Ace director Sasikumar, referred to as the first "hitmaker" of the Malayalam film industry, passed away Thursday at a private hospital here, his family members said. He was 86.
Sasikumar, who was born N. Varkey John, was suffering from age-related illnesses.
His first film "Kudumbini" came in 1964 and his last film was "Dollar" in 1993.
During the nearly three decades, he paved his way into record books by becoming the director who made a maximum number of 141 films.
Another record that he has is, that he cast, Prem Nazir, the legendary evergreen hero of the Malayalam film industry, in 84 films.
In 1977, Sasikumar directed a staggering 15 Malayalam films.
Incidentally, he has directed a huge number of stars starting from Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Madhu, Jayan, Kamal Hassan, Sukumaran, Soman Mammootty and Mohanlal.
His popular films include "Sethu Bandhanam", "Thuruppu Gulam", "Saghakkale Munottu", "Attakkalasam" and "Ethikkara Pakki", to name a few.
The Kerala State Government honoured him last year by conferring the coveted J. C. Daniel Award for his contribution to Malayalam cinema.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
