Veteran film producer and filmmaker M. Mani, popularly known as Aroma Mani, passed away at the age of 65 on Sunday in his residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
He produced over 60 films under the banners of Sunitha Productions and Aroma Movie International. He reportedly holds the record for backing the most number of films in the Malayalam language.
Mani has received two National Awards for Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam (1985) and Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986), films headlined by Mammootty and Mohanlal respectively. While the former won the Best Feature Film in Malayalam, the latter won the Best Film on Other Social Issues.
Mani began his production career with the 1977 Madhu-starrer Dheerasameere Yamunaatheere and made his directorial debut in 1982 with Aa Divasam, starring Mammootty and Mohanlal. He later helmed six more films, including the Mohanlal-starrers Kuyiline Thedi (1983) and Engane Nee Marakkum (1983).
Mani's other notable productions include Irupatham Noottandu (1987), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988), August 1 (1988), Jagratha (1989), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Dhruvam (1993), Commissioner (1994), F. I. R. (1999), and Balettan (2003), among others. He has also backed films in Tamil, including Arangetra Velai (1990) and the Vikram-starrer Kasi (2001). His final film as a producer was Artist (2013), featuring Fahadh Faasil and Ann Augustine in the lead.