Veteran director Sasikumar passed away

Noted film maker J Sasikumar is no more. He died on Thursday at a private hospital in Kochi. He was 86 years old. He started his career as a director with the movie ‘Kudumbini’ in 1964. He was born in Alappuzha and his original name is Varkey John.

Sasikumar is regarded as the first hit maker in the Malayalam film industry. He holds the record of directing the most number of movies (141), the most number of movies with same actor as hero (with Prem Nazir in 84 films) and the maximum number of movies in one year (15).

Some of his noted films are ‘Thommante Makkal’, ‘Jeevithayathra’, ‘Attakalasham’, and ‘Azhiyatha Bandangal’. The Kerala Government has conferred him with J C Daniel life time achievement award in 2012.

Sasikumar’s body will be kept for public viewing at TDM Hall Ernakulam and later funeral will be held at Alappuzha.