RD Narayanamurthy, the director behind Prabhu Dheva's 2001 romantic comedy, Manadhai Thirudivittai, passed away on Tuesday. The filmmaker reportedly suffered from a heart attack and succumbed to the same at around 8.30 pm. As per reports, he was undergoing treatment at the Omandurar Government Hospital for nearly a week before breathing his last on Tuesday. The filmmaker was 59.

Manadhai Thirudivittai also starred Kausalya and newcomer Gayatri Jayaraman, while Vadivelu, Vivek, Ranjith and Sriman played supporting roles. Prabhu Dheva plays an eponymous character, Deva, a student from a music school, who falls in love with his classmate, Shruti, and decides to marry her. However, when he remembers a mistake he made in the past, he faces a predicament.

Following his debut, Narayanamurthy also helmed Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan. He then helmed Tamil television soap operas such as Nandini, Rasathi, Jimikki Kammal, Anbe Vaa, and Marumagale Vaa, which aired on Sun TV.

He is survived by his wife and son. Reportedly, his son is employed in London. As the last rites will be performed only after his son arrives, director Narayanamoorthy's body has been kept safe at a private hospital. The funeral is said to be held at his residence in Pammel on Friday.