Veteran cinematographer and director Babu Sivan breathed his last today, June 24. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest at his home in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was 89. His funeral and last rites are expected to be performed today.
Sivan’s sudden death has left the Malayalam film industry in shock.
The cinematographer and director rose to fame in the film industry from the photographs he took for a film titled Chemmeen.
Sivan’s sons, Santosh Sivan, Sanjeev Sivan, and Sangeeth Sivan are notable celebrities in the Malayalam film industry.
Sangeeth Sivan took to Twitter and shared throwback photos and penned a heartfelt note. He wrote, “Thank you Dad for everything! Difficult to imagine a world without you but we will continue to trudge the path you have paved for us, safe in the knowledge that you would be guiding us from your place in the clouds & stars. Forever indebted. #OmShanthi #Sivan.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid his condolences.
“Sivan was well-known in the movie industry, especially for his cinematography skills. His ‘Sivan studio’ at Thiruvananthapuram was a popular gathering spot for many prominent cultural icons,” CM said in his message.
Babu Sivan was the first government press photographer and later worked his way to becoming one of the known cinematographers and directors in the Malayalam film industry. He founded the Sivan Studios in 1959 at Thiruvananthapuram Statue junction.
Sivan won three National Awards in his career. Some of his popular films include Keshu, Abhayam, Oru Yathra, Kilivathil, Yagam, and Kochu Kochu Mohangal, among others.
