Sivan
Sivasankaran Nair, popularly known as Sivan (14 May 1932 – 24 June 2021) was an Indian cinematographer and film director known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Sivan won the national film award three times. He was the first government press photographer in Travancore and Thiru-Kochi.
Sivan
- Name
- Sivan
- Birth Name
- Sivasankaran Nair
- Born
- 14 May 1932
- Birthplace
- Haripad, Travancore (present-day Alappuzha district, Kerala, India)
- Died
- 24 June 2021 (aged 89)
- Place of death
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Occupation
- * Cinematographer
- Known for
- * Yagam (1982)
- Spouse
- Chandramani
- Full name
- ശിവശങ്കരൻ.
- Nationality
- India.
- Honours
- National Film Award for Best Cinematography.
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Documentary summary
Sivasankaran Nair, popularly known as Sivan (14 May 1932 – 24 June 2021) was an Indian cinematographer and film director known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Sivan won the national film award three times. He was the first government press photographer in Travancore and Thiru-Kochi.
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getty · 500247778 · gnd · 1353855023 · wikidata · Q107333937
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was the father of Sangeeth Sivan, Santhosh Sivan and Sanjeev Sivan. The still photographer of national award-winning Malayalam film Chemmeen (1966). His debut as a producer was with Swapnam (1972), for which he also served as the still photographer. Some of his popular films are Abhayam (1991), Yagam (1982), Oru Yathra (1999), Keshu (2009), Kochu Kochu Mohangal (1998) and Kilivathil (2008). He received the Kerala State Award for Best Cinematography (black & white) for Yagam. The documentary "Mohiniyattam Through the Ages" (1990), directed by Sivan, won the National Award for Best Non-Feature Film Cinematography, which was awarded to Santosh Sivan. In addition to this national award, it also received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Documentary in 1990.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sivan • Birth Name — Sivasankaran Nair • Born — 14 May 1932 • Birthplace — Haripad, Travancore (present-day Alappuzha district, Kerala, India) • Died — 24 June 2021 (aged 89) • Place of death — Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India • Occupation — * Cinematographer • director • Known for — * Yagam (1982) • Abhayam (1991) • Kochu Kochu Mohangal (1998) • Oru Yathra (1999) • Kilivathil (2008) • Keshu (2009) • Spouse — Chandramani • Children — * Santosh Sivan • Sanjeev Sivan • Sangeeth Sivan • Parents — * Gopalapillai (father) • Bhavaniamma (mother)
Early life
Early life
Sivan was the second child of Padeettathil Gopalapillai and Bhavaniamma in Harippad. He was the second amongst their six children. His full name was Sivasankaran Nair.
Death
Death
Sivan died on 24 June 2021 at the age of 89 due to cardiac arrest in his house in Thiruvananthapuram.
Origins and background
Origins and background
The following is established of origins and background. Born in 1932 at Haripad. Sivan died in 2021 at Thiruvananthapuram. It is also recorded that sivan is recorded at birth as ശിവശങ്കരൻ.
Works and production
Works and production
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. It is also recorded that sivan is recorded with the occupation cinematographer. It is also recorded that sivan is recorded with the occupation film director. Institutional cataloguing adds that sivan is recorded as a citizen of India. Recorded with the gender male. The same evidence establishes that sivan was born on 14 May 1932. It is also recorded that sivan died on 24 June 2021.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Haripad.
Birth place
Thiruvananthapuram.
Death place
Reception and standing
The scholarly and documentary record stands as follows.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1353855023, Sivan, Avishai.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q107333937: Sivan
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1353855023, Sivan, Avishai.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Citizenship
1- IndiaPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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