Kumar Vatti, the director of Sree Vishnu and Chitra Shukla-starrer Maa Abbayi, passed away on Thursday after suffering from Covid-19 complications at Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital (GEMS), Srikakulam. He was 39.

Hailing from Narasannapeta town, Srikakulam, Kumar Vatti began his career by assisting director Parasuram Petla on films like Anjaneyulu, Solo and Saarocharu. He also worked as an assistant editor in noted editor Marthand K Venkatesh's team on over 30 films and turned director in 2017 with Maa Abbayi.

According to reports, Kumar Vatti was working as an associate director on Mahesh Babu-starrer Sarkaru Vaari Paata at the time of his passing.

Virata Parvam director Venu Udugula was one of the first to share the news of Kumar Vatti's death on social media. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Several other members of the industry who worked with Vatti Kumar also shared their condolences on Twitter.

Kumar Vatti had recently readied the script for his second directorial.