Producer Kannan Ravi donates Rs 5 lakh to Vikram Sugumaran's family

Following the demise of director Vikram Sugumaran, producer Kannan Ravi, who backed Sugumaran's last film Raavana Kottam, gave the filmmaker's family Rs 5 lakh to support the bereaved family.

Well known for films like Madha Yaanai Koottam and Raavana Kottam, Vikram Sugumaran passed away on Monday in Chennai after he suffered a cardiac arrest. As per reports, the 47-year-old director was at Madurai to narrate a story to a producer. When he boarded a bus to return to Chennai, he suffered from a fatal cardiac arrest. Many film personalities grieved his loss and shared their condolences on social media about his untimely demise.

Actor Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, who headlined Raavana Kottam, along with Amma Creations T Siva and FEFSI President and noted director RK Selvamani offered their condolences to the family and presented the cheque to them.

Kannan Ravi said he was deeply disheartened to hear about Vikram's demise. "He was a remarkably talented and passionate filmmaker, whose ideas and vision stood out. It's truly unfortunate that the industry has lost him before we could see the full extent of his brilliance. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in peace. The Raavana Kottam team will always consider his family as our own," he shared.

Vikram, who hailed from Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram, was an erstwhile assistant to Balu Mahendra and worked with the filmmaker between 1999 and 2000 on several of his short films, including Julie Ganapathy. Having come to Chennai with the aspiration of becoming an actor, Vikram made his acting debut in Vetrimaaran’s Polladhavan. Eventually finding his passion in filmmaking, Vikram made his directorial debut with Madha Yaanai Koottam. The film, which hit theatres in 2013, starred Kathir, Oviya, and Viji Chandrashekar in lead roles, and opened to positive reviews. He also wrote dialogues for Vetrimaaran’s Aadukalam, which is set in Madurai.

After a long gap, Vikram directed Raavana Kottam, which hit theatres in 2023, 10 years after the release of Madha Yaanai Koottam. Reportedly, his final film, Therum Porum, was based on climbing and mountaineering.