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Malayalam cinematographer-director Sivan dies of cardiac arrest at 89

The National award-winning filmmaker — father of popular helmer-lensmen Santosh Sivan, Sangeeth Sivan and Sanjeev Sivan — started out as a photographer.

Photo: Courtesy Sangeeth Sivan on Instagram

National award-winning cinematographer and director Sivasankaran Nair, better known simply as Sivan, died today at his home in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, of a cardiac arrest. He was 89. 

Sivan — the father of popular filmmaker-cinematographers Santosh Sivan, Sangeeth Sivan and Sanjeev Sivan — first rose to fame as a still photographer.

Sangeeth announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday. He wrote: “Thank you Dad for everything! Difficult to imagine a world without you but we will continue to trudge d path you have paved for us, safe in d knowledge that u would be guiding us from your place in the clouds & stars. Forever indebted (sic).” 

Sivan started his career as a still photographer and eventually forayed into the film industry. Some of his popular works are Abhayam, Yagam, Oru Yathra, Kochu Kochu Mohangal and Kilivathil. 

Sivan bagged the National award three times in his career.