Popular Malayalam film director R Sarath passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Reportedly, the filmmaker was admitted to the hospital following some health issues. He breathed his last at the age of 63.
Sarath is considered a renowned personality in the filmmaking industry. With his unique cinematic approach, he directed acclaimed films such as Sayahnam, Sheelabathi, Sthithi, and Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu. Among these, Sayahnam is widely acclaimed, winning
seven Kerala State Film Awards.
Sarath started his career in the film business as a documentary filmmaker. He received widespread praise for the documentary Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham, based on a poem by ONV Kurup, especially for its environmental themes and feminine aesthetics.
Besides that, Sarath also received critical acclaim for his feature film Sthithi. In his long career, the filmmaker also won several awards at the state and national levels, including the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director, the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, and several Kerala State Film Awards in various categories. “His works regularly traveled to the international film festival circuit.
