SP Jananathan, the director who is known for directing the award-winning film Iyarkai, died of a cardiac arrest on Sunday. He was 61.
Jananathan was working on the post-production of his upcoming project Laabam when he was taken to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Thursday after falling ill at his residence.
The producers of the film, 7C’S Entertainment, put out a statement condoling his death. They announced that the director had died at 10:07 am.
Our director #SPJananathan, sir , who was in a critical condition and was undergoing treatment at the Apollo hospitals, passed away at 10.07 am today morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. May his soul rest in peace
— 7Cs Entertaintment (@7CsPvtPte) March 14, 2021
Condolences poured in for the filmmaker. Actors like Jayam Ravi and Shruti Haasan also took to social media to express their grief.
It is with the heaviest Heart that We say good bye to #SPJananathan sir – it was a pleasure working with you sir Thankyou for your wisdom and kind words you will always be in my thoughts ! My deepest condolences to his family 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ox1Ag0EEYE
— shruti haasan (@shrutihaasan) March 14, 2021
RIP Jana sir. No one can take u away from our memories. pic.twitter.com/4uVlYPgoZu
— Jayam Ravi (@actor_jayamravi) March 14, 2021
Earlier, the late director’s assistant Balaji had told Silverscreen India that he felt unwell while working on the editing for Laabam.
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“After finishing the editing work, he had gone to his home for a lunch break. Sometime later, one of the assistants at the office got a call from him, asking him to come immediately. When we reached there, he was vomiting and sweating. He later fell unconscious,” he said.
They had initially taken him to BSS hospital in Chennai but he was later shifted to Apollo Hospital.
On Saturday, the director was still under observation and was on ventilator support but his pulse and heartbeat had improved. The doctors were hoping to conduct brain surgery to remove a blood clot.
His last film Laabam stars Vijay Sethupathi and Haasan in lead roles.
The late filmmaker made his debut in 2003 with the movie Iyarkai, which won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 51st National Awards. He also worked on the 2015 sports drama film Bhooloham starring Jayam Ravi.