Ramu Kariat,
one of the directors of Neelakkuyil (the other was P. Bhaskaran), went on to become a
successful director in the 1960s and 1970s. P.
Bhaskaran directed many acclaimed and hit
films in the 1960s and 70s. The cameraman of Neelakkuyil, A.
Vincent, also became a noted director of
the 1960s and 1970s. Notable films of this decade include Odayil
Ninnu, Bhargavi
Nilayam (1964), Chemmeen (1965), Murappennu (1965) and Iruttinte
Athmavu (1966). The era of colour films
came to Malayalam cinema with its first colour film, Kandam
Bacha Coat (1961). Chemmeen (1965),
directed by Ramu Kariat
and based on a story by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, went on to become immensely popular, and became the first
Malayalam film to win the National Film Award
for Best Feature Film. Most of the films of the 60s were
animated by the nationalist and socialist projects, and centered on issues
relating to caste and class exploitation, the fight against obscurantist
beliefs, the degeneration of the feudal class, and the breakup of the
joint-family system. In 1960s M Krishnan Nair, Kunchacko and Subramanyam were
the leading malayalee producers.
During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Kunchacko made significant contributions to Malayalam cinema, both as
a producer and as director of some notable Malayalam movies. He started Udaya
Studios in Alleppey (Alappuzha) in 1947,
reducing the travel to Madras (Chennai) for film crew and actors. This boosted
Malayalam film production in Kerala. Many directors sprang up in this period;
PN Menon made 'rosy'and later 'Chemparanthi', then Aravindan and Adoor too
started work in 1960s to became famous later. Arguably M Krishnan Nair was the
most prominent director producer of this period.
