One of the highly skilled cameraman and director of South Indian cinema, also known in Hindi for his ‘Sadma’ breathed last on Thursday after severe chest pain complaint not responding to medicine.

The 75 years stalwart of many unforgettable films like Munram Pirrai, Shankarabharanam and many others came from Amirthakali near Mattakalappu in Sri Lanka. Balu Mahendra came to India to study at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He studied cinematography as he could not get admission in the other specialisations offered and graduated with a gold medal in 1969.

Although Balu Mahendra’s masterpieces are Azhiyatha Kolangal’, ‘Moondram Pirai’, ‘Veedu’, ‘Sandya Ragam’ and ‘Vanna Vanna Pookal’, the debut he made in ‘Kokila’ as director and cameraman in Kannada and ‘Pallavi Anupallavi’ for which he was cameraman and legend Manirathnam was director are unforgettable.

For Kokila he got the national award and state award for screenplay. In 1983 his cinematography showcased Bangalore top places like MG Road, Cubbon Park in most pleasant way is still afresh in the memory of cinema audience.

The master craftsman Balu Mahender will be cremated on Friday. He married Shoba, actress who is no more and later got married to Ahileshwari.