another National Award and a State award.<ref name="Mathrubhoomi"/> "I made it for my own satisfaction. People who are like me will also get satisfaction of watching my film", says Varma.<ref name="Rediff"/> He also directed ''Kunjikoonan'' in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8311585&programId=1073753765&channelId=-1073751706&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=11|title=മങ്കട രവി വര്‍മ അന്തരിച്ചു|publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=22 November 2010|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

Varma received the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema]] for ''Chitram Chalachitram''.<ref name="Hindu"/>

==Death==
Ravi Varma died on 22 November 2010 evening in [[Chennai]].<ref name="Mathrubhoomi">{{cite news|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=101078|title=Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|date=22 November 2010|newspaper=[[Mathrubhumi]]|access-date=23 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124072857/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=101078|archive-date=24 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianetindia.com/news/noted-cinematographer-mankada-ravi-varma-passes_213455.html|title=Cinematographer Mankada Ravi Varma passes away|author=KOL News|date=22 November 2010|access-date=22 November 2010|publisher=[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123120035/http://www.asianetindia.com/news/noted-cinematographer-mankada-ravi-varma-passes_213455.html|archive-date=23 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]] for many years.<ref name="Hindu"/>

==Filmography==

===As cinematographer===
* ''[[Aval (1967 film)|Aval]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Swayamvaram (1972 film)|Swayamvaram]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Dikkatra Parvathi]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Uttarayanam]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Kodiyettam]]'' (1977)
* ''Yakshagana'' (1979)
* ''Chola Heritage'' (1980)
* ''Krishnanattam'' (1982)
* ''Kalamandalam Gopi'' (1995)
* ''[[Elippathayam]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Mukhamukham (1984 film)|Mukhamukham]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Anantaram]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Mathilukal]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Vidheyan]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Kathapurushan]]'' (1996)
* ''Koodiyaattam'' (2001)
* ''[[Nizhalkkuthu]]'' (2002)

===As director===
* ''Nokkukuthi'' (1984)
* ''Kunjikoonan'' (1989)

==Awards==

=== Kerala State Awards ===

* 1970: [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography]] – ''[[Olavum Theeravum]]''
* 1972: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''Swayamvaram''
* 1974: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Uttarayanam]]''
* 1981: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Elippathayam]]''
* 1983: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Nokkukuthi]]''
* 1984: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Mukhamukham (1984 film)|Mukhamukham]]''
* 1986: [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema]] – ''Chitram Chala Chitram''<ref name="Hindu"/>
* 2002: Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography – ''[[Nizhalkuthu]]''
* 2005: [[J. C. Daniel Award]] (Honorary)

=== National Awards ===

* 1972: [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]] – ''[[Swayamvaram (1972 film)|Swayamvaram]]''
* 1983: [[National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention]] – ''Nokkukuthi''
* 1999: [[National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Cinematography]] – ''Kalamandalam Gopi''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}
{{National Film Award Special Jury Award Feature Film}}
{{J. C. Daniel Award}}
{{Kerala State Film Award Best Cinematography}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Ravi}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:J. C. Daniel Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Malayalam film cinematographers]]
[[Category:Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni]]
[[Category:Malayalam film directors]]
[[Category:M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Film directors from Malappuram district]]

Mankada Ravi Varma - Revision history

Tollystory at 15:40, 12 September 2025