Chennai: Renowned Malayalam director I.V. Sasi is no more.
A veteran of over 150 films, I.V. Sasi was a well-known figure in the Malayalam film industry and his heyday were during the 1970s and '80s. He was 69.
He along with his family was residing at Vadapalani, Chennai, where he breathed his last. After he complained of breathlessness early on Tuesday, he was rushed to the hospital. But he died on the way. He was to travel to Australia on Tuesday to meet his daughter.
The funeral will be held in Chennai Wednesday evening.
Director with most number of movies
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran was born in Kozhikode on March 28, 1948. He entered the world of cinema as an art director after gaining diploma from Madras School of Arts. He then started working as an assistant director, and finally donned the director's hat.
Sasi started his career as an art director for Kaliyalla kalyanam in 1968. His debut directorial venture was Ulsavam, which released in 1975.
The veteran director is credited with making the most number of films in Malayalam. He shares the honor with J Sasikumar.
Some of his best known movies are: Anubhavam, Aavanazhi, Aalkkoottathil Thaniye, 1921, and Devasuram.
Sasi dominated the Malayalam film scene for four decades, since 1970s with a wide variety of films through his close association with veteran writers, including Jnanpith laureate M.T. Vasudevan Nair, late T. Damodaran and P. Padmarajan.
His film Avalude Raavukal helped him etch his place in the Malayalam film industry. The move has gained a cult status over the years. Though the movie dealt with a risque theme, Sasi, made the film a success with his deft handling of the subject.
Mammootty and Sasi collaborated on more than 35 films, including Mrugaya, Inspector Balram and Ee Nadu.
The filmmaker gave Mohanlal one of his early breaks as a co-hero in Ineyengillum. The director-actor duo went on to work in films such as Devasuram, Aalkkoottathil Thaniye and Uyarangalil.
He also directed Kamal Haasan in films such as Guru, Allauddinum Arputha Vilakkum, Karishma and Eeta. In 1979, Sasi worked with superstar Rajinikanth in the Malayalam film Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum.
He helmed Hindi movies such as the Mithun Chakraborty starrer Patita and Anokha Rishta, featuring Rajesh Khanna.
In 1982, he won the National Award for the best feature film on national integration for his movie Aroodam. He had twice won the state award for best direction. He was a recipient of J. C. Daniel Award in 2015.
Vellathooval was his last movie that released in 2009.
Yesteryear Malayalam actress Seema is his wife. Anu and Ani are his children. He met his life partner, Seema, during the shoot of Avalude Raavukal. They have worked together in over 30 films.
RIP I.V. Sasi
Condolences poured in for the veteran filmmaker. Actors Innocent, Lalu Alex, captain Raju, Suresh Gopi, Dulquer Salmaan and director Fazil and producer Liberty Basheer were some of the prominent people from the industry who mourned the death of director.
Mammootty said, "I feel sad on the demise of my beloved friend."
Calling him the 'master of Malayalam movie industry', Mohanlal said, "Portraying the life of commoners, I.V. Sasi was a man who made wonders on the silver screen. I salute the master of Malayalam movie industry who made the viewers and actors, including me, understand the basics of cinema."
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Sasi and said he was a filmmaker who rewrote the conventional formula in the Malayalam film industry.
(With inputs from PTI)
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