Malayalam Cinematographer Shaji Kumar Dies At 57; Was Shooting For Upcoming Dileep Film

Renowned Malayalam cinematographer Shaji Kumar passed away at the age of 57 on Tuesday, leaving the Malayalam film industry mourning the loss of a familiar name behind several popular films. He was working on an upcoming Dileep-starrer in Alappuzha when he suffered a medical emergency over the weekend.

Kumar was staying at a hotel in Alappuzha in connection with the shoot when he began experiencing discomfort on Saturday night. He immediately informed the film's director, Ullas Krishna, after which he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to a private hospital for specialised treatment.

While there were initial signs of improvement and Kumar was reportedly able to communicate normally following his admission, his condition took a turn for the worse on Sunday night. He eventually succumbed to his health complications on Tuesday.

Kumar had been residing in Perumbavoor for several years. He is survived by his wife, Smitha, and their two sons, Aryan and Sooryan. His mortal remains will be kept at the Ernakulam Gokulam Convention Centre between 10 am and 1 pm. The funeral is scheduled to take place at his residence in Perumbavoor at 7 pm.

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Who was Shaji Kumar?

Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Shaji Kumar trained under veteran cinematographer Vipin Mohan before finding his footing in the Malayalam film industry. He began his career as an assistant cinematographer, gradually working his way towards establishing himself as an independent cameraman.

Over the years, Kumar developed a reputation for his visual treatment, particularly in films featuring elaborate action sequences and larger-than-life storytelling. Having started out with traditional film cameras, he witnessed the industry's transition to digital filmmaking and adapted to the changing demands of cinematography.

His body of work included collaborations with some of Malayalam cinema's prominent filmmakers, such as Joshiy, Shaji Kailas, V M Vinu, M Padmakumar and Vaishakh. He also worked with a younger generation of directors, including Tharun Moorthy.

Kumar's filmography featured several commercially successful titles, among them "Naran", "Pulimurugan", "Ramaleela", "Odiyan", "Madhura Raja", "Ittymaani: Made in China", "Night Drive", "Pathonpatham Noottandu", "Bandra", "Once Upon a Time in Kochi" and "Thudarum."

He shared a particularly notable professional association with actor Mohanlal, having worked on several of the star's films. His ability to capture high-energy action and dramatic moments made him a familiar presence in many of Malayalam cinema's mainstream entertainers.

Among his recent assignments were Athimanoharam, featuring Mohanlal and directed by Tharun Moorthy, and Suresh Gopi's Ottakomban. His sudden demise has brought an end to a career that spanned several decades and left behind a considerable body of work in Malayalam cinema.