Kuttan Pillai Kottarakkara (b. 1924)
Scenarist, dialogue writer and one of the most successful producers in 70s Malayalam cinema. Born in Kottarakkara, Kerala. Stage actor aged 8. Début in 1950 as film actor (Atmasakhi, 1950; Ponkathir, 1953; Avakashi, 1954). Dialogues for Ponkathir were followed with scripts for over 25 films, after which he débuted as producer with the Tamil film Parisu (1963), directed by Yoganand and starring MGR. Concentrated on producing films which he scripts himself, making c.50 films in three languages (Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil), mainly love stories and suspense dramas. Noted scripts include the Sivaji Ganesan hit Pasamalar (1961).