Naranipuzha Shanavas, the Malayalam film director and screenwriter, died from cardiogenic shock in Kochi on Wednesday. He was 38.
He was declared brain dead earlier on Wednesday by doctors at the KG Hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Shanavas was shifted from Coimbatore to the Aster Medcity hospital in Kochi in a special ventilator-supported ambulance.
Hailing from Kerala’s Malappuram, Shanavas was best known for the Malayalam romantic drama Sufiyum Sujathayum (2020), his last directorial. He made his debut in 2015 with the Malayalam comedy-drama Karie.
On December 19, the director had gone into cardiogenic shock (a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to the brain, kidneys, and other vital organs) caused by a heart attack and was being treated in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Hoping for a “miracle” and thanking the team of Aster Medcity for accepting the request, actor Vijay Babu, who produced Sufiyum Sujathayum, said in an earlier post that Shanavas was under treatment in critical condition. He had asked for traffic control facilities through Valayar, Vadakkanchery, Paliyekkara, Chalakkudy, and Angamaly areas, so that the Aster Medcity ambulance could reach Kochi as soon as possible.
After Shanavas’ demise, Vijay Babu wrote, “He left leaving memories for a lifetime and a few stories that were told to me…. Our Sufi.. We tried our best for u shaanu … love u lots”
Actor Aditi Rao Hydari, who starred in Sufiyum Sujathayum, also shared pictures with the director. Offering condolences to his “kind soul,” she wrote:
“As kind and sensitive as his stories… Rest in Peace Shanavas sir I Hope your Sufi soul finds a place as beautiful as the one you created for us in Sufiyum Sujathayum. Gone too soon. My Prayers and condolences to the family”
Actor Jayasurya, another cast member from Sufiyum Sujathayum, also shared photos.
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Director John Mahendran tweeted out condolences.
RIP #NaranipuzhaShanavas Director of #sufiyumsujatavum. pic.twitter.com/5LHhVSMGwD
— John Mahendran (@johnroshan) December 23, 2020
Shanavas’ funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon at Juma Masjid, located in his hometown Naranippuzha in Malappuram, reported Asianet News.
