Dr. Biju
Bijukumar Damodaran, known mononymously as Dr. Biju, is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He received India's National Film Awards three times. He is considered one of the most important contemporary voices in Indian cinema. He is one of the rare film directors in India who is always raising his voice openly for social justice, gender equality, environmental problems and about marginalized people. He is best known for films such as Saira (2005), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2015)Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (2016),Sound of Silence (2017 film) and Painting Life (2018). His films screened at many international film festivals including Cannes Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Shanghai Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Cairo Film Festival, Eurasia International Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, Fajr Film Festival Tehran, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Fantasporto Portugal, International Film Festival of India etc.

Career 
Dr. Biju was born at Kudassanad a small village, near Pandalam in Kerala, India on May 31, 1971. He graduated in Homeopathic Medicine and joined in Government Medical service in 2004. He was fascinated with cinema by seeing world classics films at Kerala International Film Festivals during his college time. He then turned as a self-taught filmmaker and made his first feature film in 2005. Biju debuted into films as writer and director with Saira (2005). It was first part of terrorism trilogy and in 2007 premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival in the section Cinema of the world  . His second film Raman (2008) was selected at Cairo International Film Festival (2009) in the Incredible India category. Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home; 2010) was the last film of the trilogy and earned a National Film Award  for best Malayalam film in 2010.

His fourth film Akasathinte Niram (Color of Sky; 2012), was premiered at 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in the International competition section. Biju's next film, Perariyathavar (Names Unknown, 2014) received two National Film Award in 2014 for the Best Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu  and Best film on Environment conservation, and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival (2014). The film won the best actor award for Master Govardhan at Fajr International Film Festival Tehran Iran 2015 and best cinematography at Kazan international film festival Russia 2015.

In 2015, he directed Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds With Large Wings; 2015) which was premiered at United Nations, Geneva as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme, and received National Film Award (2015) for the Best film on Environment conservation.
 
His 2016 film Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (When The Woods Bloom) was premiered at the Eurasia International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Montreal World Film Festival, in 2016. The film got National Film Award for Best Sound Design 2017 to Jayadevan Chakkadath.

His eighth film Sound of Silence (2017 film)  is his first Non- Malayalam language film. The film is in Pahari, Tibetan and Hindi Language. The film premiered at Eurasia International Film Festival 2017, Kazakhstan in the main competition section. The film got best director award at Kolkata International Film Festival 2017 and later got a number of international awards.

His next film Painting Life is his first feature film in the English Language. The film premiered at Almaty International film festival and screened at many film festivals across the world. Painting Life won the Critics award at 39th Fantasporto International Film Festival, Portugal 2019 .

His latest film Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) premiered at 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival in Golden Goblet competition section and won Outstanding Artistic Achievement award. This was the first time an Indian film got an award at Golden Goblet competition at Shanghai since its inception.

Biju has served as jury member of the International Film Festival of Kerala (2011), Fajr International Film Festival (2012),  India's National Film Awards (2013),  2015 Oscar selection jury member for best foreign language film from India. Pune International Film Festival (2018) and Rostov International film festival, Russia 2018.

Filmography

Recognitions 

International Awards as Writer-Director

International Awards For Technicians, Actors

 India's National Film Awards

Indian Panorama Selections

Kerala State Film Awards as Writer, Director

Kerala State Film Awards for technicians, actors