Mani Ratnam's brother dead

MANALI: Noted film producer from Tamil Nadu, G Srinivasan, brother of acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, died on Sunday when he slipped into a gorge while trekking at Halan, about 14km from here, police sources said.

Srinivasan, 49, was trekking with his family members including his wife Sandhya Lakshman and dauguter Shreya when he fell into a 50-feet gorge on Sunday morning.

The body of the producer, who was here with his family for the last ten days on a holiday, was retrieved at around 2 pm, about three hours after the incident took place.

He was to return to Chennai on Monday.

Srinivasan has produced critically-acclaimed films like Iruvar (1997), Yuva (2002), Guru, which was released earlier this year, and Kannathinmuthanittal (2002)--all directed by Mani Ratnam.

Born in Chennai on September 23, 1958, Srinivasan was a practising chartered accountant besides being a film producer.

Besides his wife and Shreya, he is survived also by two other daughters Divya and Akshaya.

The body of Srinivasan is being taken to Chennai for the last rites.