Kamal (director)

Kamaluddin Mohammed Majeed, mononymously known as Kamal, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in the Malayalam cinema. He was the former chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Kamal made his directorial debut with the 1986 film Mizhineerppovukal. In a career spanning over three decades, Kamal has directed over forty films. His films have won various National Film Awards and Kerala State Film Awards, including for films such as Kakkothi Kaavile Appoppan Thaadikal (1988), Ulladakkam (1991), (1995), Niram (1999), Madhuranombarakkattu (2000), Meghamalhar (2001), Nammal (2002), Perumazhakkalam (2004), Karutha Pakshikal (2006), and Celluloid (2013).

Kamal
Born	Kamaluddin Mohammed Majeed Mathilakam, Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1981–present
Known for	Kakkothi Kaavile Appoppan Thaadikal (1988) Niram (1999) Karutha Pakshikal (2006) Celluloid (2013)
Spouse	Saburabi

In this Indian name, the name Mohammed Majeed is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kamaluddin or by his stage name Kamal.

Early life

Kamal was born as Kamaluddin Mohammed Majeed.^[1]

Career

He started his career by writing the film Thrasam, directed by Padiyan in 1981. He also worked as an associate director in the film.

His first film was Mizhineer Pookkal in 1986 and to date, he has directed more than 43 movies, among which are two non-Malayalam movies, one each in Tamil and Hindi. Apart from his role as a director, Kamal has held several administrative posts within the Malayalam film industry. He had previously acted as the general secretary of the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) and has been an executive member of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. He was elected president of the Kerala Directors' Union (FEFKA) in 2012.^[2]

His works include Unnikale Oru Katha Parayam, Kakkothikavile Appooppan Thadikal, Thoovalsparsham, Ghazal, Ulladakam, Ee Puzhayam Kadannu, Azhagiya Ravanan, Mazhayethum Munpe, Meghamalhar, Madhuranombarakaattu, Perumazhakkalam, Karutha Pakshikal, Khaddama and Celluloid. His interest in film-making led him to enroll at the Kalabharathi Film Institute in Thrissur.^{[citation needed]}

Celluloid (2013) is the biopic of J.C Daniel, the father of Malayalam cinema. Smitha at the entertainment site, oneindia.com, stated that the film is one of the best films made in recent times from Indian cinema.^[3]

Aami is a biopic of poet and author Kamala Surayya.^[4]

Personal life

Kamal's son, Jenuse Mohamed, made his debut as a film director in 2015 with the Malayalam film 100 Days of Love.^[5]

In April 2020, reports surfaced that an aspiring Mollywood actress had sent the director a legal notice on 26 April 2019, accusing him of sexually assaulting her after promising her a role in his film. Kamal said he suspected a former Chalachitra Academy employee to be behind the recent exposé, and, terming the allegations baseless, intended to defame him.^[6][7]

Filmography

As director

• Note: all of his films are in Malayalam, except otherwise noted.

Year	Film	Notes
1986	Mizhineerppoovukal
1987	Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam
1988	Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal
	Orkkapurathu
	Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
1989	Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
	Pradeshika Varthakal
1990	Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran
	Thooval Sparsam
	Shubhayathra
1991	Pookkalam Varavayi
	Vishnulokam
	Ulladakkam
1992	Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo
	Aayushkalam
	Champakulam Thachan
1993	Ghazal
	Bhoomigeetham
1995	Mazhayethum Munpe
1996	Azhakiya Ravanan
	Ee Puzhayum Kadannu
1997	Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu
1998	Kaikudunna Nilavu
	Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu
1999	Niram
2000	Madhuranombarakkattu
2001	Meghamalhar
	Piriyadha Varam Vendum	Tamil film
2002	Nammal
2003	Gramaphone
	Swapnakoodu
2004	Manjupole Oru Penkutty
	Perumazhakkalam
2005	Zameer: The Fire Within	Hindi film
	Rappakal
2006	Pachakkuthira
	Karutha Pakshikal
2007	Goal
2008	Minnaminnikoottam
2010	Aagathan
2011	Gaddama
	Swapna Sanchari
2013	Celluloid	Also producer
	Nadan
2015	Utopiayile Rajavu
2018	Aami
2019	Pranaya Meenukalude Kadal
2024	Vivekanandan Viralanu

As associate director

Year	Film	Director
1982	Chillu	Lenin Rajendran
1984	Oru Kochu Swapnam	Vipin Das
1985	Aa Neram Alpadooram	Thampi Kannanthanam
	Avidathepole Ivideyum	K. S. Sethumadhavan
	Ayanam	Harikumar

As screenwriter

Year	Film
1980	Kaavalmaadam
1981	Thrasam
1983	Kadamba
1985	Aa Neram Alpadooram
1986	Sunil Vayassu 20
1997	Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu
2001	Meghamalhar
2002	Gramophone
2003	Swapnakkoodu
2006	Karutha Pakshikal
2008	Minnaminnikoottam
2010	Aagathan
2013	Celluloid

Awards and nominations

National Film Awards

• 2005– Best Film on Other Social Issues for Perumazhakkalam
• 2007– Best Film on Family Welfare for Karutha Pakshikal
• 2013– Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Celluloid

Kerala State Film Award

• 1991 Best Director for Ulladakkam
• 1995 Best Popular Film for Mazhayethum Munpe
• 2000 Second Best Feature Film for Madhuranombarakkattu
• 2001 Second Best Feature Film for Meghamalhar
• 2001 Best Screen Play for Meghamalhar
• 2002 Best Popular Film for Nammal
• 2013 Best Film for Celluloid^[8]

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

Source:^[9]

• 1995 Second Best Film for Mazhayethum Munpe
• 1996 Second Best Film for Ee Puzhayum Kadannu
• 1999 Second Best Film for Niram
• 2001 Best Film for Meghamalhar
• 2002 Second Best Film for Nammal
• 2004 Best Film for Perumazhakkalam
• 2004 Best Director for Perumazhakkalam
• 2006 Best Film for Karutha Pakshikal
• 2006 Best Director for Karutha Pakshikal
• 2010 Best Film for Khaddama
• 2010 Best Director for Khaddama
• 2012 Best Film for Celluloid
• 2012 Best Director for Celluloid

Asianet Film Awards

• 2001: Asianet Film Award for Best Director- Meghamalhar