THRISSUR: Film director, writer and journalist K Ravindran (Chintha Ravi) passed away on Monday, around 8.15 pm, at a private hospital here. He was 65. He was under treatment for lung cancer.
A Left sympathiser, he was a member of the editorial board of Chintha weekly and had worked for a while with the Kalakaumudi weekly.
Known for his travelogues and books on art, criticism and cinema, Ravindran was one of the writers in Malayalam, after S K Pottekkatt, who consistently wrote travelogues.
Ravindran's books include Akalangalile Manushyar, Buddhapatham, Swiss
Skechukal, Kaadine Nokkumbol Ilakale Kaanunnathu, Mediterranean Venal, Cinimayude Rashtreeyam, Kalavimarsam:Marxist Manadandavum Vazhikalum, Vyakthikalum
Ormakalum.
The films directed by him include Harijan, a Telugu venture, Iniyum Marichittillatha Nammal (1980) and Ore Thooval Pakshikal (1988). He had also directed several documentaries.
Maunam Sowmanasyam, a documentary on filmmaker G Aravindan made by Ravindran, won the National Award in 1997.
Ravindran had also acted in a small role in P A Backer's Kabanee Nadi Chuvannappol. He was born in 1946 in Kozhikode as the son of
Kunnummal Krishnan and
Lakshmi.
Ravindran completed his education in Kozhikode and Mumbai.
He is survived by wife N Chandrika, daughter of writer Devaki Nilayangode, and son Thathagathan, an
anthropology research
scholar in the University of Texas.The cremation will be held on Tuesday.
Pinarayi Mourns Death
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan mourned the death of Chintha Ravi. "He was a Leftist thinker, writer and filmmaker who gave an intensely youthful era for the Malayalis. He gave a new angle to travel literature. His death is a deep loss to the state", Pinarayi said .