Murali Nair trained at the Xavier de Communication in Mumbai, and became part of the Mumbai film industry as an assistant director. His first short-film [Tragedy of an Indian Farmer] won a National award in 1993. His first feature film [Maranasimhasanam] won him the prestigious Camera d`Or at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1999. His second film [Pattiyude Divasam](The Dog`s Day) and [Arimpara](The Wart) were also screened at Cannes.