Thrissur, May 11: Eminent novelist, actor and screenplay writer Madampu Sankaran Namboodiri alias Madampu Kunjukuttan, who had been under treatment for COVID-19, succumbed to the viral infection at a private hospital here on Tuesday.
He was 81.
He was admitted to the hospital following fever and breathing difficulties and tested positive for the virus recently, hospital sources said.
Kunjukuttan, fondly called as Madampu by his admirers in the literary and film world, had over 10 novels and five screenplays to his credit.
As an actor, he was known for his roles in the movies like "Paithrikam", "Vadakkunnathan", "Karunam", "Deshadanam", "Aaramthampuram" and so on.
He penned screenplays for critically acclaimed movies such as "Gourisankaram", "Deshadannam", "karunam" and "Makalkku".
Hailing from a traditional Namboodiri family in Kiraloor in Thirssur district,Madampu Kunjukuttan was generally considered as a person and writer who stood for reformation in his community.
His well-known book, 'Bhrashtu", which won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the best novel in 1983, revolves around the real story of Kuriyedathu Thathri, who fought against the patriarchy and rigid and conventional norms in the community.
His other literary works include "Ashwathamavu", "Mahaprasthanam", "Nishdam", "Aryavartham" (all novels) and so on.
Kunjukuttan won the national award for his screenplay for the Jayaraj-directed movie "Karunam" in the year 2000.
A scholar in Vedas, Sansrit, Indian philosophy and Mathanga Leela (Elephant Science), Kunjukuttan was also known for his fascination for elephants.
He unsuccessfully contested from Kodungallur as a BJP candidate in 2001 assembly elections.
Several persons from various walks of life including Governor Arif Mohammed Khan condoled the death of Madampu Kunjukuttan.
"RIP! Folded hands #MadambuKunjukuttan Sir.
PS: Social media timelines are beginning to look like obituary columns. Prayers for the departed and their families.. and hope that times change for the better soon (sic)," actor Prithviraj Sukumaran tweeted.
RIP! ??#MadambuKunjukuttan Sir. PS: Social media timelines are beginning to look like obituary columns. Prayers for the departed and their families..and hope that times change for the better soon. ? pic.twitter.com/As1z9oT44f
— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) May 11, 2021
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Vadodara, Mar 29: A consumer forum in Gujarat's Vadodara district has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on a local boutique for causing "mental trauma" to a woman by stitching her garments improperly, due to which she had to wear some other clothes during a wedding event in her family.
The Vadodara District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (additional), in its order passed on March 7, noted that the complainant woman had planned to wear the garments during her nephew's wedding.
In its order, the forum said that since these garments - three blouses and two dresses - were not stitched properly, it "must have ruined the excitement and caused mental trauma" to the woman.
"Hence, we order the boutique to pay Rs 5,000 to the complainant for causing mental harassment," it said.
It also ordered the boutique, La Vichitra, to pay Rs 3,000 that the woman had paid towards the stitching charges and Rs 2,000 towards legal costs.
As per the case details, one Deepika Dave of Ahmedabad had visited La Vichitra boutique in October 2017 to get three matching blouse pieces, which she received with three saris she purchased from another shop, stitched.
She also gave another blouse piece and two dresses of her daughter for stitching and paid Rs 5,000 for the stitching work to be done.
When Dave visited the shop again in November 2017 and tried them, she realised that all three blouses were not improperly stitched. Similarly, her daughter's two dresses were also not stitched properly.
When Dave asked the boutique owner to buy new blouse pieces for her and stitch them again with no extra cost, the owner refused, the order said.
The woman then approached the consumer forum and filed a complaint in August 2018. In her plea, Dave said she had purchased three saris in view of the wedding and paid Rs 10,800.
Through her complaint, she sought a compensation of Rs 13,200 claiming that because of the badly-stitched matching blouses, she could not wear those particular saris at the wedding event.
During the hearing, Dave submitted evidence of payment to the shop and also informed the forum that the owner had refunded Rs 2,000 out of Rs 5,000 paid for the stitching job.
As per the order, the opponent, despite getting the notice, neither remained present during the hearing nor challenged the claims made by the complainant through an affidavit.