Legendary filmmaker K.S. Sethumadhavan breathed his last today (24th December) at his residence in Madras. He had not been keeping well for some time due to old age. He was 90 and is survived by his wife and three children.
Sethumadhavan started his career as an assistant to director K. Ramnath. He turned independent with Sinhalese film Veeravijaya (1960). His first Malayalam film was Jnana Sundari. Sethumadhavan had introduced Kamal Haasan as a child actor in Malalyalam film Kannum Karalum, and then in a lead role in Malayalam film Kanyakumari. Among the films made by the ten times National Award winner are Odayil Ninnu, Anubhavangal Palichakal, Oppol, Aranazhikaneram, Achanum Bappayum and Panitheeratha Veedu. His last film was Venalkinavukal. He had made about 60 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi (Julie; 1975, Yehi Hai Zindagi; 1977) in a career spanning more than three decades. His films boasted of strong female characters.
Sethumadhavan had won several Kerala state film awards and also the prestigious J.C. Daniel award, the Kerala government’s highest honour in the film sector.