Veteran Cinematographer Shaji Kumar Passes Away at 57

Veteran cinematographer Shaji Kumar passed away at the age of 57. Hindu Tamil Thisai reports that he died at a private hospital in Kochi. He fell ill on Sunday while working on actor Dileep's new film in Alappuzha, received initial treatment, and was later shifted to Kochi. After moving from the intensive care unit to a normal ward, he collapsed on his way to the restroom. Shaji Kumar started his career as a cinematographer in 2001 with the film 'Uthaman' and worked on over 50 movies. He frequently collaborated with directors like Shaji Kailas, Joshiy, Vinayan, and Vysakh. His notable Malayalam films include 'Naran', 'Pulimurugan', 'Odiyan', 'Pokkiri Raja', 'Madhura Raja', 'Ramaleela', and 'Nasrani'. His work on 'Pulimurugan' marked Malayalam cinema's first ₹100-crore grosser. He also worked in Tamil cinema on Prashanth's films 'Ponnar Shankar', 'Mampattiyan', and 'Sahasam'. His final completed project is Mohanlal's 'Atimanoharam', set for release on December 25, alongside upcoming work on Suresh Gopi's 'Ottakomban'. Actor Mohanlal paid tribute to him on social media, calling his death a huge loss and praising his deep talent for capturing emotional expressions.

Context

Cinematographers play a vital role in shaping the visual look and mood of a film through lighting and camera work. The sudden passing of an established technician with dozens of film credits leaves a notable void in the regional film industries he served.