Chintha Ravi

Born in Kannadikkal in Kozhikode as the son of Kunnummal Krishnan and Lakshmi, Ravindran studied at Kozhikode Malabar Christian School, Malabar Christian College, and did a journalism course at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.[1] He started his sojourn into literature with Athiranippookkal a children's book published by National Book Stall. He was only a pre-degree student then.[2] Although he was not too politically active during his school and college days, Ravindran's association with reading rooms and libraries with Leftist leanings led him to the path of discussion and thought.[2] He began his professional writing career with Searchlight where cinema was a specific subject of his words.[2] He soon joined Communist Party of India's ideological journal Chintha and later became a member of the editorial board of the weekly, which earned him the pen-name Chintha Ravi.[3] He also worked for a while with the Kalakaumudi weekly.[1] His association with Kalakaumudi led him to the world of travelogues with "Ente Yathrakal".[2] As a writer, he is best known for his travelogues like Swiss Sketchukal, Akalangalile Manushyar and Buddha Patham. Akalangalile Manushyar (Men in Distant Places) was the result of his journeys to remote villages of India.[3] Buddha Patham not only focused on India, but also his tours abroad, including the heart of Europe.[3] He also made the first television travelogue Ente Keralam, that visualised Kerala's natural and cultural features by touring every nook and cranny of the state.[3] Ente Keralam won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Travelogue.[4] His Cinemayude Rashtreeyam, a book on art criticism and cinema, won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 1990.[5]

He debuted as a director with the Telugu film Harijan. His film Ore Thooval Pakshikal (1988), featuring music by G. Aravindan, won many accolades including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film.[5][6] He also directed several documentaries including the national award-winning Maunam Sowmanasyam, a documentary on G. Aravindan.[1] His films were inspired by the Neo-Gramscianist theories. He also acted a small part in P.A. Backer's Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (1975).[7]

His visual travelogue serial entitled Ente Keralam was telecast in Asianet for many years. Ravi traveled even to the remote villages of Kerala for this programme.

Chintha Ravi died on 4 July 2011, aged 65, at a private hospital in Thrissur. He was under treatment for lung cancer.[1][3][8][9] He is survived by wife N Chandrika, daughter of writer Devaki Nilayangode, and son Thathagathan, an anthropology research scholar in the University of Texas.[10]

Travelogues

• Akalangalile Manushyar
• Digaruvile Aanakal
• Swiss Sketchukal
• Mediterranean Venal
• Vazhikal Vyakthikal Ormakal
• Budhapatham
• Seethakala Yathrakal
• Ente Yathrakal
• Raveendrante Yathrakal (collection of all travelogues)

Others

• Athiranippookkal
• Kadine Nokkumbol Ilakale Kannunnathu
• Antonio Gramsci
• Cinemayude Rashtreeyam
• Kalavimarsam: Marxist Manadandam

• Harijan
• Iniyum Marichittillatha Nammal (1980)
• Ore Thooval Pakshikal (1988)

• Chintha Ravi at IMDb
• Chintha Ravi at the British Film Institute Movie Database
• Profile of Chintha Ravi at Cinemaofmalayalam.net