VYTHIRI: Vipindas, 72, South Indian cinematographer, died of cardiac arrest here on Saturday. Far from the glamour and fame, Vipindas, who wielded the camera for hundreds of films with all the master directors, was leading a hermit’s life in a remote village namely Charity, near here.
Vipindas had won the Kerala state film award for his work in the film ‘Manimuzhakkam. Leading a simple life, Vipindas was an enigma for those who knew his glamorous past. Earlier, he lived in Sreenadha Ashram at Lakkidy, here, before shifting to the house of K V Vijayan at Charity. In the tiny hut there, he practised yoga and naturopathy. But, the winter was too tough for him.
His recent interest was rearing Emu birds and he bought two birds from Kannur on Friday, says Vijayan. “He brought the veterinary doctor from Veterinary College, Pookkode, on Saturday morning to examine the birds. He escorted the doctor back and returned home with food for me. I was eating food when he collapsed,” says Vijayan.
For almost a decade Vipindas was roaming across the globe, says Ratheesh Vasudevan, documentary director, who shot a documentary on Vipindas. “He became a saint after meeting a sanyasi in Tibet in one of his journeys,” he added.
Vipindas bowed to death, leaving midway his dream project on the seasonal changes of nature in Wayanad.