Veteran filmmaker and cinematographer KV Anand passes away; Allu Arjun, Mohanlal and others pay tribute

Veteran cinematographer and filmmaker KV Anand passed away in the early hours of Friday after a cardiac arrest in Chennai. According to reports, he suffered from COVID-19 complications. He was 54. Born in 1966, Kumar Venkatesan Anand began his career as a photojournalist for several newspapers and magazines. He then switched to cinematography when he had the opportunity to work under cinematographer PC Sreeram for a few films. He also worked on a number of TV serials and advertisement films other than a few feature films.

He started as a cinematographer in 1994 with the Malayalam movie Thenmavin Kombath for which he won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography, “in recognition of the outstanding cinematography executed with sincerity, imagination and flexibility.” The award citation further noted, “Fluid camera movements, praise compositions and use of light are the highlights of this visual experience.”

Anand also has worked as a cinematographer with directors like Shankar, in critically acclaimed movies like Mudhalavan in 2000 and later on Rajinikanth-starrer Sivaji in 2007. In 2005, he turned director with his debut film Kana Kandaen and later went on to direct Ayan, with Suriya in the lead role, which was a highly successful film. He also directed films like Ko, Maattrraan and Kavan, working with actors like Dhanush and Vijay Sethupathi. Ko and Kavan were based on his experiences as a journalist.

Mohanlal, Allu Arjun, Prithviraj, Santosh Sivan, Harris Jayaraj, D Imaan, Dhanush, Amyra Dastur, Dulquer Salmaan were among those who mourned Anand’s demise.

Actor Mohanlal wrote, “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. K.V. Anand sir you will be missed forever. Prayers for the departed soul. Pranams.”

Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. K.V. Anand sir you will be missed forever. Prayers for the departed soul. Pranams 🙏 pic.twitter.com/q84wsusJDq

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) April 30, 2021

Dhanush who has worked with him posted on his Twitter timeline, “A gentle kind honest man has passed away. A very sweet man full of life love and joy. K.v Anand sir .. gone too soon sir. Too soon. My condolences to his family. Rest in peace k.v sir.”

A gentle kind honest man has passed away. A very sweet man full of life love and joy. K.v anand sir .. gone too soon sir. Too soon. My condolences to his family. Rest in peace k.v sir.

— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) April 30, 2021

Amyra Dastur, who has been launched by the late director in Tamil films, tweeted,”#kvanand Sir, you were one of the most passionate & disciplined filmmaker’s I had the honour to work with. You launched me into Tamil Cinema & for that I will always be forever grateful. Thank you for everything sir. Cinema will not be the same without you. Rest in Peace sir ??♥️”

#kvanand Sir, you were one of the most passionate & disciplined filmmaker’s I had the honour to work with. You launched me into Tamil Cinema & for that I will always be forever grateful. Thank you for everything sir. Cinema will not be the same without you. Rest in Peace sir 🙏🏼♥️ pic.twitter.com/aR1yscsWuU

— Amyra Dastur (@AmyraDastur93) April 30, 2021

Actor Allu Arjun, who is in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 wrote, “Just woke up to this sad news that Dir KV Anand garu is no more. Wonderful cameraman , brilliant director and very nice gentleman. Sir you will always be remembered & missed. Condolences to the near , dear & family. Rest in Peace Sir”.

Just woke up to this sad news that Dir KV Anand garu is no more. Wonderful cameraman , brilliant director and very nice gentleman . Sir you will always be remember & missed . Condolences to the near , dear & family .
Rest in Peace Sir . #KVAnand pic.twitter.com/V6ombIxZcy

— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 30, 2021

Cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan posted on Twitter, “KV Anand RIP god bless.”

His last directorial outing was Kaappaan, which was his third collaboration with Suriya. The film had a huge supporting cast, including Mohanlal and Arya. It followed the efforts of a security officer, who fails to stop the assassination of the country’s Prime Minister. He then vows to avenge his boss’s death.

Dulquer Salmaan also posted his grief and posted a picture of the late director and wrote, “RIP KV Anand sir ! ?”

RIP KV Anand sir ! 💔 pic.twitter.com/JjIVZPFKJG

— Dulquer Salmaan (@dulQuer) April 30, 2021

We extend our deepest condolences to KV Anand’s family and friends.

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