| Dr. Biju | |
| Yearsactive: | 2005–present |
| Spouse: | Vijayasree P |
| Children: | 1 |
Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian homoeopathic doctor turned film director and screenwriter. He is best known for films such as Saira (2005), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2016), Sound of Silence (2017), Painting Life (2018) and Veyilmarangal (2019).
Biju has received three National Film Awards, and his films have been screened at multiple international film festivals and won numerous awards including the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai Film Festival 2019. His films were screened at festivals including Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Moscow, Cairo, Iran (Fajr), Eurasia, Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Oporto, Dhaka, IFFK and IFFI.
His latest film Adrishya Jalakangal, starring Tovino Thomas and Nimisha Sajayan, released in 2023.[1]
Biju debuted into films as writer and director with Saira (2005). It was first part of terrorism trilogy and in 2007 premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival.[2] [3] His second film Raman (2008) was selected at Cairo International Film Festival (2009) in the Incredible India category. Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home; 2010) was last film of the trilogy and earned a National Film Award for best Malayalam film in 2010.[4]
His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section.[5] Biju's next film, Perariyathavar (Names Unknown, 2014) received two National Film Awards in 2014 for the Best Actor and Best film on Environment conservation, and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival (2014).[6]
In 2015, he directed Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings; 2015) which was premiered at United Nations, Geneva as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme,[7] and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation.[8] His 2016 film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) was premiered at the Eurasia International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Montreal World Film Festival, in 2016.[9]
In 2016, his next film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2016). In 2017, Dr.Biju directed his first non-Malayalam in Pahari, Hindi and Tibetan languages. The film Sound of Silence (2017 film) (2017) won the Best Director award at Kolkata International Film Festival (2017).[10]
In 2018, Dr.Biju directed a film in English language titled Painting Life (2018). The film premiered at Montreal World Film Festival (2018). In 2019 Dr.Biju's tenth film Veyilmarangal (2019) premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival (2019). The film won the Golden Goblet award for outstanding artistic achievement.[11]
In 2020, he directed the film House of Orange Trees which premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival 2020. His next film The Portraits (2021) premiered at the Moscow International film festival 2021. In 2021 he directed his first film in Telugu language titled Sthalam (The Land). The film premiered at Dhaka International Film festival 2023.
| Year | Original title | English title | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Saira | Saira | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Raman | Travelogue of Invasion | Malayalam, English | |
| 2010 | Veettilekkulla Vazhi | The Way Home | Malayalam | |
| 2012 | Akasathinte Niram | Colour of Sky | Malayalam | |
| 2013 | Perariyathavar | Names Unknown | Malayalam | |
| 2015 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal | Birds With Large Wings | Malayalam | |
| 2016 | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram | When The Woods Bloom | Malayalam | |
| 2017 | Sound of Silence | Sound of Silence | Hindi, Pahari | |
| 2018 | Painting Life | Painting Life | English | |
| 2019 | Veyilmarangal | Trees Under the Sun | Malayalam | |
| 2020 | Orange Marangalude Veedu | House Of Orange Trees | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | The Portraits | The Portraits | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Sthalam | The Land | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Adrishya Jalakangal | Invisible Windows | Malayalam |
| Year | Category | Film | Result | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The way home)[12] | Won | ||
| 2013 | Best Film on Environmental Conservation | Perariyathavar (Names Unknown)[13] | Won | The film also won Best Actor Award to actor Suraj Venjaramoodu | |
| 2015 | Best Film on Environmental Conservation | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds with large wings)[14] | Won |
| Award | Film Festival/Organization | Year | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Goblet award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement[15] | 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival | 2019 | Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) | Won | |
| Jury Prize for Best Film | Festival des cinémas indiens de Toulouse/Toulouse Indian Film Festival, France | 2020 | Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) | Won | |
| NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film[16] [17] | International Film Festival of Kerala | 2019 | Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) | Won | |
| Best International Feature Film Award[18] | Chongqing Pioneer Art Film Festival, China | 2020 | Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) | Won | |
| Life Award[19] | Imagineindia International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain | 2022 | The Portraits | Won | |
| Critics award | Rajasthan International Film Festival, India | 2022 | The Portraits | Won | |
| Prémio da Crítica (Critics award)[20] | 39th Oporto International film festival, Portugal, | 2019 | Painting Life | Won | |
| Best Screen Play Award | Aurangabad International film festival | 2019 | Painting Life | Won | |
| Best Director | 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival India | 2017 | Sound Of Silence | Won | |
| Best Film[21] | Indian Film Festival Cincinnati Ohio, USA | 2017 | Sound Of Silence | Won | |
| Special Jury Mention[22] | Bangalore International Film Festival, India | 2017 | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) | Won | |
| World Humanitarian Award[23] | Jakarta World Humanitarian Award | 2015 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) | Won | |
| Best Film | Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) | Won | |
| Best Director | Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Indian International Film Festival Queensland, Brisbane, Australia | 2016 | Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) | Won | |
| Best Film on Global Message | Jaipur International film festival | 2015 | Perariyathavar (Names Unknown) | Won | |
| Best Screenplay award[24] | New York Indian Film Festival, USA | 2013 | Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) | Won | |
| NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film[25] | 15th International Film Festival of Kerala | 2010 | Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) | Won | |
| Signis Award – Commendation[26] | Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania | 2011 | Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) | Won | |
| Best Director[27] | 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) | Won | |
| Best Film | 10Th Imagine India International Film Festival Madrid, Spain | 2011 | Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home) | Won |
| Year | Category | Film | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best Article on Cinema[28] | "Kollaruthu Samvidhayakare" | Won | |
| 2011 | Special Jury Award | Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky) | Won |