of Malayalam, for example the villagers speak pure Valluvanadan Malayalam of South Malabar, the overseer uses the Trivandrum Malayalam the fake Doctor uses Travancore Malayalam etc. In this period Aravindan did a number of documentaries and short films. He composed music for films like Aaro Oral, Piravi and Ore Thooval Pakshikal. Aravindan's 1989 feature film Unni was an international co-production loosely based on experiences in Kerala of a group of American students, who played themselves. Aravindan's final project Vasthuhara (1991) about refugees in Bengal was based on C. V. Sreeraman's short story in the same name. The film had Mohanlal and Neena Gupta in major roles. Aravindan died on 15 March 1991, before the release of Vasthuhara. The cause of death was a heart attack. He was aged just 56 when he died. Kerala Chalachitra Film Society facilitates Aravindan Puraskaram every year in the memory of G. Aravindan for the best debutant director in Indian languages. Awards Civilian awards Padma Shri National Film Awards 1974: Award for the Best Feature Film on the 25th Anniversary of India's Independence – Uttarayanam 1974: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – Uttarayanam 1978: Best Direction – Kanchana Sita 1979: Best Direction – Thampu 1986: Best Film – Chidambaram 1987: Best Direction – Oridathu 1991: Best Feature Film in Malayalam – Vasthuhara Kerala State Film Awards 1974: Best Film – Uttarayanam 1974: Best Director – Uttarayanam 1974: Best Screenplay – Uttarayanam 1978: Second Best Film – Thampu 1978: Best Director – Thampu 1979: Best Film – Esthappan 1979: Best Children's Film – Kummatty 1979: Best Director – Esthappan 1981: Best Director – Pokkuveyil 1985: Best Film – Chidambaram 1985: Best Director – Chidambaram 1985: Best Documentary – The Brown Landscape 1986: Best Film – Oridathu 1986: Best Director – Oridathu 1986: Best Documentary – The Catch 1988: Best Music Director – Ore Thooval Pakshikal 1990: Best Film – Vasthuhara 1990: Best Director – Vasthuhara Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 1978: Best Film – Thampu 1978: Best Director – Thampu 1979: Best Children's Film – Kummatty Filmography Direction Notes He also wrote the story of Esthappan and dialogues for Vasthuhara. Other contributions References External links Aravindan (Memoir by Chintha Ravi published in 1991) (in Malayalam) G. Aravindan—Sahapedia article by V.K. Cherian Aravindan—Sahapedia essay by Sasikumar Vasudevan 1935 births 1991 deaths Indian cartoonists Musicians from Kottayam Artists from Kottayam Malayalam film directors Kerala State Film Award winners