T. Damodaran

T. Damodaran (Malayalam: ടി. ദാമോദരൻ; c. 1935 – 28 March 2012) was a screenwriter of Malayalam cinema. He scripted some of the biggest blockbusters in Malayalam cinema. Damodaran and director I. V. Sasi teamed up to produce many hit movies, including Angadi, Eee Nadu, Vartha, Avanazhi, Inspector Balram, 1921, Adimakal Udamakal, and Balram vs. Taradas. He also teamed up with director Priyadarshan to produce many hit movies including Aryan, Advaitham, Abhimanyu, and Kala Pani.

His daughter, Deedi Damodaran, is also a screenwriter of Malayalam cinema. She made her debut with the film Gulmohar.

Career

Popularly known as Damodaran Master, T. Damodaran began his career in cinema as script writer in early 70s. A physical education teacher in a school at Kozhikode by profession, Damodaran became active in theatre by late sixties and got into the company of several theatre and cinema artists of the era including Thikkodiyan, Kuthiravattom Pappu, Hariharan and Kunjandi. He was part of Slapstick Theatre, in which Kuthiravattom Pappu was a leading actor. He wrote and acted in several comedies and satires. His dramas were mainly packed with social issues and this was noticed by Hariharan, who forced Damodaran to enter into cinema making. Though, made his debut in 1973, Damodaran became active in cinema by late 70s, after joining with Sasi with whom, he later made around fifty films. It was the huge success of Angaadi in 1980, that formed a turning point in the career of Damodaran. Directed by I. V. Sasi, Angadi has Jayan and Seema in leading roles and broke several collection records. This was followed by Meen, Kanthavalayam, Karimbana, all super hits.