PV Gangadharan passes away: A look at the journey of award-winning Malayalam film producer

Born in 1943 to PV Samy, a prominent businessman and the founder of the KTC Group of Companies, and Madhavi Samy, PV Gangadharan entered the world of politics at a very young age. He began student politics at the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and was an active member of the AICC. During this time, he led thousands of students and used to carry out marches across Malabar, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts.

While he joined the Indian National Congress around the same time in 1961, he became a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 2005. Gangadharan also unsuccessfully contested the 2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections for the party.

Besides that, he has also held several important positions in the party, including president of the Azhchavattom Congress unit committee, treasurer of the Mankavu Mandalam Committee, president of the Congress Relief Committee, and chairman at the UDF finance committee for both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections since 1977 in Kozhikode, among others.

On the other hand, Gangadharan began his journey in the Malayalam film industry as a producer in 1977 with the film ‘Sujatha’. Under his own production house, Grihalakshmi Productions, he has produced 22 Malayalam films, of which many were big hits. Some of his popular works include ‘Angadi’ (1980), ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha’ (1989), ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’ (1983), ‘Vartha’ (1986), ‘Kaanaakkinaavu’ (1996), ‘Thooval Kottaram’ (1996), ‘Adhwaytham’ (1992), ‘Ennu Swantham Janakikutty’ (1998), and ‘Notebook’ (2006), among others.

His last film, titled ‘Janaki Jane’, was released in 2023. As a producer, he has also won two National Awards followed by five Kerala State Film Awards and six Filmfare South Awards. Besides that, he was also the founding president of the International Film Producers Association (FIAPF).

He is survived by his wife, Sherin, and children, Shenuga, Shegna, and Sherga. His mortal remains will be kept at the Town Hall in Kozhikode for public homage, and the cremation will be held on Saturday.