Bhubaneswar: Veteran Odia filmmaker, choreographer and writer S.K. Muralidharan passed away after he was found unconscious in a hotel room here on Monday.
According to preliminary information, Muralidharan was staying at a hotel in Bhubaneswar when he complained of feeling unwell. He reportedly asked his associate for food but became unconscious shortly afterwards.
On being informed, police recovered his body from the hotel room and sent it to Capital Hospital for examination. The exact cause and circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be ascertained.
The circumstances surrounding Muralidharan’s death will become clear after the investigation and post-mortem examination, police said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi condoled Muralidharan’s death and recalled his contribution to the Odia film industry.
“Deeply saddened by the demise of veteran filmmaker and choreographer S.K. Muralidharan. His contribution to the film industry will always be remembered. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to his family, friends, and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” Majhi said in a post on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also condoled Muralidharan’s death, saying his contribution to the film industry would always be remembered and cherished.
“Deeply saddened by the demise of veteran filmmaker and choreographer Shri S.K. Muralidharan Ji. His invaluable contribution to the film industry will always be remembered and cherished. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to his family, friends, and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” Singh Deo said in a post on X.
Muralidharan was known for his contribution to the Odia film industry. He made his debut in Ollywood as a choreographer with ‘Paradeshi Chadhei’ in 1990.
He made his directorial debut in 2008 with ‘Chaati Chiri Dele Tu’.
As a choreographer, he worked in several popular Odia films, including ‘Mani Nageswari’ (1995), ‘Stree’ (1998), ‘Sathire’ (2004), ‘I Love You’ (2005), ‘Dhanare Rakhibu Sapatha Mora’ (2008), ‘Abhimanyu’ (2009), ‘Rangila Toka’ (2012), ‘Love Master’ (2012), ‘Akhire Akhire’ (2014) and ‘Pilata Bigidigala’ (2015).
He also choreographed the Telugu film ‘Om Sairam’ in 2012.
The death of Muralidharan has left the Odia film industry mourning the loss of a veteran filmmaker and choreographer.
