Mahesh Narayan

His best works as a director include Take Off (2017) C U Soon (2020) Malik (2021) and Ariyippu (2022)

• Name — Mahesh Narayanan • Years Active — 2007–present • Born — 2 May 1982 • Birthplace — Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India • Occupation — * Director • Film editor • Screenwriter • Cinematographer • Spouse — Ramya • Children — 1

After completing his graduation from University College Thiruvananthapuram; Mahesh Narayanan joined M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute in Tamil Nadu after which he started working as an advert editor. He subsequently progressed to editing documentaries, short films and entered the film industry with Rathri Mazha, a Malayalam film which won five Kerala State Film Awards. A few of his most popular films as an editor includes Beautiful, Traffic, Kanyaka Talkies, Viswaroopam, and Ennu Ninte Moideen. After establishing himself as an accomplished and successful editor, Mahesh ventured into writing and made his debut as a writer with 2015 Malayalam film Mili, which opened to rave reviews in Kerala. In 2017 Mahesh progressed into film-making directing his debut feature Take Off, a 2017 Indian drama thriller film, based on the ordeal of Indian nurses in the city of Tikrit, Iraq, in 2014 with Parvathy Thiruvothu, Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil starring in the lead roles. It is written by Mahesh and P. V. Shajikumar. The film was shot in various parts of Dubai and Kerala. Take Off was released on 24 March 2017. The film was a blockbuster at the box office grossing ₹40 crore and running for over 125 days in theaters. The film was in the competition section at various international festivals, including International Film Festival of India and International Film Festival of Kerala. The film won a Special Jury Award at the 48th International Film Festival of India. The film won five Kerala State Awards including the Best Debut Director's Award for Mahesh Narayanan. • Illustration — The Special Jury Award of International Film Festival Of India 2017 was presented to Director Mahesh Narayanan for the film TakeOff, which is based on the ordeal of Indian nurses in the city of Tikrit, Iraq. In June 2020, Mahesh announced that his next venture would be en experimental one titled C U Soon, starring Fahadh Faasil in a lead role. Mahesh described the film as a small exercise using an iPhone rather than a feature film. It was also revealed that the film would be about 60–65 minutes (the final release time amounted to 1h 38min) in length, and shot in Faasil's flat. Although the film got approval from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) was opposed to the shoot with regards to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, filming was successfully completed on 21 August. Upon its OTT release in Amazon prime Video the film received positive reviews from the critics. It is India's first computer screen film. C U Soon was screened under the category of screen-life at the 42nd Moscow International Film Festival

Mahesh was born in Thiruvananthapuram to Dr. Geetha and Narayanan. He has a younger brother named Dr.Ganesh Narayanan. He is married to Ramya and has one daughter.

• All films are in Malayalam-language, unless otherwise noted. • Year — Title — Editor — Director — Screenwriter — Notes • 2007 — Rathri Mazha • 2008 — Positive • Phir Kabhi — Hindi film • 2009 — Kavya's Diary — Telugu film • 16 mm: Memories, Movement and a Machine — English film • Gulumaal: The Escape • 2010 — Plus Two • Pokkiri Raja • Kaaryasthan • 2011 — Makaramanju • Seniors • A Pestering Journey — English film • The Metro • Three Kings • Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram • Beautiful • Traffic • 2012 — Mallu Singh • Mr. Marumakan • Casanovva • Trivandrum Lodge • 2013 — Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla • Kammath & Kammath • Chennaiyil Oru Naal — Tamil film • Olipporu • Vishwaroopam — Best Editor at Jagran Film Festival 2013; Hindi-Tamil bilingual film • Mumbai Police • Sound Thoma • 2014 — How Old Are You? • Cousins • 2015 — Mili — Also Writer • 36 Vayadhinile — Tamil film Remake of How Old Are You? • Nirnayakam • Love 24x7 • Ennu Ninte Moideen • 2016 — Traffic — Hindi film • 2017 — Udaharanam Sujatha • Take Off — Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director • 2018 — B.Tech • Abrahaminte Santhathikal • Vishwaroopam II — Hindi-Tamil bilingual film • 2019 — Uyare • 2020 — C U Soon — Amazon Prime film; Also cinematographer • 2021 — Aarkkariyam • Nayattu • Malik — Amazon Prime film • 2022 — Malayankunju — Also cinematographer • Ariyippu — Also co-producer • 2024 — Manorathangal — Segment: Sherleck • 2025 — Thalavara — As producer • 2026 — Patriot • TBA — Phantom Hospital — Directorial debut; Hindi film; Also writer