Popular Malayalam film producer-director Aroma Mani passes away at 84

Renowned Malayalam movie Producer and Director M Mani, popularly known as Aroma Mani, died on Sunday, family sources said. He was 84.

Mani passed away on Sunday around 2.30 pm at his residence here, a family member said, adding that the death was caused by age-related ailments. Mani was the producer of numerous Malayalam hit movies including Dhruvam, Irupatham Noottandu, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, Commissioner, Kallan Pavithran, Kottayam Kunjachan, Balettan, Mr. Bramachari, Mambazhakalam and Artist, among many others. His other noted movies include Kalliyankattu Neeli, Soorya Gayathri, Rudraksham, Prem PoojarI, Pallavur Devanarayanan, FIR, Raavanan and August 15 among others.

He is credited with producing the highest number of movies in the Malayalam industry. "He has produced 62 movies under the banners Aroma Movies and Sunitha Productions and is considered to be the person who has produced the highest number of movies in the Malayalam industry," FEFKA Directors' Union said in a statement. Two of the movies he produced, Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam, directed by P Padmarajan and Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam, by Sibi Malayil, won national awards.

In addition to producing films, Mani also directed seven movies in Malayalam. He had started his production venture in 1977 with the movie Dheera Sameere Yamuna Theere. The Fahadh Faasil-starrer Artist, directed by Shyamaprasad in 2013, was the last movie he produced. The late Krishnamma was his wife. He is survived by his three children Sunil Kumar, Sunitha Subramanyam and Anil Kumar.

Senior political leaders including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan expressed condolences on the demise of Mani. Vijayan said that through Aroma Movies and Sunitha Productions, Mani produced numerous popular films in Malayalam. The Malayalam movie industry can never forget the name 'Aroma' Mani, Satheesan said. "His production houses have brought to theatres so many popular Malayalam movies. Aroma Mani is a name that will never be forgotten in Malayalam cinema history," he added.

Mani's body will be kept at Bharat Bhavan here on Monday for the public to pay their last respects. Later in the afternoon, the body will be taken to Aruvikkara, where the funeral will be held at a property owned by Mani.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI

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