Kochi: Renowned director KG George passed away on Sunday. He was 78. He breathed his last at an old age home in Kakkanad, Ernakulam.  

George is acclaimed as a film genius who led Malayalam cinema to new heights and gave life to a new school of filmmaking. In a film career spanning more than two decades, he amazed viewers with films that are deemed to be much ahead of his time. 

Despite directing only 20 movies, George managed to bring about revolutionary changes in the Malayalam industry and questioned the systemic notions of heroes and heroines. 

Some of his popular works include ‘Swapnadanam’, ‘Oolkatal’, ‘Kolangal’, ‘Mela’, ‘Irakal’, ‘Yavanika’, ‘Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback’, ‘Adaminte Vaariyellu’, Kathakku Pinnil’, Mattoral’, ‘Panchavadi Palam’, ‘Ee Kanni Koodi’ among others. 

He has bagged Kerala State Film Awards for his movies ‘Yavanika’, ‘Swapnadanam’, ‘Adaminte Vaariyellu’ and ‘Irakal’. In 2016, he was bestowed with the JC Daniel Award, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to Malayalam cinema. 

He is survived by his wife Selma George.