By Abdul Kareem
Noted sound engineer Resul Pookutty, 37 is from Vilakkupaara village near Anchal, Kollam in Kerala. He won an Oscar for his work of sound mixing in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
He is a graduate of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and has been in the music industry for 13 years now with more than ten blockbusters to his credit. He started his career with Rajat Kapoor’s Private Detective in 1997 and came into the limelight with his work in Black (2005).
His next work, Gandhi My Father, was a challenging experience in his career since the film demanded extreme attention on the variations in Gandhi’s voice from his youth to old age. The success in this film gave him the opportunity to work with Danny Boyle in Slumdog Millionaire. His other noted films include Saawariya (2007), Ghajini (2008).
Resul Pookutty at the Oscars
He has also won a BAFTA and a Cinema Audio Society (CAS) award for best sound mixing for the film. Hailing from a small village of Vilakkupara in Kerala’s Kollam district which didn’t have electricity, he studied under a kerosene lamp.
Pookutty has grown up on Malayalam films such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Elippathayam, Aravindan’s Kummatti, Pokkuveyil and Thampu where sound technicians Devadas and Krishnanunni’s work inspired him to create the right blend of technology and aesthetics.
He recalled a few days ago about his time at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), an institute that he says made him a ‘decent human being’ and opened up his world view. “I remember, I did not want to leave the institute and was there even six months after I graduated. Finally, one of my professors, Satish Kumar, threw me out of the gate and asked me to go and work in Mumbai. I’m sure wherever he is now, he must be happy,” he states.
He is the eighth son of Pookutty – Nabeesa couple. His mother passed away 10 years ago and his father seven years ago. Resul was married to Shahida in 2003. They have two children- three year old Riyan and one and half year old Selna. In one interview he gave all the credits for his successes to his wife, Shahida. She understands me in every sense of the word- he said. And he is a strong family man.
He had called his home just before he left for Kodak theatre. And he said to his relatives not to have over expectations about his winning the Oscar. But his elder brother Shamsuddin was sure of his winning. All the relatives- close and distant- are now in his home.
He was born on May 30th, 1973 May. His elementary education from Vilakkupaara Govt. LP School. He went to school walking for three kilometers. He studied at Anjal West School from 8th class. College education from Kayamkulam MSM college. He passed BSc physics with first class.
His family wished him to be doctor. Though he tried for MSc, he couldn’t get a seat. So he went to Law College, Trivandrum. He got a seat in Pune Film institute on his second attempt. From there he went to Mumbai. The rest is history.