Kozhikode: Makkada Devadas, 78, art director for films including Kallan Pavithran, passed away at his residence, Cherukulkam Kuniyil, in Kakkodi, Kozhikode, due to age-related complications. He was also credited with designing the titles of around 300 films.

Devadas, who began his career in poster design as a disciple of P N Menon, entered the field of title design by creating the title for Hariharan’s film Panchami. He made his debut as an art director in Neeyo Njaano, directed by P Chandrakumar and released in 1979. He served as art director for nearly 100 films, including Vadhu Doctoraanu, Prem Pujari, Thikalazcha Nalla Divasam, Ayanam, Brahmarakshassu, Thumboli Kadappuram, Sandhyakkenthinu Sindhooram, Malamukalile Daivam, Kadamba, Suvarnam Simhasanam, American Ammayi, Thottam, and Kavalmaadam. He also worked on the Tamil film Nethil. He also made numerous television serials. He received a television award for Sulthan Veedu.

Manka was his final short film. Sanchayanam will be held tomorrow. He is survived by Wife Thankam and daughter Premkala (USA) . Ramesh (USA) is his son-in-law. Siblings: Kuttan and Dayanandan (both predeceased Devadas).

A legacy Malayalam will never forget
Anyone who has seen Padmarajan’s masterpiece Kallan Pavithran is unlikely to forget the fantastical vessels shop. When director Padmarajan envisioned an expansive godown, the debutant art director painted a large godown that captured the director’s imagination.

Padmarajan was much impressed. That art director, gifted in painting and driven by a passion for cinema, was Makkada Devadas. The man who rose from the small village of Makkada in Kakkodi to leave his mark on Malayalam cinema.

A first-prize winner in painting at the Calicut University arts festival, Devadas ran a studio named `Sreekala' in Eranjipalam. His cousin, Puthalathu Raghavan, a boxer and trainer, was also skilled in sculpture and painting. Devadas, who aspired to enter the film industry, received a letter of recommendation from artist Namboodiri. The letter was addressed to Ramesh, a crew member of the film Swayamvaram, which was being shot in Madras. However, Devadas was unable to meet Ramesh in Madras. Instead, costume designer Ramachandran of Chemmeen fame introduced him to P N Menon.

An impromptu entrance test ensued. Devadas was asked to design a film title. Impressed by his work, Menon took him under his wings. Devadas learned art direction by observing and hands-on experience. He continued designing posters for three years as Menon’s disciple. He was trained at Uma Studio, owned by actor Madhu. Later, he joined art director S Konnanattu, where he had to teach his children English language while also drawing titles of Konnanattu’s movies.

It was during this period that he received an opportunity to design the title for Hariharan’s Panchami, which proved to be a turning point in his career.

From then on, Devadas designed titles for around 300 films, including both Malayalam and Tamil. During shoots at Udaya Studio, Konnanattu used to travel from Madras to Alappuzha and it was Devadas who handled art direction for his films during that time.

Devadas became an independent art director with P Chandrakumar’s Neeyo Njaano, followed by Padmarajan’s Kallan Pavithran, produced by M Mani.

Devadas took over art direction at the instance of Mani. His skills were openly acknowledged by film maker Padmarajan and actor Gopi after he drew the movie’s title in front of them.