Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national acclaim.[1][2][3]
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Hariharan studied at St. Thomas College, Thrissur and Universal Arts College, Kozhikode. He entered the Malayalam film industry in 1965, and has so far directed more than 60 films, many of which were highly successful both commercially and critically. His movies have mostly explored the complexities of social issues and human relationships, set in the backdrop of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. His films such as Valarthumrugangal, Panchagni, Nakhakshathangal, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam and Ennu Swantham Janakikutty have entered the Indian Panorama of International Film Festival. He has also been honored with a Diploma by the Pyongyan Film Festival of North Korea for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. In 1993, Sargam won him the State Award for Best Director and also National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film also received special honor at the Fukuoka and Swiss film festivals. His next film, Parinayam, won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and took part in about seven film festivals across the world. Ennu Swantham Janakikutty was the inaugural film at the Korean film festival (2000), and it also took part in the London film festival (2000).
Apart from these recognitions he has also won Filmfare and Ramu Kariat Awards for his works on multiple occasions.
His latest film, Pazhassi Raja, is his most ambitious project yet. It is based on the life of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the first revolter against the British East India Company. This historical epic, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and produced by Gokulam Gopalan, released on 2 October 2009.
His next film, announced as another historical film and tentatively titled Karnan, is again to be the costliest film to be ever produced in Malayalam cinema, with a budget of 50 crore.[4]