'Oru Sarkar Ulpannam' screenwriter Nizam Rawther dies days ahead of film release

Screenwriter Nizam Rawther, who penned the upcoming movie 'Oru Sarkar Ulpannam', passed away due to a heart attack in Pathanamthitta on Wednesday. He was 49. Apart from co-writing the film 'Zachariayude Garbhinikal', Nizam wrote the screenplay for the 2015 movie 'Bombay Mittai' featuring Vinu Mohan in the lead.

'Oru Sarkar Ulpannam' hit headlines after the Central Board of Film Certification (commonly referred to Censor Board) instructed the makers to change the title of the film, which was originally named 'Our Bharatha Sarkar Ulpannam'. Though technicians and actors involved with the film protested against the move, it was later decided to drop 'Bharatha' from the title as the makers did not want to delay the release further.

Initially, the filmmakers had decided to release the movie on March 1 but the movie got delayed due to the strike by the Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK). Filmmakers, including Lal Jose condoled the screenwriter's death. “You had many dreams but, alas, you left us too soon,” he wrote.

Nizam had posted the film's promo teaser on social media just hours before his death on Wednesday morning. Prior to that, he remembered the late singer Pankaj Udhas with a detailed post on Facebook.