Noted cinematographer Mankada Ravi Varma wins Daniel award

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 (UNI) Noted cinematographer Mankada Ravi Varma has been chosen for the prestigious J C Daniel award, instituted by the Kerala government to honour veterans for their lifetime contribution to the Malayalam cinema.

Announcing the award at a press conference here today, State Culture Minister M A Baby said Varma was selected by a five-member jury, headed by Mr K P Kumaran.

Mr M P Sukumaran, Ms Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Mr K R Mohanan and Dr V Venu, Secretary, cultural department, were the other jury members.

The jury unanimously observed that Mr Varma's contribution in connecting the visual language of Malayalam cinema was incredible.

The new methods adopted by him in Malayalam classics like G Aravindan's ''Utharayamam,'' P N Menon's ''Oolavum theeravum'' and Adoor Gopalakrishnan's ''Swayamvaram'' later paved the way for many changes in Malayalam filmdom.

The award, which carried a cash prize of Rs one lakh, a plaque and a citation, would be presented to him later on, he added.

UNI