Veteran Malayalam director and screenwriter Harikumar breathed his last on Monday evening after a prolonged battle with cancer. He passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, leaving behind a legacy of impactful cinema.
Harikumar, whose career spanned several decades, made his directorial debut with the 1981 film Ambal Poovu. Over the years, he directed a total of 18 films, including notable works like Sukritham, Udyanapalakan, and Jalakam, collaborating with esteemed screenwriters such as M T Vasudevan Nair, Lohithadas, Sreenivasan, and Kaloor Denis.
Among his directorial ventures, Sukritham, written by M T Vasudevan Nair in 1994, stood out, earning critical acclaim and winning the National Award for Best Malayalam Film.
In addition to his directorial prowess, Harikumar also showcased his talent as a screenwriter, contributing to the scripts of several of his own films. His final directorial venture, the Ann Augustine-starrer Autorickshawkarante Bharya, released in 2022.
Many Malayalam cinema fans took to social media to express their condolences on the death of the veteran filmmaker.