Veteran Malayalam film personality Thampi Kannanthanam passes away
Kochi, Oct 2 : Veteran Malayalam film personality Thampi Kannanthanam passed away on Tuesday at a private hospital near here after several days of illness, the film fraternity said. He was 65.
Kannanthanam was a producer, director and have also acted in a few films.
He was admitted to the private hospital last week.
A multi-faceted film personality, Kannanthanam was a hugely successful and celebrated director and often regarded as the one who took Mohanlal to his career high in "Rajavinte Makan" in 1986. After this film, Mohanlal had never looked back in his career.
Mohanlal told the media over the phone from Kulu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh, that without any qualms he would say Thampi Kannanthanam moulded him into the star he was today.
"A long time good friend of mine has passed away and his long standing wish of making a sequel to our block buster 'Rajavinte Makan' now will never happen again," said Mohanlal.
In all, Kannanthanam directed 16 films between 1983 and 2004 and produced seven films while he acted in 10.
Kannanthanam began as an assistant to ace filmmakers Sasikumar and then with Joshy and when he started on his own, most of what he did, turned out to be a success.
Known for his jovial nature and one with no airs, he was liked by all sections of the film industry.
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Delhi court extends gangster Anmol Bishnoi's NIA custody by 7 days
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court on Friday extended the NIA custody of deported gangster Anmol Bishnoi by seven more days.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma ordered the extension during a hearing conducted at the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) headquarters here amid high security.
The hearing was not conducted at the designated court in the Patiala House courts as the NIA cited a high security risk to Bishnoi because of threats given by Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
Sources said the agency sought the extension of Anmol's custody by seven more days on the ground of conducting further probe, which the judge allowed.
Wanted in connection with the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, firing at actor Salman Khan's residence in April 2024, the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, among other crimes, Anmol was "removed" from the United States on November 18.
He was detained in the US in November last year.
After being produced before a special judge in the Patiala House courts on November 18, he was sent to the NIA's custody for 11 days.
On November 29, Anmol, the brother and a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was sent for further custodial interrogation till December 5.
Absconding since 2022, US-based Anmol is the 19th accused to be arrested for involvement in the terror-gangster syndicate led by his jailed brother.
