P. A. Backer

Who was P. A. Backer?

P. A. Backer was one of the "new wave" Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s. Backer was born in 1940 in Thrissur, Kerala State. Whilst still a student Backer worked as a journalist for Kuttikal and Poomottukal. He then worked as an assistant to director Ramu Kariat. He made his debut as a producer in 1970 with Olavum Theeravum which won the state awards for the best film and best cinematography. He turned director in 1975 with Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol which won for him the State award for best director. Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol, a bold movie about a leftist political activist, was released during the Indian Emergency. Some other notable movies by Backer are Manimuzhakkam, Chuvanna Vithukal, Sree Narayana Guru and Sanghaganam. Manimuzhakkam, based on the novel Murippadukal by Sarah Thomas, won the National Film Award for Best Regional Film and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film. Sree Narayana Guru won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. His last film as a director was Innaleyude Baaki. He died on 22 November 1993, aged 53, at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. He was survived by his wife Anita Backer.