Thiruvananthapuram: Filmmaker Ajayan, the maker of the highly decorated classic 'Perumthachan' and the son of legendary playwright Thoppil Bhasi, died here on Thursday. He was 66. 'Perumthachan' was Ajayan's only film.

Ajayan had been under treatment for cancer during the last two months. He was taken to a private hospital in the capital on Thursday after he complained of breathing difficulties. At the hospital, Ajayan suffered a massive cardiac arrest. He is survived by wife Dr Sushama and daughters Parvathy and Lakshmi.

'Perumthachan', which was M T Vasudevan Nair's reinterpretation of the folktale of the legendary master craftsman in Kottarathil Sankunni's 'Aithihyamala', had won Ajayan the national award for the best debut director in 1991. The film was not just a critical success, but a box office hit, too. Yet, in what is widely considered one of the most enduring mysteries of film lore, Ajayan was not able to make another film.

Fact is, Ajayan had already begun work on his second film right after the shoot of 'Perumthachan'. The script, again by M T Vasudevan Nair, was already done, and was based on the writer's children's fantasy 'Manikyakallu', which MT himself has translated as 'Sapphire from the Serpent'. Ajayan had studied the book in school, and had said that 'Manikyakallu' was the first book that he had read from start to finish. He also wanted 'Manikyakallu' to be his first film. It was MT who had asked him to do 'Perumthachan' first. Though a children's film, MT knew that 'Manikyakallu' would be tougher to execute. 'Perumthachan', MT felt, would prime Ajayan for 'Manikyakallu'.

Being a fantasy film, the movie required the kind of visual effects that was impossible to think of in the early nineties. Ajayan was so passionate about the film that he travelled to Hollywood to meet up with experts at Universal Studios. His cameraman Madhu Ambatt was also with him.

While Ajayan was busy with pre-production, his producer started weaving other plans. He was worried about the cost. The producer therefore wanted the film to be made by a more popular filmmaker with a better standing at the box office, and Ajayan's biggest dream spilled out of his hands. Ever since, he had led the life of a recluse. He is also said to have fallen into acute depression after he lost 'Manikyakallu'. Incidentally, 'Manikyakallu' never got made with any other filmmaker.

Ajayan's other big desire, too, has been left unfulfilled. He wanted to bring to the screen 'Olivile Ormakal', the autobiography of his father Thoppil Bhasi. He had first approached Lohithadas to pen the script but the writer had an untimely demise. Then he asked Sreenivasan to do the writing for him. Sreenivasan told him not to hurry but promised to write the script for him. With Ajayan's death, the script of 'Olivile Ormakal' will forever remain a son's eternal wish.