Popular screenwriter John Paul dies, unique genius who combined reading and thoughts

KOCHI: Renowned producer and screenwriter John Paul (71) has passed away. He was hospitalized for the past two months and died at 1 pm on Saturday. He had been undergoing treatment for kidney disease when his oxygen levels dropped. He died shortly afterwards. John Paul has written screenplays for more than 100 movies.

John Paul was a unique genius who had combined reading and thoughts. His films spanned from ‘Njaan Njaan Maathram’ to the Kamal directorial ‘Pranaya Meenukalude Kadal’. He has produced several movies synchronizing commercial and parallel films. A prolific film maker, producer and journalist, he has never hesitated to share his experiences with students.

He has written screenplays for numerous popular movies starring Mohanlal and Mammootty in the 1980s and 1990s. He has scripted several hit films such as ‘Kathodu Kathoram’, ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’, ‘Ina’, ‘Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam’, ‘Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam’, ‘Athirathram’, ‘Keli’, ‘Chamayam’, ‘Oru Yathra Mozhi’, ‘Kodiyettam’ and ‘Yathra’. He was widely noted for producing M T Vasudevan Nair’s ‘Oru Cheru Punchiri’. He has won many state, national and international awards. He has also served as the founder secretary of MACTA and was active in the activities of the Film Society.

He has won the State Award for Best Director, National Award for Best Environmental Film, State Television Award, International Federation of Film Critics' Special Jury Award, and the Film Critics Award for Screenplay and Documentary. He has also acted in movies namely ‘Gangster’ and ‘C/O Saira Banu’.

John Paul has also authored several books such as ‘M T Oru Anuyathra’, ‘Swasthi’, ‘Ende Bharathan Thirakkathakal’, ‘Ithalla Njan Agrahicha Cinema’, ’Pavithram Ee Smrithi’, ‘Cinemayude Aadhya Naal Vazhikaliloode’, ‘Kadhayithu Vasudevam’, ‘Vismayanubhoothikalude Puravritham’, and ‘Prathibhakal Mangunnathu Enthukondu’. His book ‘M T Oru Anuyathra’ had won the state award for the best film screenplay.

John Paul was born on October 29, 1950 as the fourth child of Puthusery P V Paulose and Rebecca. After graduating from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam with a degree in Economics, he became a bank official. He resigned the job after entering the cinema industry. He is survived by wife Aisha Elizabeth and daughter Jisha Jibi.