Suri Krishnamma

Suri Krishnamma (born 10 May 1961) is a British film director and writer best known for feature films A Man of No Importance, New Year's Day and Dark Tourist and television dramas A Respectable Trade and The Cazalets. He has a number of festival awards, including 3 BAFTA nominations.

Early life

Born in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Suri Krishnamma is the son of an English mother and Indian Father. His mother, a former head teacher at an Island comprehensive school, was a Labour Councillor and peace activist. Together with his father she helped with the organisation of the Isle of Wight Festivals of 1969 and 1970 with brothers Ronnie and Ray Foulk of Fiery Creations. During the 1969 festival, some of Bob Dylan’s band (The Band) stayed in the Krishnamma family home.

Career

Krishnamma studied Photography, Film and Television at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design (now the Arts University Bournemouth), leaving with a BAFTA nomination for Mohammed’s Daughter, then 3 years on the directing course at the National Film and Television School, collecting a second BAFTA nomination for Water’s Edge. In 1989 he directed popular television drama series such as South of the Border (1989) and Spender (1991) before directing his first full length film, O Mary This London, written by the Oscar nominated writer of My Left Foot, Shane Connaughton. His first global theatrical release was A Man of No Importance with Albert Finney and Brenda Fricker in 1994.