As Mollywood bids adieu to renowned director Siddique, his mentor and filmmaker Fazil recollects his memories of the talent, who gifted several blockbusters to Malayalam Cinema. 

“I still remember the day when I first met Siddique and Lal. They came to tell me a story, a funny one. Although I liked the story, I opted out as it was not in the style of the films I had done so far. But, the way of storytelling proved that two filmmakers were hidden inside them.

That’s how I invited Siddique and Lal as assistant directors to the sets of ‘Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu’. Even though I didn’t do their story, I gave it to Sathyan Anthikad. That is ‘Pappan Priyappetta Pattan’. 

Later, they were my assistants in several films. I was able to recognise their calibre to do films independently from the very beginning. That’s how I asked them to direct a movie on their own and agreed to produce it. The movie was ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’ and the rest is history. 

Siddique was present at several phases of my life. He even played the role of an anchor at my daughters’ weddings. We remembered each other and shared our happiness whenever something good happened in our lives.  

My last encounter with Siddique was at the engagement of my younger brother’s daughter in Ernakulam. We saw each other for a moment and suddenly someone interrupted our vision. 

While returning home, I thought to myself, why did I leave without talking to him. Our relationship was not supposed to end in that single momentary glance. He was very weak then. His face had changed a lot too.  

Siddique would have also faced difficulty to speak to me due to his physical ailments. That was our last meeting. The news I heard later was that he was admitted to the hospital. 

Even when I saw Siddique for the last time on Tuesday night, the face I saw at the engagement party didn’t come to my mind. Instead, the face of a youth who came to tell me a story and made me laugh a lot filled my mind.”