Shiny Benjamin Explained
Shiny Benjamin, (also known Shiny Jacob Benjamin[1] [2] born in Karavaloor, Punalur, Kollam) is a National Award-winning Indian director of documentaries and docufictions, from Trivandrum, Kerala.[3] [4]
Life
Shiny Benjamin began her career as journalist, and had been a documentary director since 1999. She worked as a feature writer with the Malayalam newspapers Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi before joining Asianet (TV channel), the first Malayalam satellite television channel. Later, she worked with Indiavision, the first news channel in Malayalam, as a chief producer for the television channel JaiHind TV and Jaihind Middle East. Shiny is the younger daughter of K.O.Benjamin and Sosamma Benjamin. Her education began at Karavaloor AMMHS and continued at St. Gorety Girls High School, followed by St. John's College, Anchal. She has been honoured with 20 awards including five National Awards and eight Kerala State Film Awards for documentaries and docufictions.[5] [6]
Filmography
Year | Title | Script | Short Description |
---|
2017 | The Swords of Liberty | Beear Prasad | Describes the life and death of Velu Thambi Dalawa.[7] [8] |
2014 | | | A docufiction inspired by Indian author Perumpadam Sreedharan’s novel on Fyodor Dostoevsky.[9] [10] |
2013 | Translated Lives - A Migration Revisited | | A documentary about the lives of Malayali women who emigrated to Germany in the 1960s to become nurses. |
2012 | Between a Rock and a Hard Place | | A documentary about the lives of five Kerala women. |
2010 | Ottayal (One Woman: Alone) | Shiny Benjamin | Describes the life of Daya Bai who fought for the right of Gonds in Madhya Pradesh.[11] |
2006 | Bhagya-Singer in a Democracy | Shiny Benjamin | Life of a migrant young woman from Karnataka who makes a living by singing on trains. |
2005 | Nizhalukal (Shadows) | Shiny Benjamin | Tells the story of the lives of young victims of sexual abuse and rape. |
2004 | Mazha (Rain) | Shiny Benjamin | Describes the monsoons of Kerala. |
2003 | Avan (He) | Shiny Benjamin | A film which explores the world of homosexual sex workers. |
2002 | Namukkum Avarkkum Idayil (In Between) | Shiny Benjamin | The film explores the topic of cruelty against animals. |
2001 | Murivunangatha Balyangal (Wounded Childhood) | Shiny Benjamin | A film on child abuse. |
2001 | Devil Worshippers | Shiny Benjamin | A documentary exploring the belief and practice of black magic in Kerala. |
2000 | Kanayi Kazchakal (Kanayis Artscape) | Shiny Benjamin | A brief study of the art and personality of Kanayi Kunhiraman, India’s foremost contemporary sculptor. | |
Film festivals
Awards
- 2017 - The Sword of Liberty Kerala State Awards for the Best Documentary and Best Director
- 2017 - The Sword of Liberty National Film Award for Best Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film.
- 2017 - National Film Award for the Best Biographical Film / Best Historical Reconstruction. (Non feature - Biographical Film)
- 2017 - National Film Award for the Best Music Direction-Background score. (Non feature - Biographical Film)
- 2014 - Translated Lives - A Migration Revisited Best Documentary Film Award at the 3rd Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival.
- 2014 - Translated Lives - A Migration Revisited The Laadly National Media Award for Gender Sensitivity.
- 2014 - 64th for the Best Audiography to Ajith Abraham George.
- 2010 - Ottayal (One Woman Alone) National Film Awards for the Best Documentary.[6]
- 2010 - Ottayal (One woman lone) Kerala State Award for Best Documentary.
- 2010 - Ottayal (One woman lone) Special Jury Award John Abraham International Festival for Documentaries and Short Films (Signs) & The Laadly National Media Award.
- 2006 - Bhagya, Singer in a Democracy Kerala State Award for Best Documentary.
- 2005 - Nizhalukal (Shadows) Kerala State Award for Best Documentary.
- 2004 - Mazha (Rain) Kerala State Special Jury Award for Documentary.
- 2003 - Avan (He) Kerala State Award for Best Documentary. & Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Best Director.
- 2002 - Namukkum Avarkkum Idayil (In Between) Kerala State Award for Best Documentary on Topical Issues & Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Best Director.
- 2001 - Murivunangatha Balyangal (Wounded Childhood) Kerala State Special Jury Film Award for Best Documentary.
Notes and References
- News: Reels of reality. Saraswathy. Nagarajan. The Hindu. 28 March 2014. www.thehindu.com.
- News: Nursing big dreams. Liza. George. The Hindu. 5 March 2014. www.thehindu.com.
- Web site: A real to reel story of a warrior. The New Indian Express. 18 June 2018 .
- Web site: Official Selection - Kolkata International Film Festival. www.kiff.in.
- News: In the footsteps of Velu Thampi Dalawa. Saraswathy. Nagarajan. The Hindu. 24 May 2018. www.thehindu.com.
- Web site: RIFFA BIO - Shiny Jacob Benjamin. www.riffa.ca.
- Web site: 'The Sword of Liberty': Freedom fighter Velu Thambi Dalawa's story in film . The News Minute . 18 June 2018 . 2019-02-15.
- News: The Dalawa gets a documentary. Staff Reporter. The Hindu. 19 June 2018. www.thehindu.com.
- News: To Russia, with love. Saraswathy. Nagarajan. The Hindu. 3 November 2016. www.thehindu.com.
- Web site: In Return: Just a Book - a filmic tribute to Dostoyevsky and Perumbadavam. OnManorama.
- Web site: 58th National Film Awards: Meet the winners. News18. 9 September 2011.
- Web site: Press Information Bureau: Government of India news site, PIB Mumbai website, PIB Mumbai, Press Information Bureau, PIB, India's Official media agency, Government of India press releases, PIB photographs, PIB photos, Press Conferences in Mumbai, Union Minister Press Conference, Marathi press releases, PIB features, Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign, Public Information Campaign, Bharat Nirman Campaign, Public Information Campaign, Indian Government press releases, PIB Western Region.
- Web site: A real to reel story of a warrior- The New Indian Express. 18 June 2018.
- https://sicff.ae/
- Web site: Kolkata International Film Festival.