Acclaimed Tamil director Surya Prakash succumbs to cardiac arrest
What's the story
The Tamil film industry is mourning the sudden loss of renowned director Surya Prakash, who reportedly passed away on Monday morning due to a cardiac arrest. His age is not known.
Known for his critically acclaimed work on the film Maayi, Prakash's death has left colleagues and fans in shock.
Veteran actor Sarathkumar, who starred in his film Maayi, expressed his grief in a social media post.
May he rest in peace.
Tribute
His demise is 'shocking and painful,' expressed Sarathkumar
Taking to X/Twitter, Sarathkumar stated, "The news that my dear friend Suryaprakash...has joined the Lord early this morning is shocking and painful."
"Having spoken to him even yesterday, his sudden demise in a volatile life has left me with a heavy heart. My deepest condolences to his family and friends who are grieving his loss. I pray to God to rest his soul in peace," he added.
Twitter Post
Here's the heartfelt post by Sarathkumar
எனது நடிப்பில் வெளியான மாயி, திவான் ஆகிய வெற்றிப்படங்களை இயக்கிய எனது அருமை நண்பர் சூர்யபிரகாஷ் அவர்கள் இன்று அதிகாலை இறைவனடி சேர்ந்தார் என்ற செய்தி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியும், வேதனையும் அளிக்கிறது.
— R Sarath Kumar (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@realsarathkumar) May 27, 2024
நேற்றைய தினம் கூட அவருடன் பேசிக் கொண்டிருந்த நிலையில், நிலையற்ற வாழ்வில் அவரது… pic.twitter.com/vxgqBSPLQE
Career highlights
Prakash's 'Maayi' earned him significant recognition
Prakash embarked on his directing journey with the film Manikkam (1996), starring Rajkiran, followed by his work on Pen Ondru Kanden in 1998, which unfortunately remained unreleased despite featuring Prabhu in the lead role.
However, it was Maayi, featuring Sarathkumar and Meena, that truly put him on the map.
Celebrated for its authentic storytelling and stellar performances, Maayi made a notable impact on rural drama in Tamil cinema and significantly contributed to Sarathkumar's rise to stardom.
Career downturn
From success to struggle: Prakash's journey in Tamil cinema
Following the success of Maayi, Prakash collaborated once again with Sarathkumar for Diwan (2003).
However, his venture into Telugu cinema with Bharata Simha Reddy (2002) was met with negative reviews.
Subsequently, facing a shortage of offers for big-budget projects, Prakash turned his focus to Varusanadu, a village-centric romance film in the early 2010s.
Inspired by his cousin's real-life love story, the film starred newcomers Kumaran and Srushti Dange but is yet to see a theatrical release.