Noted Malayalam film director and scriptwriter KR Sachidanandan, whose last film Ayyappanum Koshiyum released ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country was a smash hit, died at a private hospital in Thrissur, film industry sources said. He was 48.
The director, popularly known as Sachy, was admitted to the Jubilee Mission hospital on Tuesday after he suffered a heart attack and was on ventilator support. He died on Thursday night, they said.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum, starred Prithviraj and Biju Menon.
Sachidanandan's directorial debut Anarkali, a Malayalam romantic thriller, was released in 2015. A criminal lawyer by profession, Sachidanandan entered the film world as a script writer with Sethunath for the film Chocolate in 2007.
In a condolence message, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his death was a loss for the Malayalam movie industry. "Sachy was a noted Malayalam movie director and screenplay writer. He was behind many hit movies in Malayalam. With the untimely death of Sachy, Malayalam movie industry lost a talented artist," the chief minister said.
Actor Nivin Pauly tweeted that Sachy's demise was a loss to Malayalam cinema. "Shocked to hear the sudden demise of Sachy ettan. Indeed a big loss to Malayalam cinema. May his soul rest in peace," Pauly tweeted.
Biju Menon, in his Facebook post, said: "In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. You left without warning,gone so fast. My deepest sympathies. God bless his family and friends."
KR Sachidanandan's cremation will be held at Ravipuram in Kochi on Friday afternoon, the sources said.
After Microsoft Outage, This Actor Is The Object Of Internet Obsession Bigg Boss OTT 3: Payal Malik Has "Decided To Part Ways" With Armaan Explained: The Controversy Over Dancers' Payment At Diljit Dosanjh's Tour Newborn Saved From Dead Mother's Womb After Israel Strikes Gaza Hospital Florida Cops Urge Locals To Stop Taking Selfies With "Depressed" Bear 5 People From Jharkhand's Jamtara Convicted For Money Laundering Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.