Film Producer PV Gangadharan Passes Away at 80
Renowned film producer and entrepreneur, Parayarukandi Vettath Gangadharan, breathed his last at a private hospital in Kerala on Friday. The 80-year-old producer was admitted to the hospital a week ago due to age-related ailments.
Throughout his prolific career, Gangadharan produced 22 Malayalam films under his production banner Grihalakshmi Films. His contributions to the film industry earned him two National Film Awards and five Kerala State Film Awards, among various other accolades.
Some of his notable productions include “Angadi” (1980), “Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha” (1989), “Kattathe Kilikkoodu” (1983), “Vartha” (1986), “Kaanaakkinaavu” (1996), “Thooval Kottaram” (1996), “Adhwaytham” (1992), “Ennu Swantham Janakikutty” (1998), “Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal” (2000), “Achuvinte Amma” (2005), and “Notebook” (2006), among many others. His final film, “Janaki Jane,” was released in 2023.
Gangadharan’s film “Kanakkinavu” received the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, while “Shantham” was honored as the Best Feature Film.
In addition to his film industry achievements, he held significant positions in various film organizations. He served as the founding president of the International Film Producers Association (FIAPF) and held roles such as chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, president of the Film Federation of India, president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, and president of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce.
Born in 1943 to Madhavi Sami and P V Sami, a prominent businessman and founder of KTC Group of Companies, Gangadharan was the younger brother of P V Chandran, the managing editor of Mathrubhumi. He also served as a director of Mathrubhumi.
In his political career, he contested from Kozhikode North in the 2011 Assembly elections. He was a member of the All Indian Congress Committee and an activist of the Kerala Students Union during his college days.
PV Gangadharan is survived by his wife P V Sherien and children Shenuga Jaythilak, Shegna Vigil, and Sherga Sandeep, who run a production house called S-Cube Films.
