People from different walks of life paid homage to Malayalam film director K.R. Mohanan, when his body was placed at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi here on Monday.
Mohanan, best known for his films Ashwathama , Purushartham and Swaroopam , died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. He was 69. He was undergoing treatment for a stomach ailment.
Mohanan, a prominent player in the Malayalam parallel film movement, had also served as chairperson of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. He had also made many documentary films.
Minister for Industries A.C. Moideen and Director and Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal condoled his death. “Mohanan initiated a new cinema culture in Malayalam,” the Minister said.
As chairman of Chalachitra Academy, he played a vital role in making the film festivals popular among common man, Mr. Kamal said. “His demise at a time when he was busy with ‘Tour in Talkies,’ a project to take good films to the common man, is a loss to the Malayalam film industry,” Mr. Kamal said.
A product of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Mohanan was a recipient of State and national film awards. The funeral was held at Chavakkad on Monday.
Culture Minister A.K.Balan has condoled the passing away of the filmmaker. The Minister credited him with playing a key part in popularising the International Film Festival of Kerala. Mohanan tirelessly fought for freedom of expression in cinema. He had an uncompromising stand for films of artistic value and stood for progressive politics, said the Minister.
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Mohanan was a socially committed filmmaker.
CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran said his contributions to the progressive movement would be remembered forever.
