Veteran Actor-Director E.A. Rajendran dies at 71

Veteran Malayalam actor and director E. A. Rajendran passed away on Thursday at Pattathanam in Kollam after a prolonged illness . He was 71. Industry sources said he had been undergoing treatment for the past few months.

Rajendran, a respected figure in Malayalam cinema and theatre, will be laid to rest at his native place in Thrithallur, Thrissur, on Friday.

An alumnus of the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, Rajendran began his career on stage before moving into films. He made his cinematic debut with Greeshman in 1981 and went on to appear in more than 50 films, earning recognition for his versatile performances.

His final screen appearance was in Oru Perumkaliyattam (2023) , directed by Jayaraj.

Rajendran shared close ties with a prominent film family. He was the son-in-law of noted theatre director O. Madhavan and the brother-in-law of actor Mukesh. After his marriage to Sandhya, Madhavan’s daughter, he settled in Pattathanam, Kollam.

Apart from his contributions to cinema, Rajendran also worked with the State Horticulture Corporation, reflecting a career that extended beyond the arts.

He is survived by his wife, Sandhya Rajendran, and son, Divyadarshan.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences, remembering Rajendran as a dedicated artist whose work left a lasting imprint on Malayalam cinema and theatre.