John Abraham

Directing

John Abraham

Born 1937-08-11 · Alappuzha, Kerala, India

John Abraham was a Malayali Indian filmmaker, short story writer and screenwriter. He was perhaps more famous for his style of living and way of thinking than for his films. He attained a legendary status, living a nomadic kind of life. He rebelled against all the established ways of life as well as film making. John Abraham is recognised as a genius in Malayalam cinema. He made his mark with the Tamil film Agraharathil Kazhuthai, but is possibly remembered most for his efforts in starting a people's cinema movement, an absolute form of independent filmmaking called Odessa Collective. His film Amma Ariyan (1986) was the only south Indian feature film to make the list of "Top 10 Indian Films" of all time by British Film Institute. Agraharathil Kazhuthai was listed among the "100 Greatest Indian Films" of all time by IBN Live's 2013 poll.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

This Way, Students poster
9.0

Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile is a 1972 Indian Malayalam film, directed by John Abraham and produced by Minnal. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Adoor Bhasi and Paul Vengola in lead roles. The film had musical score by MB Sreenivasan.

This Way, Students

1972

This Way, Students poster
9.0

Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile is a 1972 Indian Malayalam film, directed by John Abraham and produced by Minnal. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Adoor Bhasi and Paul Vengola in lead roles. The film had musical score by MB Sreenivasan.

This Way, Students

1972

Report to Mother poster
7.7

Purushan, a student on his way to Delhi, becomes obsessed with the tragic suicide of a young drummer. He collects many people to go with him to tell the boy’s mother.

Report to Mother

1986

Agraharathil Kazhutai poster
6.6

A donkey strays into a village dominated by the upper caste Brahmins.

Agraharathil Kazhutai

1977

Agraharathil Kazhutai poster
6.6

A donkey strays into a village dominated by the upper caste Brahmins.

Agraharathil Kazhutai

1977

Agraharathil Kazhutai poster
6.6

A donkey strays into a village dominated by the upper caste Brahmins.

Agraharathil Kazhutai

1977

Koyna Nagar poster
8.0

Student film by John Abraham

Koyna Nagar

1967

No artwork available
8.0

Feature film by John Abraham and Raj Marbros

Trisandhya

1972

Priya poster
8.0

Diploma film by John Abraham

Priya

1969

Hides and Strings poster
8.0

A short film on the traditional art and craft of making the musical instruments Sitar and Tabla.

Hides and Strings

1969

The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan poster
5.0

Cheriyachan, a landlord, feels threatened by industrialisation and leftist activities. But when he witnesses police atrocities on poor peasants, a feeling of guilt engulfs him and he feels responsible for the guilt of his entire class. He is last seen up a coconut tree trying to keep away from the police. The film is about a peasant's movement against the feudal system.

The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan

1979

The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan poster
5.0

Cheriyachan, a landlord, feels threatened by industrialisation and leftist activities. But when he witnesses police atrocities on poor peasants, a feeling of guilt engulfs him and he feels responsible for the guilt of his entire class. He is last seen up a coconut tree trying to keep away from the police. The film is about a peasant's movement against the feudal system.

The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan

1979