THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director Ajayan’s left, leaving behind his unfulfilled dreams. With his only film Perunthachan, he had become the one among unparalleled talents. But, what followed him after that was the shadow of bad lucks.

Perumthachan was released in 1991. The critically acclaimed film won him and the film numerous awards, including the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director, the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film. In 1992, the film was also nominated for the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival.

Ajayan started his career as a camera assistant. He later worked as associate director along with Thoppil Bhasi, Bharathan and Padmarajan in movies such as Panchavadi Palam, Ente Upasana, Oridathu and Sarvakalashala. In addition to directing numerous documentary films, Ajayan had also worked as a cinematographer for Tamil films. He did his diploma in film technology from the Adayar Film Institute, which is now known as MGR Government Film and Television Training Institute in Chennai.

Perumthachan, the 1991 drama written by MT Vasudevan Nair, is based on a Kerala folklore. While Thilakan played the titular role, Prashanth, Monisha Unni, Vinaya Prasad, Nedumudi Venu and Babu Namboodiri played pivotal roles in the film.

Soon after Perunthachan, several producers came in search of his talent.

But Ajayan heart was for MT Vasudevan’s Manikya Kallu. MT finished the script, producers also came. With cinematographer, he even went to Hollywood to learn the technicalities but the project didn’t take off as the producers withdrew. He was depressed but didn’t complain.

His next dream was to make father Thoppil Bhasi’s biography Olivile Ormakal into a film. He had even discussed it with script writer Lohithadas but it also didn’t materialise.