Famous Tamil filmmaker, cinematographer, and actor Velu Prabhakaran passed away in Chennai early on Friday, July 18, at the age of 68.
As per reports, he had been ill for a long time and was receiving treatment at a private hospital. Sadly, he suffered a heart attack while in the ICU, which led to his death.
His body will be kept at his home in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, from Saturday evening (July 19) to Sunday afternoon (July 20) for people to pay their last respects. His final rites will take place on Sunday at the Porur crematorium, in the presence of his close friends and family members.
A Filmmaker with a Bold Vision
Velu Prabhakaran started his career as a cinematographer before becoming a director. His first movie as a director was ‘Nalaya Manithan’ in 1989, followed by its sequel ‘Adhisaya Manithan’ in 1990.
Although some of his films like ‘Asuran’ and ‘Rajali’ didn’t do well, he bounced back by making action-packed films with bold and socially relevant themes in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
‘Kadhal Kadhai’: A Film That Stirred Conversation
One of his most controversial and talked-about films was ‘Kadhal Kadhai’ (originally called ‘Kadhal Arangam’). The movie dealt with sensitive topics like caste, and social taboos.
Starring Preethi Rangayani and Shirley Das, the film faced strong objections from the Censor Board and was released only after several cuts and a title change.
Read more: Kota Srinivasa Rao, Icon of Telugu Cinema Passes Away at 83
Personal Life
Velu Prabhakaran was earlier married to actor-director Jayadevi. After they separated, he surprised many by getting married again at the age of 60 to actress Shirley Das, who had worked with him in Kadhal Kadhai.
His death is a big loss to the Tamil film industry, as he was known for his unique and fearless storytelling style.
