KOCHI: Veteran screenwriter John Paul, who along with the likes of directors Bharathan, Padmarajan and Mohan, helped reinvent Malayalam cinema in the late '70s and '80s by harnessing powerful visual storytelling to visceral and thought-provoking themes, passed away on Saturday. Paul (72) was under treatment for various ailments for some time.
With no formal literary training or background, Paul's original and rivetting screenplays were derived from his all-consuming passion for cinema, whose wide-eyed student he remained to the very end. Ardent learner as he was, the ever-accessible Paul was also a mentor to some of the biggest names in the Malayalam movie industry.
Starting his career by writing the story for I V Sasi-directed 'Njan Njan Mathram' in 1978, Paul has written around 100 screenplays, including, notably, for 'Yathra', 'Vidaparayum Munpe', 'Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam' and 'Ulsavapittennu'. In a career spanning over four decades, Paul was associated with several generations of filmmakers and changing aesthetic tastes. His adaptability was one of his key strengths.
‘Paul raised status of Malayalam cinema’
Paul teamed up with directors like Bharathan and Mohan to give Malayalam cinema some of its most memorable movies in the 1980s. He was the screenwriter of Bharathan’s movies such as ‘Chamaram’, ‘Ormakkayi’, ‘Palangal’, ‘Minnamingunte Nurunguvettam’, ‘Keli’, while ‘Vidaparayum Munpe’, ‘Rachana’, etc. were penned by him for director Mohan.
He had written screenplays for the likes of P N Menon and K S Sethumadhavan as well. Paul turned produced with 'Oru Cheru Punchiri’, a movie penned and directed by M T Vasudevan Nair, which won many awards. At a time when MT and Padmarajan were dominating as screenwriters, Paul succeeded in finding his own space in Malayalam cinema.
Born to P V Paulose and Rebecca on October 29, 1950, in Kochi, Paul secured an MA in economics from Maharaja’s College in Kochi. Before venturing into screenwriting, Paul worked as a bank officer. As Paul himself revealed later, he started his career as a bank officer by vowing that “it will not be from the bank that I will be superannuating”.
Paul had been active in cultural spheres until his last days. He was associated with various film society movements as well. In the mid-seventies, Paul had worked as a reporter for a film magazine in Kochi. That career became an umbilical cord connecting him with Mollywood. It was Paul’s acquaintance with I V Sasi during his days as a reporter that later paved the way for his film career.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan, education minister V Sivankutty, opposition leader V D Satheesan and actor Manju Warrier, were among those who condoled Paul’s death. In his condolence message, the CM hailed him as a talented filmmaker who elevated Malayalam cinema to the zenith of creativity.
Paul is survived by wife Aisha Elizabeth and daughter Jisha. The body will be kept for public homage at Ernakulam Town Hall from 8am to 11am and later at Chavara Cultural Centre on Sunday. Then, the body will be taken to his residence at Maradu. The funeral will be held at St Mary’s Soonoro Church, Elamkulam at 4pm. The funeral will be conducted with police honours.
