Malayalam Director Siddique Ismail Passes Away at 69

NEW DELHI: Renowned Malayalam filmmaker Siddique Ismail, popularly known as Siddique, has sadly passed away at the age of 69. The acclaimed director, who was the creative force behind hits like "Hera Pheri" and "Bodyguard," suffered a fatal heart attack on August 8. Siddique had been under medical care at a Kochi hospital since July 10, grappling with several health complications including liver-related issues and pneumonia. His condition worsened when he experienced a cardiac arrest on August 7, prompting the medical team to place him on ECMO, a specialized life support system. Tragically, Siddique breathed his last at 9:10 pm.

Siddique began his remarkable journey in the film industry as an assistant director to Fazil, under whose guidance he honed his talents. This mentorship also led to his partnership with fellow assistant director Lal, resulting in the dynamic duo of Siddique–Lal. Their collaboration revolutionized Malayalam cinema's comedy genre, gifting audiences with gems like "Ramji Rao Speaking" (later remade as "Hera Pheri"), "In Harihar Nagar," "Godfather," "Vietnam Colony," and "Kabooliwala." Their impact was so profound that even when their partnership formally ended in 1993, Lal continued producing movies directed by Siddique.

Siddique's cinematic influence wasn't confined to the Malayalam industry alone. He and Lal were the creative minds behind the 2004 Bollywood movie "Hulchul," featuring a star-studded cast including Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. Beyond his collaborative works, Siddique stood as the director and writer of "Bodyguard," a notable film in both Malayalam and Hindi, starring the charismatic Salman Khan.

Throughout his illustrious career, Siddique contributed numerous other films to the world of cinema, such as "Ladies and Gentleman," "Bhaskar the Rascal," "King Liar," "Fukri," and "Bhaskar Oru Rascal." His final directorial effort was "Big Brother," released in 2020.

Siddique Ismail's legacy as a visionary director, versatile writer, and impactful actor will forever remain a testament to his invaluable contributions to the world of entertainment. He leaves behind his wife Shajitha and three daughters, Sumaya, Sara, and Sukoon, along with a void in the hearts of film enthusiasts and colleagues alike.

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