Kozhikode :

Noted cinematographer C Ramachandra Menon  who had worked in several Malayalam and Tamil films passed away here on Tuesday. He was 88.

Family members said that he had been under treatment at a private hospital for last several days following old- age related ailments.

Ramachandra Menon had worked in more than 150 Malayalam films including hits like Ummachu, the film adaptation of Uroob’s novel directed by P Bhaskaran, Muthassi, Othenente Makan directed and produced by Kunchacko, Thoppil Bhasi’s Ningalenne Communistakki, IV Sasi’s films like Eetta, Akale Aakaasham, among many others.

He had also associated with noted directors like Hariharan, Sasikumar and Sreekumaran Thambi for several of their films in the 70’s and 80’s.

Born in 1929 as son of P K M Raja of Tiruvannur Kovilakam and Chengalath Janaki Amma in Kozhikode, Ramachandra Menon began his career as assistant cameraman at Vauhini Studios under noted director of photography Marcus Bartley. He went to Singapore in 1956 and joined the Shaw Brothers studios where he worked for six years and later joined the Cathy Studios is Singapore.

He returned to Kerala in 1970 and got associated with Udaya Studios where he did cinematography for four of their films. Later he moved to Chennai where he worked with several famous directors.

Ramachandra Menon has been leading a retired life in Kozhikode since 2000. He is survived by daughter Maya Harigovind and son Dr. Goutham Menon. Ramachandra Menon’s wife Malathi Ramachandran  had died some years back.

The funeral would be held at the Mavoor Road  crematorium on Wednesday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kozhikode News / by K R Rajeev / TNN / May 09th, 2017

B. G. Varma, noted cartoonist, died at his residence in Thripunitura on Tuesday. He was 75.

Mr. Varma had worked with renowned cartoonist Shankar in the famed Shankar’s Weekly as a cartoonist-caricaturist.

Brought up in Karachi where his father worked as an engineer, Mr. Varma secured a job at the ST Reddiar Press in Ernakulam after studying art in Mavelikkara and Hyderabad. A cartoon strip he did for Manorama earned him the job at Shankar’s Weekly.

From political cartooning, he went on to be the choicest caricaturist drawing “The Man of The Week” caricature for the weekly. After the closure of the weekly, he worked for the Children’s Book Trust (CBT). Mr. Varma has also designed commemorative stamps for the Central government, on blood donation and on the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – May 09th, 2017