It has been 44 years since the tragic death of Malayalam cinema's beloved action hero, Jayan, who passed away in a helicopter crash during the filming of Kolillakkam.

As time passes, the memories of his last moments remain vivid for those who were with him on that fateful day. Kalliyoor Sasi, the producer of the film, shared his recollections with Mathrubhumi News.

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Sasi explained that the pressure to get the shots right meant there was little room for hesitation. Saying yes to more shots when it has already been decided that no more should be taken is like inviting death, he said. 

"When Jayan's body was lifted, there was only a faint breath, some movement, and a sound. Except for three people, including myself, the rest of the crew had no communication with us and didn't know where we had gone. The force of the crash threw both the pilot and Balan K. Nair, who was on the other side, in different directions. Balan K. Nair suffered multiple fractures to his leg. He was rushed to Vijaya Hospital in Vadapalani," Sasi recalled.

However, the medical team could not save Jayan. Doctors confirmed that his brain had suffered serious damage, and despite their efforts, he could not be revived. "After about fifteen minutes, Jayan slowly lost his breath as I stood there," Sasi recalled.