KOCHI: Malayalam filmmaker Sasikumar, 86, died at a private hospital here on Friday evening.
He is survived by daughters Usha and Sheela. His wife Thressiamma and son Shaji had predeceased him.
The body is kept at the mortuary of the Lisie Hospital here, where he breathed his last. The body will be moved to his daughter Sheela’s house on SRM Road on Saturday morning. After keeping there for the public to pay homage, the body will be taken to Alappuzha, his native place. The funeral will be held at the St Michael’s Church, Thathampally, in Alappuzha district.
Nambiathussery Varkey John, who later came to be known as Sasikumar, was the first hit-maker of Malayalam cinema, with a total of 141 films in his kitty, the most by a director in all the Indian languages.
He had cast Prem Nazir in 84 of his films as the hero, which is another record. Sheela was the heroine in 47 of his films. His super hits include Thommante Makkal, Balyakalasakhi, Night Duty, Alibabayum 41 Kallanmarum, Karipuranda Jeevithangal and Attakkalasham, to name a few.
The State Government had honoured him in 2012 with the J C Daniel Award for his contributions to the Malayalam cinema .