I.V. Sasi reigned at the box office, and made classics too

I.V. Sasi, who passed away in Chennai on Tuesday, made many a box office hit, even as he helmed several critically acclaimed films

Veteran Malayalam director I.V. Sasi, best known for his films Avalude Ravukal and Devasuram died in Chennai on Tuesday, sources close to the family said. He was 69.

Sasi had problems in breathing and passed away around 11.15 a.m. while being taken to a hospital.

Sasi was one of the most successful and prolific directors in Malayalam cinema. In a career that spanned over four decades, he made several blockbusters as well as critically acclaimed films.

He was in fact one of those early directors who bridged the gap between commercial and meaningful cinema. He was as much at home making blockbusters such as

Ee Nadu , Aavanazhi and Vartha as he was at creating sensitive films such as Aalkoottathil Thaniye and Aksharangal .

Between 1975 and 2009, he directed over 100 films. That is a remarkable record. Even more remarkable is the fact that many of those films enjoy a significant slot in the history of Malayalam cinema.

His major hits include

Ee Nadu ,

Itha Ivide Vare ,

Angadi ,

Devasuram ,

Aavanazhi, and

Avalude Ravukal . Among his critically acclaimed films are

Itha Ivide Vare ,

Kanamarayathu ,

Aaroodam ,

Uyarangalil and

Vadakaykkoru Hrudayam .

But, to be a director wasn’t his aim, when he boarded the Madras Mail from Kozhikode in 1968. “My ambition was to become an art director, nothing more,” Sasi had told this writer during a lengthy interview in Kozhikode a few years ago. “I began my career as an assistant to art director S.A. Konnanattu.”

It was his friend director Hariharan who first told Sasi that he should think of becoming a director himself. The young man though wasn’t convinced, but his friend persuaded him to work as an assistant director to A.B. Raj, during the making of Kannur Deluxe (1969).

After ghost-directing a couple of movies, he debuted as a director with Ulsavam in 1975. It was a surprise hit.

Two years later, he came up with Itha Ivide Vare , which remains one of our finest films based on the theme of revenge.

Its screenplay was written by P. Padmarajan, with whom he also collaborated for films like Kanamarayathu , Vadakaykkoru Hrudayam and Karimbin Poovinakkare . He had great respect for authors and considered it an honour when producer M.D. George recommended him to M.T. Vasudevan Nair to direct Thrishna .

Ratheesh was the original choice for the role of the hero in the film, but he was too busy and suggested the name of an upcoming young actor called Mammootty.

Sasi went on to forge a formidable partnership with MT to create unforgettable films such as Aalkoottathil Thaniye , Aksharangal , Aroodam , Abhayam Thedi , Rangam and Anubandham .

Prolific team

But it was in the company of another prolific scriptwriter T. Damodaran that he made some of his biggest box office hits, including Angadi , Ee Nadu , Vartha and Aavanazhi . They also collaborated for Innallenkil Nale , arguably the most underrated feminist film in Malayalam.

Sasi had been ailing for some time, but that did not prevent from planning another film.

He had held discussions with a couple of scriptwriters and was hoping to don the director’s cap once again.

That was not to be. But, then, he has made enough films for Malayalis to go back to, over and over.