07 September,2026 02:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
R Sarath (Picture via Instagram)
Award-winning Malayalam filmmaker R Sarath, known for films such as Sayahnam, Sthithi and Sheelabathi, died at the age of 65 on Monday, September 7. The filmmaker passed away at a private hospital in Trivandrum while undergoing treatment for health-related ailments.
According to his relatives, Sarath's funeral will be held at 5.30 pm on Monday at Santhikavadam in Trivandrum. He is survived by his wife and two sons. The FEFKA (Film Employees Federation of Kerala) Directors' Union condoled his death and expressed its condolences to his family and loved ones.
Sarath had built a distinctive body of work over several decades, working across feature films, documentaries, short films and visual art. His cinema often explored social, cultural and historical themes, reflecting his interest in using filmmaking as a medium to engage with larger questions about society.
His most acclaimed film, Sayahnam, was released in 2000 and earned significant critical recognition. The film won the Indira Gandhi Award and received seven Kerala State Film Awards that year, establishing Sarath as an important voice in Malayalam cinema.
He went on to direct films including Sthithi, Sheelabathi, Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu, Swayam and Paradise. His 2011 film The Desire: A Journey of a Woman also earned international recognition, winning the Best Narrative Feature Film award at the Geneva International Film Festival.
Sarath's creative pursuits extended beyond feature filmmaking. He directed several short films, including Achinte Katha, Chumar Chithrangal, Bhoomikkoru Charama Geetham and Mahatma Gandhi Road. He also made a documentary on the paintings of renowned Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma, which received international attention.
A mural artist as well, Sarath was awarded the Central Government's Junior Fellowship for his work in the field. Another notable project, Burial of Dreams, focused on the Bhopal gas tragedy and received attention at the national level.
Born in Vilakkudy in Kollam district, Sarath studied English at Mahatma Gandhi College in Thiruvananthapuram before pursuing postgraduate studies at University College. He began his professional association with the media as a journalist with Kerala Kaumudi before joining the Kerala government's Public Relations Department. He retired in 2021 as Deputy Director.
Sarath also trained at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he completed a Film Appreciation course. His death marks the loss of a filmmaker whose work bridged cinema, art and social commentary.
