Vijayan Kannampilly, prolific artist and the former editor of "Free Press Journal", died Thursday after suffering a cardiac failure. He was 72.

Born to former Indian ambassador K M Kannampilly and Konath Madhavi Amma, he was a passionate Marxist during his student days, before turning to journalism in 1974, when he joined "The Economic Times".

Barely a year into his career, he took a brave stand against the Emergency in 1975, even as many Indian media houses buckled under political pressure.

After the Emergency was lifted, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming editor of FPJ in the mid-1980s.

He later left journalism to work for the Business India publishing group and stayed with the organization into his sixties.

He also rekindled his childhood passion for painting - becoming a committed artist and the author of a best-selling cookbook on Kerala cuisine.

He retired to the coastal state in his final years where he spent his time painting.

He is survived by his wife, daughter and stepson.