P.V. Gangadharan

Biography

P. V. Gangadharan (1943–13 October 2023) was an Indian film producer and businessman from Kozhikode, Kerala, who was one of the prominent producers of Malayalam cinema. He was the founder of Grihalakshmi Productions and was active in film production from the late 1970s through the 2000s.

Gangadharan began his film-production career with Sujatha (1977). He subsequently produced several acclaimed Malayalam films, including Angadi (1980), Ahimsa (1981), Chiriyo Chiri (1982), Kattathe Kilikoodu (1983), Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove (1984), Ozhivukalam (1985), Vartha (1986), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Advaitham (1992), Ekalavyan (1993), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Kanakkinavu (1996), Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), and Shantham (2001).

His productions brought together many leading Malayalam filmmakers and actors. For example, Kattathe Kilikoodu was directed by Bharathan, while Vartha was directed by I. V. Sasi and featured Mohanlal and Mammootty. Shantham, directed by Jayaraj, was also produced by Gangadharan.

Apart from cinema, Gangadharan was involved in business and served as a director of Mathrubhumi. He came from the prominent P. V. Sami family of Kozhikode and was the younger brother of industrialist and Mathrubhumi managing editor P. V. Chandran.

Gangadharan received major recognition for his contribution to Malayalam cinema, including two National Film Awards, five Kerala State Film Awards, and six Filmfare Awards South, among other honours. He died in Kozhikode on 13 October 2023, aged 80.