Bobby Avagama


Cherian Philip, also known as Bobby Avagama, is an owner and creator of Avagama Creations, based in Kerala, India.

Early life

Avagama was born Cherian Philip in Thiruvalla, Kerala, as the elder son of KC Philip, of the Parampil family. He studied at MGM Higher Secondary School and graduated from Marthoma College, Thiruvalla.
Avagama began his career as an actor in a movie in his youth, but had to abandon it due to familial reasons. Continuing his life with a blue collar job for almost 20 years, he lived with his family in Kuwait until the Gulf War. In 1989, he went on to get a degree in Film Making from New York University and a diploma in still photography from the New York Institute of Photography.
He is a member of the American Film Institute and the International Freelance Photographers Organization.

Post 2012

Avagama's friendship with director Kaviyoor Sivaprasad, who is a recipient of State, National and International awards for his movies Vembanad and Gauri, was his initial window of opportunity into the Malayalam Film Industry. His daughter Mariam Anoop, together with Shivaprsad, jointly ventured into a very socially and environmentally relevant film project called Sthalam - The Place. Sthalam has received the Special Jury Award at the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards.
His vision of being a part of the Malayalam Film Industry came to life through Thanichalla Njan, directed by Babu Thiruvalla. He was the producer and part of the creative team that worked on the movie. Thanichalla Njaan paved the way to winning two Indian National Film Awards in 2012, the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, and Best Supporting Actress for Kalpana.