‘He
was
a
tremendous
artist
of
a
very
high
order,
gone
too
soon.’
‘He
not
only
reshaped
the
visual
language
of
Indian
Cinema
through
his
cinematography
in
Aravindan’s
films,
Shaji
sir
gave
us
all
a
sense
of
direction
through
his
mainstream
work
as
a
cameraman.’
Photograph:
Kind
courtesy
Shaji
Karun/X
Malayalam
filmmaker
and
cinematographer
Shaji
N
Karun,
known
for
his
pathbreaking
films
and
distinctive
style
of
movie
making,
died
in
Thiruvananthapuram
on
April
28,
industry
sources
said.
He
was
73.
His
debut
film
Piravi
(1988)
was
considered
a
masterpiece,
and
he subsequently
made
six
other
films,
all
in
Malayalam.
Jaya
Bachchan
wanted
to
remake
Piravi
in
Hindi
with
herself
in
it
but
Shaji
was
not
keen.
When
Subhash
K
Jha
had
asked
Shaji
Karun
why
he
made
only
seven
film
in
33
years,
he
had
said,
‘My
last
directorial
Oolu
was
made
in
2018
but
it
released
in
2019.
I
can’t
rush
to
a
new
film
just
because
I
have
to.
Making
films
is
a
meditation
for
me.
‘The
inspiration
has
to
come
from
within.
It
cannot
be
forced.
Additionally,
I’ve
a
big
responsibility
on
my
shoulder
as
the
chairperson
of
the
Films
Development
Corporation
in
Kerala.
I
have
to
make
sure
that
the
responsibility
given
to
me
—
of
ensuring
all-round
improvement
and
development
in
the
Kerala
film
industry
—
is
well
executed.
‘Once
I
get
the
problems
sorted,
I
will
move
on
and
let
the
others
deal
with
the
execution
of
my
ideas.
But
for
now,
I
am
totally
involved
with
this
job.
As
it
is,
two
years
have
gone
because
of
COVID.
I
have
two
films
in
hand.
“On
my
request,
the
chief
minister
of
Kerala
gave
me
this
job
of
upgrading
cinema
in
Kerala,
so
that
comes
first.
Once
the
process
of
development
starts,
I
will
get
back
to
making
a
film.
This
time,
I
promise
you
there
won’t
be
a
five
year
gap.’
Tragically,
Shaji’s
promise
remained
unfulfilled.
Tributes
from
the
film
industry
have
been
pouring
in.
Shabana
Azmi:
“I’m
saddened
by
this
loss.
I
met
him
a
couple
of
months
ago
and
he
seemed
in
good
health.
“He’s
from
FTII
(Film
and
Television
Institute
Of
India)
and
all
alumni
have
an
instinctive
affinity.
“He
has
been
an
important
filmmaker
and
his
loss
has
become
a
loss
for
cineastes
the
world
over.
“Piravi
remains
a
testimony
to
his
brilliance.”
Sudhir
Mishra
says
he
met
Shaji
just
a
few
weeks
ago.
“A
visual
poet,
gone
too
soon.
He
still
had
the
passion
for
cinema
and
wanted
to
explore
the
medium.
His
cinematography
replicated
G
Aravindan’s
vision,
and
his
masterly
directorial
debut
Piravi
is
a
classic.
“I
was
with
him
during
the
presentation
ceremony
of
the
Kerala
State
awards
just
15
days
ago.
They
gave
him
the
Lifetime
Achievement
Award,
thankfully,
just
in
time.”
Malayalam
Oscar-winning
sound
designer
Resul
Pookutty,
who
was
very
close
to
Shaji
Karun,
is
heartbroken.
“He
was
a
tremendous
artist
of
a
very
high
order,
gone
too
soon.
He
not
only
reshaped
the
visual
language
of
Indian
Cinema
through
his
cinematography
in
Aravindan’s
films,
Shaji
sir
gave
us
all
a
sense
of
direction
through
his
mainstream
work
as
a
cameraman.
“As
a
director,
he
was
profoundly
successful.
I
can’t
pinpoint
a
more
personal
yet
political
and
poignant
film
on
the
Emergency
than
Piravi.
In
the
times
where
clutter
was
identified
as
voices,
Shaji
sir’s
cinematic
journey
—
mostly
his
work
in
Piravi
and
Swaham —
stood
apart
as
textbooks
of
artistic
pursuit
and
cinematic
brilliance.
“We
will
miss
our
dearest,
bestest
alumni
and
visionary.
This
void
will
never
be
filled.
I
will
miss
him
dearly.
“He
was
my
elder
brother
in
cinema
and
in
life.”
Ananth
Mahadevan bonded
closely
with
Shaji
Karun
over
their
cinema.
“Shaji
Karun
was
the
last
real
master
filmmaker
that
we
have.
He
followed
the
footsteps
of
Adoor
Gopalakrishnan
and
Aravindan,
first
as
a
cinematographer,
then
as
a
filmmaker.
“His
Piravi
is
a
milestone
in
Indian
cinema,
not
only
winning
laurels
at
Cannes
but
a
mandatory
textbook
on
mood,
characterisation
and
most
importantly,
pace
in
cinema.
It
is
a
film
I
go
back
too
every
time
I
am
criticised
for
‘pace’
in
my
films.
“Shaji
followed
it
up
with
the
equally
brilliant
Vanaprastham,
a
film
that
is
Mohanlal’s
best
performance.
“Shaji
Karun
has
been
one
of
the
driving
forces
in
my
film
career.
He
watched
all
my
films
and
we
have
had
healthy
discussions
on
them.”
