One of Kerala’s most respected journalists, TN Gopakumar, died at the age of 58 at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Gopakumar was undergoing treatment for cancer for some time. Family sources told PTI that he died at around 3.50 am.
Editor-in-chief of Asianet, Gopakumar was famous for his news show ‘Kannadi’ (Mirror) on Asianet, which he anchored for 22 years. Kannadi is a news-based show that looks at social and political issues incisively. The show recently completed 1,000 episodes after running for 22 years.
“Kannadi has always been successful, and somehow there never has been a gap except when I became unwell, one-and-a-half-years ago. That it ran so long with hardly any break has been a surprise to me too,” Gopakumar had said in an interview in November 2015.
Popularly known as TNG, Gopakumar started his journalistic career with The Indian Express and went on to work with Mathrubhumi, News Time, Statesman, Independent and India Today. He also contributed to BBC Radio before joining Asianet.
Despite a hectic career, Gopakumar found time to write books on various subjects, directed a film 'Jeevan Mashai' in 2001 and a serial for Doordarshan 'Verukkal' (Roots). He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for 'Suchindrum Rakhakal' in addition to other awards during his three-decade long journalistic career.
The cremation will be held at Shanti Kavadam at Thycaud on Saturday evening with full state honours.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, film personalities and media personnel were among those who offered their respects.
Read Sashi Kumar's tribute. TN Gopakumar: The man who was Gopan to me