Lenin Rajendran facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lenin Rajendran ലെനിൻ രാജേന്ദ്രൻ
Born	1951 Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Died	14 January 2019 (aged 67) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Rajendran
Occupation	Film director Screenwriter
Years active	1981 – 2019
Children	2

Lenin Rajendran (Malayalam: ലെനിൻ രാജേന്ദ്രൻ) was a talented film director and screenwriter from India. He mainly worked in Malayalam cinema, which makes movies in the Malayalam language. He was also the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation from 2016 until he passed away in 2019.

Lenin Rajendran's Film Career

Lenin Rajendran started his journey in filmmaking by helping director P. A. Backer. His first movie as a director was Venal, released in 1982. From this first film to his last one, Edavappathy (2016), he always made high-quality movies. He stuck to his own style and vision, even when using popular actors and film styles.

Rajendran was also involved in politics. He sometimes included his political ideas in his films. For example, his 1985 film Meenamasithile Sooryan was about a historical uprising in Kerala during the 1940s. It showed this event from a certain political viewpoint.

He made several films based on books and historical events.

• Swathi Thirunal (1987) was a historical film about a 19th-century king of Travancore. This king was also a famous music composer.
• Daivathinte Vikrithikal (1992) was a movie version of a novel by M. Mukundan.
• Kulam (1997) was loosely based on C. V. Raman Pillai's historical novel Marthandavarma.
• Mazha (2001) was adapted from a story by Madhavikutty.
• Anyar (2003) explored the topic of people being divided by their communities in Kerala.

Some of his other notable films include Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla (1983), Puravrutham (1988), and Vachanam (1989).

Later Life and Passing

Lenin Rajendran passed away on January 14, 2019, in Apollo Hospital Chennai. He was 67 years old and had undergone a liver transplant. At the time of his death, he was still serving as the Chairman of the Kerala Film Development Corporation. His body was brought back to his hometown. He was cremated with full state honors. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Ramani, and his two children, Gouthaman and Parvathi.

Awards and Recognition

Lenin Rajendran (right), being honored at the IFFI in 2010.

Lenin Rajendran received many awards for his work in cinema:

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1987 - Kerala State Film Award (Special Jury Award) for Swathi Thirunal (film)
• 1992 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Film for Daivathinte Vikrithikal
• 1996 - Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value for Kulam
• 2006 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Director for Rathri Mazha
• 2010 - Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film for Makaramanju

International Film Festival of Kerala

• 2010 - FIPRESCI Prize for Best Malayalam Film for Makaramanju

Kerala State Television Awards

• 1999 - Second Best Teleserial for Balyakalasmaranakal
• 2011 - Best Documentary (Biography) for Kaviyoor Revamma

Kerala Film Critics Award

• 2003 - Special Jury Award for Anyar
• 2006 - Second Best Film for Rathri Mazha
• 2010 - Second Best Film for Makaramanju
• 2015 - Best Screenplay for Edavappathy

Lenin Rajendran's Filmography

Director Lenin Rajendran with the actors of his film Rathri Mazha in 2007.