A.K. Lohitha Das, director, actor and screen play writer, who died on Sunday following a massive heart attack in Lisie hospital in Eranakulam, was cremated with state honours near his house, Amaravathy, an old mana [ancestral Namboothiri house] at Akaloor village on the banks of Nila (Bharathapuzha) at Lakkidi-Perur grama panchayat limits of Ottapaalam Taluk on Monday. He was 54 years old. People from all walks of life including artistes and other cine field members attended. He is survived by wife Sindhu and sons Hari Krishnan and Vijaya Sankar.
The initial period of A.K. Lohitha Das as a story writer was not successful. But he soon made his mark as a playwright. His debut play was staged by KPAC. In 1987 he made his foray into the world of film by scripting the award winning screenplay for 'Thaniyaavarthanam', directed by Sibi Malayil.
The Sibi-Lohi duo turned out to be most successful combination, which led to many super hit films like 'Ezhuthappurangal' , 'Kireedam' , 'Mudra' , 'His Highness Abdulla' ,'Bharatham' and 'Kamaladhalam' . His screen plays for 'Aadhaaram' , 'Padheyam' , 'Amaram' , 'Venkalam' ,'Kanmadham' and 'Karunyam' were significant for their flawless characterisation and inimitable styles of narration.
His last film to be directed was 'Nivedyam', casting Bhama and Vinu Mohan. He was completing the script of 'Bheeshmar' to be directed by Sibi Malayil casting Mohan Lal as the hero. Manju Warrier, Meera Jasmine, Bhama and Vinu Mohan entered the cine field by acting in his films.
On Sunday the annual general body meeting of AMMA was under way at Ernakulam, when news about the writer's untimely demise trickled in. It passed a resolution condoling his death. Senior artistes and directors such as Mammootty, Mohan Lal, Dileep, Jayaram, Jagadheesh, Mukesh, Jagathy Sreekumar, Innocent, Shaji Kailas, Vinayan, Sibi Malayil, and Joshi besides Cultural Minister M.A Baby, Union minister of state for Agriculture K.V Thomas and District collector K.M. Beena paid tributes to the eminent writer when the body was kept at Maharaja's college pavilion at Ernakulam for public view.
