Baijuraj Chekavar

BAIJURAJ CHEKAVAR

Indian-born Keralite, from Kayakkodi, an eastern hillside village in the district Kozhikode.

Educated at Kayakkodi AMUP School, Government Model Higher Secondary School- Calicut University campus, Malabar Christian College Higher Secondary School, Malabar Christian College and Southern Film Institute.

He served as assistant director and associate director with the filmmakers Jomon, V M Vinu and Pappan Naripetta.

After completing his education from the Southern Film Institute, he did screenplay for the short film ‘Veeramudra’, based on the Kalari payattu ( martial art ) stories of Kadathanadu, which was telecasted in Doordarshan. Later he also did screenplay for the short film ‘Pandu Pandoru Desath’ starring Kunjunni Mash and Akbar Kakkattil.

His first independent work was released in 2008, an English album ‘Knowledge is Power’. He did the script and direction for it and the album was released by Sugathakumari Teacher in Kozhikode Town Hall in the presence of Sukumar Azhikode. The album was based on education and environment and was notable work which won Kerala Film Critics Award, Victor's Channel Award, Ala Award, Television Chamber of Kerala Award and Kerala Film Audience Council Award.

Another work of him which was widely discussed among the critics was ‘The World Winners’- a motivational music video. It was released in 2012, with the participation of around 500 differently-abled children from three branches of Loveshore Special School. ONV Kurup, Yesudas, Kavalam Narayanapanicker, Sugathakumari Teacher and V S Achuthanandan came forward as promoters of this work.

The Doordarshan documentary ‘Poombaattakalude Pallikkoodam’ about special schools in Kerala, written and directed by Mr. Baiju Raj Chekavar, won the State Television Award for Best Children's Documentary in 2017. The documentary was released by Mr. Mohanlal.

Early days with the mega star

Knowledge is Power

English Music Video
Written and directed by Baijuraj Chekavar

Kerala Film Critics Award, Victors Channel Award, Ala Award, Kerala Television Chamber Award, Kerala Film Audience Council Award

The World Winners

Poompattakalude Pallikkoodam

Virunnukrishiyile Pen Peruma

Life is Beautiful (LIB)

Many documentaries have been made by him locally for the upliftment of differently-abled children. In 2018, he shared the Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Autism Support Award along with singer Padma Bhushan K S Chithra and Smt. K K Shailaja teacher- the then Minister of Health, Kerala. The award was presented by Centre for Autism India and Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Foundation, Rameshwaram.

Mr Baiju Raj Chekavar has also directed the short film ‘Life is Beautiful’ (LIB) of Hema S Chandradath(Script) which won the award in the short film screenplay competition conducted by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. The short film was produced under the banner of Chekavar's Street Arts and was funded by the Chalachitra Academy, and has been screened at many film festivals including the 13th International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) and won awards.

Along with his theatre Guru Mr Jose Chirammal, in the rehearsal camp of the play ‘Macbeth’

Mr. Baijuraj who have been participating in the school dramas from his lower primary classes, have also worked in the plays ‘Calvary’ (WB Yeats) and ‘Macbeth’(William Shakespeare), directed by the eminent theatre director Mr Jose Chirammal. He along with friends in his locality who altogether were the part of the Olive Theatre Group, Kayakkodi , grabbed the award for the best Technical Play, in the Punjab National Theatre Festival in the year 2000 at Chandigarh .

Baijuraj Chekavar is currently the treasurer of FEFKA Directors Union and is residing at Kochi.