M.R. Rajan, whose short film Minukku won the National film award for the Best Documentary in 2006, never had to look back ever since his first work Pakarnnattam won him national recognition in 1995. Interestingly, all his creations have been anchored on outstanding Kathakali actors. (Minukku is on Kathakali maestro Kottakkal Sivaraman, Pakarnnattam featured the legendary Koodiyattom artiste Ammannur Madhava Chakyar and Ithihaasathinte Sparsam was on Premji).
Minukku is the latest and the fifth to win him national recognition after Ithihasathinte Sparsam and Unarvinte kaalam. Other noteworthy films of Rajan have been Nataka Patha on T.P. Gopalan and Nottam on Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair.
“I feel that they are a rare genre of performers who become legends during their lifetimes. Further, they have been icons in their respective areas and I am sure my works will be an asset for posterity to be introduced to these stalwarts,” Rajan said to a newspaper.
M.R. Rajan started his career as a Chief associate with filmmaker B. Narasing Rao in Daasi and Matimaushalu in 1989 and 1990. He associated with the production of film Idiot by Mani Kaul based on the story of Dostovosky and served as a Jury member of the Indian Panorama for the International film festival of India, 2004.
According to Rajan, Minukku is the first documentary to be produced on 35 mm cinemascope format. Produced by Devadas Kizheppattu under the banner of Cinematographic Kerala, Minukku is a rare mix of Kathakali and cinema. The one-hour documentary narrates the virtuosity of an actor that transcends gender barriers; an actor who has immortalised female characters in Kathakali over the past five decades.
However, he is sore that opportunities for exhibiting such works are very rare. He has plans for producing a DVD edition of the same so that more people will be able to enjoy it.
