Ayyappanum Koshiyum director no more

Malayalam film director and scriptwriter K R Sachidanandan, whose last film Ayyappanum Koshiyum released just before the COVID-19 outbreak and was a smash hit, died at a hospital in Thrissur, film industry sources said. He was 48.

The director, popularly known as Sachy, was admitted to the Jubilee Mission hospital on June 16 after he suffered a heart attack and had been on ventilator support since then. He died on Thursday night.

Ayyappanum Koshiyum, starred Prithviraj and Biju Menon.

Sachidanandan's directorial debut Anarkali, a Malayalam romantic thriller, was released in 2015.

A criminal lawyer by training, Sachidanandan entered the film world as a scriptwriter with Sethunath for the film Chocolate in 2007.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sachy's death was a loss for the Malayalam movie industry.

'Sachy was behind many hit movies in Malayalam. With the untimely death of Sachy, the Malayalam movie industry has lost a talented artist,' Vijayan said.

Actor Nivin Pauly tweeted that Sachy's demise was a loss to Malayalam cinema.

'Shocked to hear the sudden demise of Sachyettan. Indeed a big loss to Malayalam cinema. May his soul rest in peace,' Pauly tweeted.

Biju Menon, in his tweet, said, 'In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. You left without warning, gone so fast. My deepest sympathies. God bless his family and friends.'

'RIP Sachietta! Feels like we met just the other day while Varane Avashyamund and Ayyapanum Koshyiyum dubs were going on simultaneously at the same studio,' recalled Dulquer Salmaan.

'Your innings as a director made you a force to reckon with. I was such a fan of your work. Each film better than the other. A huge huge loss to our industry. Condolences and prayers to all those who loved you and knew you.'