Prominent cinematographer Shaji Kumar passed away early on Tuesday morning at a private hospital in Kochi. He was undergoing medical treatment after experiencing a sudden health complication on a film set.

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Two days prior to his death, Shaji Kumar felt unwell whilst working on the set of an upcoming Dileep starrer in Alappuzha. Medical staff provided initial emergency care in Alappuzha before transferring him to a private healthcare facility in Kochi for advanced medical attention. Although doctors initially admitted him to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), his condition showed enough stability for transfer to a hospital room. However, he unexpectedly collapsed while walking to the washroom, leading to his demise during the early hours of Tuesday. Hospital authorities subsequently moved his body to the mortuary, with arrangements made to bring his mortal remains to a friend's flat around 8:00 AM for colleagues and well-wishers to pay their respects.

A prolific career and final projects

Over a career spanning more than a decade, Shaji Kumar served as the director of photography for over 50 feature films. He earned widespread recognition for framing mass action entertainments, treating both big-budget blockbusters and smaller productions with equal artistic dedication. His visual craftsmanship achieved landmark success with the 2016 blockbuster Pulimurugan. Beyond Pulimurugan, his extensive filmography includes popular titles such as Naran, Odiyan, Madhuraraja, Ramaleela, Nasrani, Robinhood, Baba Kalyani, Vellinakshatram, Athbhuthadweep, Ring Master, Mallu Singh, Pathonpatham Noottandu, Bandra, Kaathikan, and Thodarum. Whilst primarily active in Malayalam cinema, he also worked on Tamil and Hindi movie projects. Throughout his tenure in the industry, he frequently collaborated with veteran directors such as Vysakh, Shaji Kailas, Joshiy, and Anil-Babu.

Prior to his sudden demise, Shaji Kumar completed camera work for two upcoming feature films, Athimanoharam and Ottakkomban. Amongst these final works, Athimanoharam is scheduled for theatrical release on December 24.