Met last morning as well: Kerala CM in disbelief upon learning of close friend’s death

Thottada: A close friend of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a former employee of Chovva Spinning Mill, N M Ratheendran (80) of Kizhuthally collapsed and died. On Monday morning, he had met the Chief Minister at the Kannur Guest House and engaged in a friendly conversation. It was while returning that he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to the Military Hospital near the Guest House and later to the District Hospital, but passed away by evening.

Earlier, Ratheendran resided in Thalassery. After moving to Kizhuthally, he would always meet the Chief Minister whenever he visited Kannur. Upon learning of his death, the Chief Minister visited the District Hospital.

He was survived by wife Savitha and children Shajin Ratheendran and Shafna, son-in-law Joshi. The funeral will be held on Tuesday at Payyambalam at 12 noon.

Who was Ratheendran?

A dog trainer, Ratheendran trained numerous dogs that appeared in films. The boxer dog featured in Aravindan’s 1979 film Kummatti belonged to Ratheendran and stood out in its role. Years later, the same boxer gained acclaim in K P Pillai’s Pathira Sooryan (1981). Thottada ‘Sarathy’ Ratheendran was the proud owner of the boxer.
 

From a young age, Ratheendran had a deep affection for dogs, always feeding stray puppies secretly without his parents noticing. His pursuit of excellent dogs intensified after securing a job at Chovva Spinning Mill. Over the years, he owned hundreds of dogs from various breeds.

He was meticulous in observing each breed. Ratheendran was a member of the Calicut Kennel Club since its inception in 1977 and participated in dog shows in numerous cities, including Bengaluru and Chennai, winning several championships. He often recounted how two of his German Shepherds were acquired by actor Bhiman Raghu during a shoot in Thalassery.