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Shaji N. Karun is an internationally acclaimed film director hailing from Kollam. He joined the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune in 1971 and completed a diploma in cinematography in 1975. He was appointed as the Film Officer at State Film Development Corporation in 1976. He collaborated with director G. Aravindan during this time. Later, he cinemoatographed for K. G. George and M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

He bagged the National Film Award for the best cinematographer for the film Thampu in 1979. He has also won the State Film Award for the best cinematographer thrice for the films Kanchana Sita in 1977, Esthappan in 1981 and Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare in 1986.

In 1989, he gained global attention through his directorial debut Piravi which also received special mention for cinematography at Cannes Film Festival. Piravi has the record of being the Malayalam movie that won most number of honours. His second movie Swham is the first and only movie screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

He has received National Film Award for the best film thrice for Piravi, Kutty Srank and Vanaprastham. Presentlt, he is working on his latest movie ‘Olu’. He is the first chariman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. He received French government’s ‘Order of Arts and Letters’ in 1999 and Padma Shri in 2011. He is the current state president of Purogamana Kalasahithya Sangham.