Legendary Indian director I.V. Sasi passed away in Chennai on Tuesday. He was 69 and was undergoing treatment. According to media reports, the director breathed his last while being taken to hospital from his residence in Saligramam, Chennai.

Born in 1948, IV Sasi began his career as an art director with ‘Kaliyalla Kalyanam’ in 1968. His first directorial venture was ‘Ulsavam’ which released in the year 1975. In a career spanning four-decades, I.V. Sasi has directed more than 150 films including Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films. He was known as a path breaker who had changed the course of Malayalam cinema between 1970 and 1990. In fact, I.V. Sasi was one of the top directors who had played a crucial role in making Mammootty and Mohanlal superstars of Malayalam cinema. He is also one of the rare directors who had maximum films between 1970 and 1990.

It was I.V. Sasi who introduced actress Seema to the Malayalam cinema industry through his hit film Avalude Raavukal. The 1980's hit actress later became his life partner and held his hand till his death. The duo have two children, daughter Anu and son Ani. 

In 1982, his film Aaroodam bagged the National Film Award for the Best Film on National Integration. He also won the Best director by the Kerala State Film Awards for his film Mrigaya, in 1989.

Apart from Avalude Raavukal, Aaroodam and Mrigaya I.V.Sasi's finest films include Avanazhi, Devasuram, Aalkoottathil Thaniye, Guru and Eeta. He also launched Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif as lead actress in Malayalam cinema in the 2006 Mammootty dual role Balram vs Tharadas.

I.V. Sasi was planning to direct the biggest project of his career ‘The Wells’ based on the Kuwait war.