Carmelites mourn death of multimedia media personality

Thrissur: The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Congregation has mourned the death of a made a name as a film director, script writer, cameraman and an author.

Father Issac Alappat died May 3 at Amala Hospital in Thrissur, Kerala. Father Alappat was suffering from old age complications for the past few years.

“We, the members of Chetana Family, deeply condole on the sad demise of our founder director Rev. Fr. Issac Alappat CMI (86), film director, Editor, Cameraman, Script writer and author of many books,” says a message from the congregation.

His funeral will be held at 10 am on May 6 at Christ Monastery Chapel.

“His death is a great loss to Chetana and entire media world. He was a pioneer in Kerala in the field of television and Media,” the condolence message said.

Father Alappat launched Chetna (awareness) while he was teaching at Christ College Irinjalakuda. His superiors sent him for higher studies in Film and Television technology at Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. “It was a radical step by authorities of CMI Devamatha Province and great revolution in the priestly religious life,” the message added.

After his studies abroad Father Alappat came back to Kerala and started Chetana Film and Television Society and later he constructed Chetana Sound studios at Chiyyaram.

Due to the architectural specialty (underground studio, probably the only one in India on those days) Chetana studio became one of the best in southern India.

In 1986 during his visit to Kerala St. John Paul II blessed the foundation stone of Chetana.

Chetana that Father Alappat planted has become a big tree branched out into seven institutions with International standards, the message claimed.

Hundreds of musicians and film personalities had used facilities at Chetana studio.

“We gratefully remember his wonderful services to Chetana especially during its foundation and initial growth,” added the message from Carmelite Father Paul Poovathingal, current director of Chetana.