| Bhadran Mattel | |
| Birth Name: | Thomas |
| Birth Date: | 22 November 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Pala, State of Travancore–Cochin (present day Kottayam, Kerala), India |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Occupation: | Film director |
| Years Active: | 1982–2005 |
| Spouse: | Tessy |
Bhadran Mattel (born 22 November 1952)[1] is an Indian filmmaker and writer.[2] Bhadran's body of work addresses themes such as victimization caused by poor parenting, psychological trauma and redemption, the objectification of fatherhood and childhood distress. His films often feature metaphorical representation of objects and animals, biblical references, and depiction of autocratic Christian culture in a specific region of Kerala.
Among the very few filmmakers who dominated the Malayalam film industry through the '80s and '90s, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers to introduce the glorification of thug life by Malayalam superstars on screen, which went on to become the most popular concept of a typical mass film among Kerala film fans. In 1986, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam for Poomukhappadiyil Ninneyum Kaathu and won two more Filmfare's in the Best Director category for Iyer the Great and Spadikam in 1990 and 1995.
Mattel's directorial works include the ruffian film Spadikam (1995), the psychic-precognition thriller Iyer the Great (1990), an investigative school drama Olympian Anthony Adam (1999), the film Uncle Bun (1991), about the parenthood of an obese caretaker, a psychic family drama Poomukhappadiyil Ninneyum Kaathu (1986), the musical Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha (1987), the film Udayon (2005), featuring a mighty land tyrant (2005), Indian political thriller Yuvathurki (1996) and more. Actors Mohanlal and Mammootty became frequent collaborators with Bhadran.[3]
He worked as the 8th Assistant Director for Hariharan on Rajahamsam under the banner of Supriya, the production house. Beginning with Rajahamsam, he assisted Hariharan in 14 films, progressing from an apprentice to an associate director.
The first film under his direction was released in 1982. Ente Mohangal Poovaninju, starring Shankar, Mohanlal, Menaka, and Kala Ranjini, received critical appreciation and was popular with audiences. Bhadran's films drew inspiration from the lives of common people, blended with creative surrealism. Changatham (Malayalam), starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Madhavi, was released in 1983 and made ripples on the mainstream cinematic landscape. Bhadran focused on making 2–3 films per year.
The film Idanazhiyil Oru Kaalocha (A Footstep in the Aisle), released in 1987, was about a teenage boy who falls in love with an elderly lady, played by Vineeth and Karthika respectively.
Iyer the Great, released in 1990, was a psychological thriller film directed by Bhadran, starring Mammootty and addressing a train accident in Peruman. It became a well-received film in the Malayalam film scene.
Spadikam (Prism), released in 1995, was an action drama film written and directed by Bhadran. The title was chosen to depict how people constantly change and adapt to exploit situations for their own benefit. The prism splits the white light into a spectrum of seven vibrant colors.[4]
The film was one of the highest-grossing films in Kerala in 1995 and collected around INR 8 Crores. It was also the longest running film of 1995 and ran for 225 days, winning the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Spadikam was Bhadran's most successful commercial film, gaining cult status in Kerala's film culture.
In 2019, Bhadran announced that his next venture would be a film with Mohanlal Viswanathan called Jonathan, working together for the first time in 16 years.[5] Also in 2019, when film director Biju J. Kattackal announced that he will make the second part of the film Spadikam, Bhadran opposed it, and the project had to be shelved.[6]