Director Sasi Shankar, known for films like Naraayam and Kunjikkoonan (The Hunchback), died at his home in Kerala today. He was 57. He is survived by his wife Beena, son Vishnu and daughter Meenakshi.
According to a Mangalam report, Sasi Shankar was rushed to hospital after he was found unconscious at his residence in Kolenchery. The cause of death is unknown. Reportedly, Sasi Shankar was an acute diabetes patient.
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Sasi Shankar began his career as an assistant to director Sathyan Anthikkad. He worked in films like Sanmanassullavarkkku Samadhanam (1986), Sreedharante Onnam Thirumurivu (1987), and Pattanapravesham (1988), before making his directorial debut with Naarayam in 1993. The film, starring Murali and Urvashi, narrated the story of a Brahmin woman who teaches Arabic at a rural government school. The film won the National Award for the Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1991.
The biggest commercial success in Sasi Shankar’s career was Kunjikkoonan, starring Dileep and Navya Nair. Kunjikkoonan is credited as being the film that made Dileep a superstar. Sasi Shankar remade the film in Tamil as Peralagan, with Suriya and Jyothika playing the lead roles. His last film, Sarkar Dada, starring Jayaram and Navya Nair, was released in 2005.
Feature Image Courtesy: Manorama