Noted filmmaker M Night Shyamalan took to his social media handles to announce the death of his father Nelliat C Shyamalan. A renowned cardiologist, his father passed away at the age of 88 in the United States on November 4 with his funeral set to take place on Friday.
Mourning his loss, the Trap filmmaker wrote, "My dear dear father has passed. The amount of loss we are feeling is immense. But it is mixed with gratitude for having had him in our lives for these many years." He also thanked everyone for extended their support during the difficult time and said, "I wanted to thank you for supporting me and allowing all my dreams to come true. My father came to America and got to see all of your love and it made him so happy."
He concluded his post by saying, "No words can express how much I adore him. I will try to live up to his example of kindness, optimism and joy."
A native of Mahe with ancestral roots in Kannur, Dr. Shyamalan, known professionally as Nelliat C Shyamalan, was widely respected for his long and dedicated medical career in Philadelphia.
Beyond his contributions to cardiology, he was deeply engaged in personal research on the origins of the Thiyya community of Malabar.
Through DNA studies, he advanced the theory that the Thiyyas trace their lineage to Indo-Aryan groups who migrated from Central Asia, specifically from the present-day region of Kyrgyzstan, through Pakistan and Rajasthan, before settling in North Malabar, Coorg, and the Nilgiris.
Dr. Shyamalan also shared a close association with cinema, having served as a cameo producer in his son's first feature film, Praying with Anger (1992).
Apart from his son, Dr. Dhyamalan is survived by his wife, Dr. Jaya Lakshmi, and daughter Veena Loftus, both residing in the United States. His surviving siblings are Venugopal of Chennai and Daya Jayaram of Calicut.
(With inputs from IANS)
