Former FTII head John Sankaramangalam dies

Veteran filmmaker and former director of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, John Sankaramangalam, died at a private hospital in Thiruvalla on Monday. He was 84. He was admitted to the hospital owing to age-related ailments.

He had been associated with parallel films and had directed films ‘Saramsham’, ‘Samantharam’, ‘Aval Alpam Vaikippoyi’ and ‘Janmabhoomi’. A revered film scholar, he had also made documentaries for ministry of information and broadcasting.

Beena Paul, vice-chairperson of Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, who had her debut as an editor in his film Samantharam in 1985 said, “He was my teacher and he encouraged me to take up the assignment as an editor in his film. He was really helpful and supportive throughout the work. He would help me understand dialogues and for me, he was always a great teacher.”