THIRUVALLA:Former director of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII), T C John, better known as John Sankaramangalam, 84, passed away on Monday at a private hospital here.
His film ‘Janmabhumi’, had won the first national award for best film on national integration in 1969. He has won two national and four Kerala State Film Awards. He also served as chairman and jury of many national and international film festivals and has participated as an official delegate to a number of film festivals. He was the former vice-chairman of the Kerala Chalachithra Academy.
A post-graduate holder in script writing and direction from FTII, he served as the principal of St Joseph’s College of Communication, Changanassery.Born in Eraviperoor in Pathanamthitta district, after his education at SB College and Madras Christian College, he became a teacher at Madras Christian College.
He is survived by wife Mariyamma John, children Annie and Sudarshan and children in-law Immanuel and Sharon. Funeral will be held at the Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Eraviperoor at 2.30 pm on Wednesday.