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Udaykrishna–Sibi K. Thomas

Udaykrishna–Sibi K. Thomas
Born
Kerala, India
OccupationScreenwriters
Years active1995 – Present

Udaykrishna–Sibi K. Thomas is an Indian screenwriting duo known for their works in Malayalam cinema.[1] Most of their works are in the comedy, action crime film and mass genre. They wrote films such as Mattupetti Machan (1998), Udayapuram Sulthan (1999), Dhosth (2001), C.I.D. Moosa (2003), Runway (2004), Kochi Rajavu (2005), Thuruppu Gulan (2006), Twenty:20 (2008), Pokkiri Raja (2010),Kaaryasthan(2010),Christian Brothers (2011) Mayamohini (2012),Mr. Marumakan(2012), Kammath & Kammath(2013)Rajadhi Raja(2014) and Ivan Maryadaraman(2015).[2]

The duo parted in 2015. Udayakrishna continued as a scriptwriter. Udayakrishna's first script as a solo writer was Pulimurugan (2016) which became the first Malayalam film to gross over 100-150 crore and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film.[3]

Career

Both Udayakrishna and Sibi started their careers as assistant directors. Sibi assisted Balu Kiriyath and Sandhya Mohan, while Udayakrishna assisted screenwriter A.R.Mukesha and was assistant director under Balu Kiriyath, Ali Akbar, K. Madhu and Venu B. Nair.[4] Manoj K. Jayan prodded them into a partnership and agreed to star in their directorial debut.[4] However, that project did not work out. Subsequently, they wrote their first script, Hitler Brothers (1997), for Sandhya Mohan, followed by Mayajalam for Balu Kiriyath. Both films failed at the box office.[4] The duo's first hit came through Mattuppetti Machan directed by Jose Thomas, followed by Udayapuram Sulthan.[4] Then came Sundra Purushan, which was a moderate success.

It was followed by Rajasenan's successful movies, Darling Darling and Malayalimamanu Vanakkam. C.I.D. Moosa, was a success. They associated with Johny Antony in most of his directorial ventures thereafter, including the commercially successful Kochi Rajavu and Thuruppu Gulan.[citation needed] They worked with veteran director Joshiy in Runway, Lion and July 4, and in the landmark Malayalam film Twenty:20. Twenty:20 was produced by Association of Malayalam Movie Artists in association with Dileep's Grand Productions and starred most major actors of Malayalam cinema. The film became the highest grossing Malayalam film of all time and brought appreciations for Udayakrishna and Sibi.[5]

Twenty:20 was followed by Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, which was panned by the critics and an average grosser. In 2010, they made a comeback with Pokkiri Raja, which went on to become a big success and the highest-grossing film of the year.[6] However, critical responses for Pokkiri Raja were mostly mixed. They scripted debutante Thomson K. Thomas's Kaaryasthan. Despite negative reviews from critics, the film closely followed Pokkiri Raja in collection records of the year.[6] Their only film in 2011 was Christian Brothers with Joshiy, which became a success.[7][8][9] They scripted two films in 2012, Mayamohini and Mr. Marumakan. The former was a success and was among the highest-grossing films of the year while the latter, despite heavy criticism, became an average hit. The last release in their combination is Ivan Maryadaraman.

Udaykrishna (as solo writer)

Later in 2016, Udaykrishna wrote script for Pulimurugan directed by Vysakh which was second highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.Then he wrote scripts for Masterpiece (2017) directed by Ajai Vasudev and Aanakkallan (2018) directed by Suresh Divakar both received mixed reviews but were commercial success. In 2019 he scripted Madhura Raja which was a spin-off to Pokkiri Raja. Even though it received mixed to positive reviews, and it grossed 100 crores from box office.[10] In 2022, he wrote two scripts for Mohanlal starring films Aaraattu directed by B. Unnikrishnan and Monster directed by Vyshakh. Both films became box-office flops.[11] In 2023, he scripted two films for Christopher which was directed by B. Unnikrishnan and starred Mammootty in the lead role and Bandra which was directed by Arun Gopy and starred Dileep and Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead role. Christopher received mixed reviews from critics.,[12] while Bandra received mixed reviews and it is underperformed at the box office.[13]

Personal life

Udaykrishnan is married to Manju and has a son. Sibi is married to Jisha and has a son and daughter.[14]

Filmography

Udaykrishna–Sibi K. Thomas (as writer duo)

Year Film Director Notes
1997 Hitler Brothers Sandhya Mohan Udayakrishna acts in this film as a thief.
1998 Meenakshi Kalyanam Jose Thomas
Mayajalam Balu Kiriyath
Amma Ammaayiyamma Sandhya Mohan
Mattupetti Machan Jose Thomas Udayakrishna acts as a driver.
1999 Udayapuram Sulthan Jose Thomas Both act as dileeps collegemate
My Dear Karadi Sandhya Mohan
Tokyo Nagarathile Viseshangal Jose Thomas Udayakrisha acts as TV Anchor
2000 Darling Darling Rajasenan
2001 Sundara Purushan Jose Thomas
Dhosth Thulasidas
2002 Malayalimamanu Vanakkam Rajasenan
Snehithan Jose Thomas
2003 C.I.D. Moosa Johny Antony
Pulival Kalyanam Shafi
2004 Runway Joshiy
Vettam Priyadarshan
2005 Kochi Rajavu Johny Antony
2006 Lion Joshiy
Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Sandhya Mohan
Chess Raj babu
Thuruppugulan Johny Antony
2007 Inspector Garud Johny Antony
July 4 Joshiy
2008 Magic Lamp Haridas
Twenty:20 Joshiy
2009 Ee Pattanathil Bhootham Johny Antony
2010 Pokkiri Raja Vysakh
Kaaryasthan Thomson K. Thomas
2011 Christian Brothers Joshiy
2012 Mayamohini Jose Thomas
Mr. Marumakan Sandhya Mohan
2013 Kammath & Kammath Thomson K. Thomas Udayakrishna and Sibi K. Thomas appear in a song.
Sringaravelan Jose Thomas
2014 Avatharam Joshiy Produced by Udayakrishna-Sibi K. Thomas
Rajadhi Raja Ajai Vasudev
Mylanchi Monchulla Veedu Benny Thomas
2015 Ivan Maryadaraman Suresh Divakar the last film

Udaykrishna (as solo writer)

Year Film Director Notes
2016 Pulimurugan Vysakh Debut as a solo script writer
2017 Masterpiece Ajai Vasudev
2018 Aanakkallan Suresh Divakar
2019 Madhura Raja Vysakh
2022 Aaraattu B. Unnikrishnan
2022 Monster Vysakh
2023 Christopher B. Unnikrishnan
2023 Bandra Arun Gopy
TBA Bruce Lee Vysakh

Udaykrishna (as actor)

Year Film Director Notes
2012 Mallu Singh Vysakh Actor Only
2017 Ramante Edanthottam Ranjith Sankar Actor Only
2017 Masterpiece Ajai Vasudev Cameo appearance as himself
2020 Shylock Ajai Vasudev Actor Only
2022 Aaraattu B. Unnikrishnan Cameo appearance as himself

References

  1. ^ "സൂപ്പര്‍ തിരക്കഥ" [Super Screenplay]. Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Star Talk – Sibi K Thomas And Udaya Krishna". IndiaGlitz. 14 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Salman Khan keen to act in 'Pulimurugan' remake". The News Minute. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Scripting blockbusters". The Hindu. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Box-office report 2008". Indian Filmdom. 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b "2010 Top 10". Sify.com. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Christian Brothers box office collection". Keralaboxoffice.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Many stars, poor show". Deccan Herald. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  9. ^ "സൂപ്പര്‍ ഹിറ്റ് സഹോദരന്മാരുടെ സ്രഷ്ടാക്കള്‍" [Creation of Superhit brothers]. Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Mammootty starrer Madhura Raja crosses Rs 100 crore mark in 45 days". 28 May 2019.
  11. ^ "'Monster' box office collection day 6: Mohanlal starrer turns out to be a disaster". The Times of India. 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Christopher Movie: ക്രിസ്റ്റഫർ കളക്ഷൻ റിപ്പോർട്ട് പുറത്ത്; കേരളത്തിൽ നേടിയത് ഇത്രയും" [Christopher Movie: Christopher Collection Report Out; Kerala has achieved this much]. Zee Malayalam News. 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  13. ^ "'Bandra' OTT release: When and where to watch Dileep's action drama". The Times of India. 27 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Uday & Sibi". Mangalam. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.