Tamil filmmaker Vikram Sugumaran passes away at 47

Filmmaker Vikram Sugumaran, who rose to prominence in the Kollywood industry with his directorial debut Madha Yaanai Koottam, has passed away. He was 47.

Sugumaran’s premature death has been attributed to a cardiac arrest. The filmmaker was reportedly travelling on a public bus on Sunday, on his way back from Madurai after pitching a script to a producer, when he complained of chest pain. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but the doctors were unable to resuscitate him and pronounced him dead.

Sugumaran’s career began as an assistant director to Balu Mahendra, shadowing the legendary filmmaker between the years 1999 and 2000. He later teamed up with famed director Vetrimaaran, with whom he co-wrote the script for Danush-starrer Aadukalam.

The filmmaker etched his name in Kollywood with his 2013 directorial debut Madha Yaanai Koottam. The film was praised for its exploration of socio-political issues, as well as tense familial conflicts. He later helmed the political drama flick Raavana Kottam, with Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Anandhi, and Prabhu in leading roles.

Sugumaran was working on his upcoming directorial Therum Porum when he breathed his last. The film was touted to be another political drama from the filmmaker, adding to the list of his socially conscious body of work.

Social media showed an outpouring show of support for the actor, with actor Shanthanu sharing a series of photos of the filmmaker, writing, “I’ve learnt so much from you & will always cherish every moment. Gone too soon.”

Composer Justin Prabhakaran, who was working with Sugumaran on Therum Porum, penned, “A filmmaker who dreamed beyond frames, but left us too soon. Gone with countless stories untold.”

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