Young filmmaker Nayana Sooryan dies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nayana Sooryan, 28, a young and upcoming filmmaker in Malayalam film industry, died here on Sunday. She was found dead in her house at Althara near Vellayambalam during the early hours of Sunday. She originally hails from Karunagappally in Kollam district.

She had been active in the film industry for nearly a decade. She started off her film career as an assistant director of legendary filmmaker Lenin Rajendran in his movie ‘Makaramanju’ (2010). She has also worked as an associate director under Kerala Sate Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal in his critically acclaimed movie ‘Nadan’ (2013). She turned independent director with the 2017 movie Crossroad, which was an anthology of ten featurette films told from women's perspective. She scripted and directed the segment titled ‘Pakshikalude Manam’ featuring actors Mythili and Vijay Babu. Ever since her mentor Lenin Rajendran took charge as the chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation in 2016, she had been working as his private secretary. Lenin Rajendran had died on January 14 this year at the age of 67. Sources close to her said that she was very close to Lenin Rajendran and his demise had affected her deeply.

According to sources, her friends broke into her house after she failed to respond to repeated calls. Though she was rushed to a hospital, doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Museum police have registered a case in this regard and steps were initiated to conduct an inquest procedure and autopsy.

‘’It is learned that she had been ailing from low blood pressure related problems and had even been kept under treatment in intensive care unit in the recent past’’, Museum Sub Inspector G Sunil said, adding that only after an autopsy could they tell cause of the death.