Renowned Malayalam cinematographer Shaji Kumar passes away at 57

Malayalam film cinematographer Shaji Kumar died at the age of 57 in Kochi in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, following a cardiac failure. A native of Thiruvananthapuram, he lived in Perumbavoor in the Ernakulam district.

The Final Days

While working on his upcoming film Henok starring Dileep in Alappuzha, Shaji felt unwell in his hotel room on Saturday night. He informed director Ullas Krishna and went to a local hospital before moving to the Ernakulam Medical Trust Hospital. Although he showed early signs of recovery, his condition worsened abruptly, leading to his passing.

Career and Legacy

Shaji started as an assistant to Vipin Mohan and worked independently for 25 years across Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi cinema. He collaborated with veteran directors like Joshiy, Shaji Kailas, and VM Vinu, alongside younger filmmakers such as Tharun Moorthy. His extensive filmography includes hit movies like Pulimurugan, Naran, Ramaleela, and Odiyan. According to the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, he transitioned smoothly from film cameras to digital filmmaking with distinct artistic finesse.

Context

Cinematographers play a central role in shaping the visual tone and look of a film through lighting, framing, and camera movement. The sudden loss of an experienced technician active on major upcoming projects highlights the close-knit nature of the regional film industry. Shaji is survived by his wife Smitha and their sons Aryan and Sooryan.