Kaloor Dennis is an Indian film scriptwriter and novelist. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He started his career with Anubhavangale Nandi in 1979. He worked in more than 100 Malayalam movies with the areas of his contribution including script, story and dialogue. Popular movies scripted by him are Raktham (1981), Aa Rathri (1983), Sandarbam (1984), January Oru Orma (1986), Gajakesariyogam (1990), Mimics Parade (1991), Welcome to Kodaikanal (1992), Kudumbasametham (1992) and Paithrukam (1993). He won the 1992 Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Kudumbasametham His son Dinu Dennis has acted in the films Ottananayam (2005) and Ennitum (2006).

Career

It was the script that he penned for Joshiy's movie Raktham that made him popular as a writer. Dennis' association with the Malayalam film industry started in the mid 1970s when he and designer Kitho started a cinema magazine, Chitrapournami. This gave them the opportunity to interact with several top-line actors and directors. Dennis' first script was for the movie Vayal directed by Antony Eastman. Soman and Shubha played the lead roles. At that time Jagan Pictures Appachan was planning for a new movie after Chamaram. Appachan read Dennis' novel Aakashathinu Keezhe published in Chitrakaumudi weekly and expressed his interest to make a movie based on that novel.

Accordingly, Dennis completed the script. They had not finalised the actor and that Friday a new film, Moorkhan, was released at Ernakulam Padma. Appachan and Dennis went for the movie. The movie was racy and thrilling and during the interval, Appachan asked Dennis. "Why cant we approach this young man Varkkala Joshiy to direct 'Aakashathinu Keezhe'?" Joshiy was finalised. They hired two of the lead actors Prem Nazir and Madhu for the movie.

However, at the last minute, some problems arose regarding the location, and Appachan asked Dennis to find another story. But Dennis came up with a new subject the very next day. After penning the script, the movie was titled Raktham.

"Raktham was the inaugural movie of Mymoon theatre. It had a successful hundred plus days run," remembers Dennis.

Kaloor Dennis is known as a scriptwriter standing along with the producer. As a result of this, Dennis often had a clash with the superstars. Mammootty, who acted as a hero in 24 of his films, had not been on speaking terms with Dennis for over 12 years. There were differences of opinion with Suresh Gopi also. The beginning of Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) was in fact formed as a backdrop of this rift with Suresh Gopi.

He is always of the opinion that producers should be respected and loved then and now. The intervention of actors cannot be accepted. The issue with Suresh Gopi which eventually led to the formation of MACTA started on the location of a movie named City Police scripted by him. The shooting of the film went on smoothly. Suresh Gopi was the hero of his next film Karpuradeepam also. There were differences of opinion on the location. Shooting was disrupted and the producer was in a crisis. He soon called Joshiy and thought of forming an organisation for scriptwriters. Joshiy directed to include directors also. The first executive meet of MACTA was held at Bharat Tourist Home. It grew into a big cultural organization. MACTA was formed against Suresh Gopi. But Suresh Gopi started giving donation for it from the day it was formed. Their conflict lasted only for six months. Along with John Paul, Dennis went to the shooting location of Joshiy's film Bhupathi. Suresh Gopi was the hero of the film. When Suresh Gopi heard Dennis talking to Joshiy about convening MACTA's committee, he insisted that the committee of MACTA be convened in his house ! He also served a sumptuous sadya for everyone. After that, Suresh Gopi had acted in four to five films of Kaloor Dennis including Marc Antony and Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal

Awards 1992 Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Kudumbasammedam

Partial filmography Year Films Story Screenplay Dialogue Director Notes1979 Anubhavangale Nanni I. V. Sasi Ivide Kattinu Sugandam P. G. Viswambharan 1980 Akalangalil Abhayam Jeassy 1981 Vayal Antony Eastman Raktham Joshiy Sambhavam P. Chandrakumar Thaaraavu Jeassy 1982 Aa Raathri Joshiy Karthavyam Joshiy Oru Vilippaadakale Jeassy Aayudham P. Chandrakumar 1983 Prathijnja P. N. Sundaram 1984 Kodathy Joshiy Sandarbham Joshiy Idavelakku Sesham Joshiy Koottinilamkili Sajan Alakadalinakkare Joshiy Minimol Vathicanil Joshiy 1985 Upaharam Sajan 1986 Oppam Oppathinoppam Soman January Oru Orma Joshiy 1988 Arjun Dennis Thevalakkara Chellappan Malarum Kiliyum K. Madhu Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas Kamal Co-written with John Paul1990 Marupuram Viji Thampi Co-written with Renjith Gajakesariyogam P. G. Viswambharan Thoovalsparsham Kamal 1991 Innathe Program P. G. Viswambharan Irikku M.D. Akathundu P. G. Viswambharan Mimics Parade Thulasidas Koodikazhcha T. S. Suresh Babu Nagarathil Samsara Vishayam Prashanth 1992 Kudumbasametham Jayaraj Kunukkitta Kozhi Viji Thampi Kallan Kappalil Thanne Prashanth Kasarkode Khaderbai Thulasidas Welcome to Kodaikanal Anil Babu Thiruthalvaadi Viji Thampi Manthrikacheppu Anil Babu First Bell P. G. Vishwambharan Priyapetta Kukku Sunil Congratulations Miss Anitha Menon Thulasidas 1993 Paithrukam Jayaraj Injakkadan Mathai & Sons Anil Babu Sakshal Sreeman Chathunni Anil Babu Uppukandam Brothers T. S. Suresh Babu Sowbhagyam Sandhya Mohan Sthreedhanam Anil Babu Journalist Viji Thampi 1994 Vendor Daniel State Licency Balu Kiriyath Kambolam Baiju Kottarakara Kadal Siddique Shameer Bharya VR Gopalakrishnan 1995 Street Anil–Babu Kalyanji Anandji Balu Kiriyath Thumboli Kadappuram Jayaraj Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Balu Kiriyath 1996 Manthrika Kuthira Viji Thampi Sulthan Hydarali Balu Kiriyath King Solaman Balu Kiriyath 1997 Killikurissiyile Kudumbamela Viji Thampi Gajaraja Manthram Thaha Anjarakalyanam V. M. Vinu 1999 Ezhupunna Tharakan P. G. Vishwambharan 2000 Mark Antony T. S. Suresh Babu 2002 Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Vinayan 2004 Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku Thaha 2005 Krithyam Viji Thampi 2007 Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal Harikumar 2009 Decent Parties Abraham Lincoln 2010 Again Kasargod Khader Bhai Thulasidas 9 KK Road Simon Kuruvila 2013 Climax Anil

References

External links

Kaloor Dennis at MSI