John Abraham (director)

John Abraham (director) Biography

John Abraham was one of the most talented directors of Malayalam famous for offbeat movies that can be tagged under parallel cinema. John is ranked among the greatest Indian film directors. But he met with a tragic death at the age of 49 and his death is still an unbelievable incident to film fraternity though the incident took place 25 years ago. He fell from the top of a building during a get together and met with death as he was not given proper care and treatment by doctors, mistaking him as an unknown person. Most recently, after 26 years it has been revealed by a surgeon that he died due to internal bleeding and that he could have been saved if given proper care.

It’s really a surprising fact that he has directed only 4 films in his career in between 1972 and 1986 – three in Malayalam and one in Tamil. Of those four movies, Agraharathil Kazhuthai (Tamil) was listed among the "100 Greatest Indian Films" of all time by IBN Live's 2013 poll. His last film Amma Ariyan (1986) was the only south Indian feature movie to find place in "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time by British Film Institute. That shows the real talent of this director and if had lived for one or two decades, he would have created new milestones in Indian cinema. No doubt, John was the most talented director of Malayalam since 1970’s.  The rest two movies directed by John are Cheriachante Krurakrithyangal (1979) and Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile (1972).

John Abraham was born in Chennamkary in 1937 and completed his studies in CMS, Kottayam. He worked as a private school teacher in Thiruvalla latter he joined as an office assistant with Life Insurance Corporation of India in Uduppi. He joined FTII Pune which proved to be the turning point of his career. Abraham graduated out of the FTII with gold medals in screenwriting and film direction. He started his career as an assistant director of Bollywood movies and later entered Malayalam/Tamil direction field. He was a bachelor and led a nomad style of life.

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Updated: September 23, 2013