India
Rajendran was 67 and was undergoing treatment for liver-related ailments at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, for the last three weeks and passed away on Monday. The hospital has refused to release the body of the filmmaker pending payments of Rs 72 lakh, a media report stated.
Chennai: Renowned filmmaker and chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation Lenin Rajendran passed away on Monday. State minister for culture and cinema AK Balan informed the media that the director was no more.
Rajendran was 67 and was undergoing treatment for liver-related ailments at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, for the last three weeks. A few months ago, Rajendran underwent liver transplantation.
Reports state that Apollo hospital refused to hand over the body of Rajendran to his family until they pay the cost of his treatment; Rs 72 lakh.
A media report also claimed, hospital officials had stated that if the chief minister puts in a word then the hospital will release the body.
Looking back at the filmmaker’s life:
Rajendran began his film career as an assistant to director PA Backer and directed his first film 'Venal' in 1982, and his last film was 'Edavappathy' in 2016.
"He directed 16 films. He always walked a different path and that's what made him different. He was a known Left traveller, that was evident in most of his pictures. His unexpected demise has come as a shock. The Malayalam film industry would miss him," said AK Balan.
He was fielded from the Ottapalam Lok Sabha constituency by the CPI-M twice in 1989 and 1991 against KR Narayanan.
He was known for his unique style of filmmaking.
He won five Kerala state film awards in his career, Rajendran helmed a number of critically acclaimed movies including "Swathi Thirunal", "Daivathinte Vikrithikal", "Mazha", "Kulam" and " Edavappathy."
He was an active member of the Communist party, Rajendran at times integrated his political orientation into his screen work: his 1985 film Meenamasithile Sooryan was about the anti-feudal upheaval of the 1940s in Kerala from a Communist viewpoint.
He is survived by wife Dr Ramani, daughter Dr Parvathy and son Gouthaman.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala condoled the death of Rajendran.
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