Noted Malayalam scriptwriter and director Dennis Joseph passed away in Kottayam on Monday night. The 64-year-old died due to cardiac arrest. According to reports he collapsed at his home in Kottayam and passed away despite being rushed to a private hospital.
Dennis Joseph is one of the most successful scriptwriters in Malayalam cinema, having penned several hits that went on to define the careers of stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal in the 1980s.
He was the scriptwriter of Mohanlal's blockbuster Rajavinte Makan, Mammootty's Nirakoottu and New Delhi. His scripts paved the way for a new genre of films in the industry, which saw protagonists play the antihero.In Rajavinte Makan, Mohanlal plays a don while in New Delhi, Mammootty plays a journalist turned killer. Both actors owe much of their stardom to the characters penned by Dennis Joseph.
Mohanlal and Mammootty took to social media to write a condolence message for Dennis Joseph. "I am very much saddened by the untimely death of Dennis Joseph. A friend, who was like a brother to me, and who was with me in my successes and failures, is no more. He will be remembered through all the movies he has written and directed. Wish him eternal peace," Mammootty wrote on Facebook.
"When I write these lines for my dear Dennis, it seems like my memories are taking over. Dennis was the king of the script world. I was also fortunate to give life to many characters who were born as the children of that king,” wrote Mohanlal in his tribute on Facebook, “From stories about tender relationships to the vengeance of the underworld, he was a unique talent in Malayalam cinema. The bond with Dennis will never end no matter what and how much I write. That's why I'm stopping mid-way with trembling fingers...Salute to you Dennis.”
Dennis Joseph also transformed commercial cinema in the Malayalam industry with scripts that adapted to the trends of the time.
Chief Minister-designate Pinarayi Vijayan in his condolence message said that Dennis’ death is a great loss to Malayalam cinema.
Dennis Joseph's films had intriguing twists that captivated viewers. His other notable films include Manu Uncle, Number Twenty Madras Mail, Kottayam Kunjachan, and Akasadooth. He directed Manu Uncle, Agrajan, Thudarkatha, Appu and Atharvam.