Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27: Veteran art director K. Shekhar, a distinguished name in Malayalam cinema known for his imaginative and technically innovative set designs, has passed away. He was 72.
Shekhar died at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram, family sources said. He earned lasting recognition for his work in films where art direction played a defining narrative role, most notably My Dear Kuttichathan, India’s first 3D feature film. Shekhar’s creative vision helped elevate the visual language of Malayalam cinema at a time when large-scale, concept-driven set design was still relatively uncommon. He began his career in the film industry as a costume designer with Padayottam (1982), directed by Jijo Punnoose. The ambitious period film marked Shekhar’s entry into cinema and set the stage for a long association with visually rich productions. Over the years, he went on to establish himself as a sought-after art director, bringing meticulous detail and inventive spatial design to his projects. Among his notable works are Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu and Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare, films remembered not just for their storytelling but also for their carefully crafted visual environments.