ALAPPUZHA: Film director J Sasikumar, who died on Thursday, was laid to rest with full state honours at the cemetery of St Michael’s Church at Thattampally, near here, on Saturday.
The body was brought from Kochi to the church by 2 pm. The funeral service commenced by 2.30 pm at the church auditorium.
The prayers continued for over an hour, following which the body was taken to the cemetery for internment.
Police personnel gave a gun salute to the departed soul. Scores of people hailing from various walks of life were present at the church to pay their last respects.
Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was among the first to arrive and pay his last tributes to Sasikumar. Wreaths were placed on behalf of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph.
K C Venugopal MP, T M Thomas Isaac MLA, CPM district secretary C B Chandrababu, DCC president A A Shukkoor, Alappuzha municipal chairperson Mercy Diana Macido and Youth Congress leader M Liju were among those who were present on the occasion.
Many from the Malayalam film industry, including directors Fazil, Thampi Kannanthanam, Joshy Mathew, Raj Babu, Paulson and actors Kunchan, N P Krishna Prasad and arayanan Kutty also paid homage to the prolific filmmaker.