Renowned Tamil filmmaker and actor Velu Prabhakaran was admitted to the hospital due to health complications. Despite hopes for his recovery with medical care, he sadly passed away early this morning, leaving the Tamil film industry in deep mourning.
A journey from cinematographer to director and actor
Velu Prabhakaran began his career in the film industry as a cinematographer. He made his debut behind the camera with the 1980 film “Ivar Vithiyasamanavargal” and went on to work as the cinematographer for “Mattavare Nairil”. Both films earned him recognition and helped establish his name in Kollywood.
Soon, Prabhakaran’s passion for filmmaking grew, and by his third film, he took on the dual role of director and cinematographer. Over the years, he directed several notable Tamil films such as “Naalai Manithan”, “Sariyana Jodi”, “Adhisaya Manithan”, and “Asuran”. Notably, the screenplay for “Asuran” was written by R.K. Selvamani.
Transition to acting alongside directing
Balancing between directing and cinematography, Prabhakaran eventually embraced acting. He appeared in films like “Kadhal Kadhai”, “Puratasi Karan”, “Nalaay Poozhudhum Unnodu”, and “Kadhal Kadhai”, the latter of which he also directed. His performance as an actor earned him appreciation and added another dimension to his career.
Hiatus and return to direction
After a period away from directing, he made a comeback in 2017 with the film “Oru Directorin Kadhai”, marking his final directorial work before stepping back from filmmaking.
Personal life and controversies
Velu Prabhakaran’s personal life also saw its share of controversies. He was first married to Jayadevi, from whom he later separated. Subsequently, in 2017, at the age of 60, he married actress Shirlavi, who had worked with him on “Kadhal Kadhai”.
Health decline and hospitalization
In recent years, Prabhakaran focused mainly on acting, appearing in several films including “Gangs of Madras”, “Blue Shirt Maran”, “Anti Indian”, “Kadavar”, “Pizza 3”, “Raid”, and “Weapon”. However, he suddenly fell ill and was admitted to the hospital, where doctors provided intensive care.
His final moments and legacy
Though many hoped for his recovery, Prabhakaran’s body could not respond to treatment, and he passed away at 5:30 AM today. His death has deeply saddened many in the Tamil film fraternity. Medical reports indicate that despite the doctors’ best efforts, his condition worsened due to his body not cooperating with treatment.
