Malayalam filmmaker R Sarath, known for films such as Sayahnam, Sthithi and Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu, died at a private hospital on Monday. He was 65. He had been undergoing treatment for health-related ailments.

Sarath’s funeral will be held at 5.30 pm on Monday at Santhikavadam in Thiruvananthapuram, his relatives said. He is survived by his wife KI Bindu and sons Abhijith Sarath and Abhiram Sarath.

Sarath made his feature debut with Sayahnam in 2000, a film that brought him the Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director and seven Kerala State Film Awards. His subsequent directorial credits included Sthithi, Sheelabathi, Buddhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu, Swayam and Paradise.

His filmmaking also found an audience beyond India. The Desire - A Journey of a Woman (2011) won the Best Narrative Feature Film award at the Geneva International Film Festival, adding an international distinction to his body of work.

However, Sarath’s creative pursuits were not confined to feature films. He directed several short films, including Achinte Katha, Chumar Chithrangal, Bhoomikkoru Charama Geetham and Mahatma Gandhi Road. His interests also encompassed painting, history and cultural documentation. His documentary on the works of Raja Ravi Varma drew international attention, while his work on mural painting earned him a Junior Fellowship from the Government of India. Among his other notable works was Burial of Dreams, a film centred on the Bhopal gas tragedy that received national attention.

Born in Vilakkudy in Kollam district, Sarath pursued his higher education in Thiruvananthapuram, completing a degree in English from Mahatma Gandhi College and postgraduate studies at University College. He also underwent a Film Appreciation course at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

Before entering government service, Sarath worked as a journalist with Kerala Kaumudi. He subsequently joined the Kerala government's Public Relations Department and served in various capacities, including District Information Officer and director of Vyloppilly Samskriti Bhavan. He retired as Deputy Director of the department in 2021.

The FEFKA Directors’ Union condoled Sarath’s death and paid tribute to the filmmaker.