Malayalam Director Siddique Passes Away

Noted Malayalam director Siddique who suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment for various ailments at a private hospital, passed away on Tuesday. The director is survived by his wife Sajitha and their three children Sumaya, Sara, and Sukoon.

Siddique breathed his last at 9.10 pm, a press release from the hospital said. "Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Siddique was admitted to Amrita Hospital with chronic liver disease and bronchopneumonia. He was put on a ventilator for respiratory failure and his condition improved with medical management.," the statement said.

He was taken off the ventilator and was on supplemental oxygen therapy. "While on treatment, he had a massive heart attack while undergoing treatment in the hospital and underwent emergency angioplasty. He was placed on ECMO support due to cardiogenic shock and respiratory failure. He developed multiorgan dysfunction with clinical deterioration and was declared dead on 08/2/2023 at 9.10 pm," the press release added.

The filmmaker, who had helmed numerous super-hit Malayalam movies, had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital for over a month for various ailments.

Siddique delivered several hit movies along with his friend Lal, and the two were popularly known as 'Siddique-Lal'.

Their movies 'Ramji Rao Speaking', 'In Harihar Nagar', 'Godfather', 'Vietnam Colony' and 'Kabooliwala' were massive hits.

Siddique is also the director of blockbuster movies including 'Hitler', 'Friends', 'Chronic Bachelor', and 'Bodyguard', among others.

He directed the remake of his movie 'Bodyguard' starring Salman Khan in Hindi, which also became superhit. In Tamil, it was titled 'Kavalan' starring Vijay and did well at the box office.

The mortal remains of Siddique will be kept at Kadavanthra's Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium from 9 am to 11:30 am on Wednesday and later at his residence for people to pay their homage. His funeral will be held at 6 pm tomorrow, director B Unnikrishnan said.