Noted Malayalam film director Sachidanandan dies at 48

Kochi, June 19

Noted Malayalam film director and scriptwriter KR Sachidanandan, whose last film ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ released just before the Covid-19 outbreak 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 had been on ventilator support since then.

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.

The cremation will be held at Ravipuram here on Friday afternoon, sources said.

In a condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his death was a loss to 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,” Vijayan said.

Actor Nivin Pauly tweeted that his 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 tweet, 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.” PTI