Noted screenwriter-cum-director Siddique breathed his last on Tuesday night. The filmmaker had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital for three weeks and suffered a heart attack on Sunday. He was 63.

The veteran filmmaker had been under treatment for pneumonia and liver-related ailments and was surviving with the support of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Our sources at the hospital said, "He was admitted on July 10 following non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. He was suffering from liver failure too, and was recommended a liver transplant."

Siddique, who last directed the Mohanlal-starrer Big Brother, is best known for his collaboration with actor-filmmaker Lal. The Siddique-Lal duo scripted and directed several hits during the late 80s and 90s before parting ways. They made a blockbuster debut with Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), and they last worked together in Fukri, which had Lal in a prominent role.

As a director, Siddique's biggest solo hits include Hitler, Friends, Chronic Bachelor, and Bodyguard. 

He also directed a few films in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, all of which were remakes of his Malayalam works, and incidentally, all of these versions were bonafide blockbusters 

The veteran is survived by his wife Sajitha, and three children.