Amal Neerad


Amal Neerad is an Indian film director, cinematographer and producer who mainly works in Malayalam cinema. He attended the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 2001 for his diploma film Meena Jha.
He started his career shooting music videos, documentaries and advertising. It was his diploma film that brought him to the attention of Ram Gopal Varma and his team. Amal Neerad moved into Hindi cinema with three back to back films; James, Darna Zaroori Hai and Shiva. In 2004, he also shot the Malayalam film Black starring Mammootty.

Early and personal life

Amal Neerad was born in Kollam, Kerala. He attended school and college in Kochi. He was the college union chairman of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam during two consecutive terms, 1992–93 and 1993–94. He married actress Jyothirmayi on 4 April 2015.

Career

Amal joined the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in 1995. He is a winner of the National Film Awards for best cinematography. After his graduation from the institute he worked as a cinematographer with Ram Gopal Varma's production company for films such as James, Darna Zaroori Hai and Shiva. His debut movie in Malayalam as cinematographer was Black, directed by Ranjith.
In 2007, he made his directorial debut with Big B starring Mammootty and Shereveer Vakil. Even though the movie was an average grosser at the box office, the stylish narrative and technical brilliance that the film possessed apparently gave the movie an iconic stature and cult following. His next film was Sagar Alias Jacky starring Mohanlal, a sequel to the 1987 film Irupatham Noottandu. In 2010, he directed Anwar with Prithviraj in the lead role.
Amal Neerad launched his production company Amal Neerad Productions through the 2012 film Bachelor Party directed by himself. In 2013, he produced the anthology film, 5 Sundarikal. Amal directed the segment Kullante Bharya which starred Dulquer Salmaan and handled camera for the segment Aami, directed by Anwar Rasheed. He directed and co-produced the period thriller Iyobinte Pustakam starring Fahadh Faasil, Lal, and Jayasurya in 2014. In 2017, he produced and directed Comrade in America starring Dulquer Salmaan. He later directed Fahadh Faasil starred Varathan in 2018. The movie was jointly produced by Neerad and Fahadh Faasil. Amal joined hands with Anwar Rasheed again as a cinematographer for the movie Trance, starring Fahadh Faasil. Later, he joined Mammootty again after 15 years for the movie Bheeshma Parvam which emerged as one of the biggest hits in Mollywood industry.

Controversies

In a post on the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council's Jagratha Commission Facebook page, it was claimed that Amal Neerad's blockbuster film Bheeshma Parvam offended Christian sentiments. The KCBC Jagratha Commission alleged that the portrayal of drug use, homosexuality, alcohol, and adultery among key Christian characters was a deliberate attempt to depict them negatively. A formal complaint was also filed against the song "Sthuthi" from the Malayalam film Bougainvillea, directed by Amal Neerad. The complaint said that the song offends religious sentiments by misusing sacred Christian hymns. According to the complainants, the combination of a devotional hymn with modern music is seen as disrespectful and offensive to religious beliefs.

Filmography

  • All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.
YearTitleDirectorCinematographerProducerNotes
2004Black
2005JamesHindi film
2006ShivaHindi film
2006Darna Zaroori HaiHindi film
2007Big BDirector debut
2009Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded
2010Anwar
2010TournamentA song only.
2012Bachelor Party
20135 SundarikalAnthology film.
Director of "Kullante Bharya".
Cinematographer of "Aami"
2014Iyobinte PusthakamWinner: Kerala state film award for best cinematography
2017Comrade in America
2018VarathanCo-produced with Nazriya Nazim
2020Trance
2022Bheeshma ParvamAlso co-writer
2024BougainvilleaAlso co-writer

Awards and recognitions

; 2014 Kerala State Film Awards
;2014, Asianet Film Awards.
2024, 55th Kerala State Film Awards
- Award Shared with Lajo Jose