(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Photographer N L Balakrishnan, who had worked as a still photographer for some 170 Malayalam films and acted in 123 films, has died at the age of 72.
He was associated with noted film makers like Aravindan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and John Abraham before being active in popular films doing notable though small roles.
Balakrishnan had been undergoing treatment for cancer and diabetes. He died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday night at a government hospital here, family sources said. His body was cremated at his daughter's residence in the city yesterday afternoon.
"I knew him since the days of Kanchana Seetha (Aravindan's 1977 film that won him the national award for the best director). He made his presence felt everywhere," recalled cinematographer-filmmaker Shaji N Karun. "He was more than just a still photographer for all of us on the sets".
Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan, Minister for Sports, Cinema, Forest, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, and Shashi Tharoor, MP, expressed their condolences.
The Speaker led hundreds of mourners who visited Balakrishnan's house and paid their last respects. Balakrishnan is survived by his wife Nalini, a son and two daughters.
Balakrishnan began an active acting career with Rajiv Anchal's 1986 film Ammanam Kili and films like Orkkapurathu, Joker, Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal and Pattanapravesham had popular appeal.
He also worked with the Kerala Kaumudi newspaper for more than a decade before becoming active in acting.
His latest film, Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus, with superstar Mammootty in the lead was released last year.
The Kerala Lalithakala Academy had honoured him with a special award for photography this year. He was also the author of the book Black and White.
Balakrishnan had been keeping unwell for the past two months.
He was also an active campaigner of Forum for Better Spirit, a lobby group he launched in Kerala in 1983. "If you have willpower and have enough food to go with your drink, liquor can never harm you," the BBC quoted him as saying in a 2010 report on Kerala's liquor problem.
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