T. Damodaran

Biography

T. Damodaran (15 October 1935 – 28 March 2012) was an influential Indian screenwriter who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, he became one of the most prominent screenplay writers of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, known for politically charged stories, powerful characters, and socially relevant themes.

Damodaran wrote the screenplays for several major Malayalam films, including Angaadi (1980), Ahimsa (1981), John Jaffer Janardhanan (1982), Ee Nadu (1982), Iniyengilum (1983), Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove (1984), Vaartha (1986), Avanazhi (1986), 1921 (1988), Aryan (1988), Arhatha (1990), Inspector Balram (1990), Abhimanyu (1991), Advaitham (1992), Jackpot (1993), and Kaalapani (1996).

He had a particularly successful creative partnership with director I. V. Sasi, with whom he worked on films such as Angaadi, Ee Nadu, Vaartha, Avanazhi, Inspector Balram, 1921, and Adimakal Udamakal. He also collaborated with director Priyadarshan on films including Aryan, Advaitham, Abhimanyu, and Kaalapani.

Among his most celebrated works was Kaalapani (1996), a historical drama starring Mohanlal. The film received four National Film Awards and seven Kerala State Film Awards, further establishing Damodaran's reputation as an important screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He also wrote Megham (1999), which starred Mammootty and Dileep.

Damodaran was married to Pushpa, and their daughter Deedi Damodaran later became a screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He died in Kozhikode on 28 March 2012, aged 76, after suffering a heart attack. His screenplays remain an important part of the history of modern Malayalam cinema.