Priyadarshan (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Malayalam and Hindi cinema. The massive success his movies enjoyed mirrors the collective conscience of the people, particularly the elite, of that era - a period with which the filmmaker is intimately connected. Priyadarshan began his career in Malayalam cinema in the early 1980s and was active throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the 2000s, he transitioned to Bollywood (Hindi-language cinema) and was prolific throughout the decade. Over his career, he has been honored with the National Award three times. In 2013, he announced that Rangrezz would be his last Hindi film for the time being as he shifted his focus to Malayalam cinema. His most notable films include Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Thalavattam, Vellanakalude Nadu, Chithram, Vandanam, ()