“My films are more questions than statements. I am not an activist. I am trying to explore. I am more of a student trying to understand new aspects of things.” – Don Palathara

An ardent observer of the human condition, Don Palathara has carved a niche for himself in contemporary Malayalam and Indian cinema with his empathetic insights into a culture straddling the divide between archaic constructs and progressive ideas. With his audacious and individualistic storytelling, Palathara has successfully forged a path away from the demands of mainstream industry, working on shoestring budgets with upcoming actors while achieving a striking visual finesse despite his limited means.

Hailing from Kerala’s Idukki district, Palathara moved to Australia as a young adult to formally study filmmaking. Starting his career with short films and documentaries, Palathara returned to his hometown of Karunapuram to tell stories that spoke of his personal roots. The deep influences of a Syrian Catholic upbringing echo throughout his filmography, illuminating local Kerala culture and the idiosyncrasies of human behaviour, already apparent in his assured debut Shavam, an observational satire which follows numerous attendees at a funeral. Palathara’s films are notable for their careful attention to sound design, his judicious use of both music and silence placing his witty, character-driven narratives in sharp relief. The visual language of his films aids his storytelling in a similar manner, as unhurried sequences and luxurious wide angles serve to capture the verdant Kerala landscapes and the people within them, delicately communicating the eternal continuum between his characters and their environment. Striking in their originality and contemplative nature, the deeply resonant films of Don Palathara carry a sense of discovery, and all the hallmarks of a distinctive auteur-in-the-making.