Eminent Malayalam director Kamal on Thursday assumed office of the chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the apex cinema body in Thiruvananthapuram.

A multiple national and state award-winner, Kamal is known for movies like 'Celluloid', 'Meghamalhar' and 'Ghaddama', which are a blend of artistic contents and popular elements.

The majority of around 40 movies that he directed were either box office hits or critically acclaimed ones.

Kamal's next directorial venture is a biopic on Indian-English writer Kamala Surayya, with Vidhya Balan in the lead role.

After assuming office, Kamal said his objective was to bring back the past glory of Malayalam cinema.

"Our aim is the overall development of the state's film sector. Not only in technical aspect, we want the development in the cinema's artistic elements also," he told reporters.

Lenin Rajendran, newly appointed chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation Ltd (KSFDC), Academy secretary Rajmohan, producers Suresh Kumar and K Radhakrishnan, directors Balu Kiriyath, Sasi Paravur and Sohanlal and FEFKA general secretary Aroma Mohan were present when he assumed office.