Prominent Tamil and Malayalam writer-director Siddique passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on August 8, after having suffered a cardiac arrest the previous day. Siddique was reportedly suffering from liver-related ailments over the last month. The director is survived by his wife Sajitha and his three daughters.
The filmmaker began his career as an assistant to Malayalam director Fazil in the film Nokkethadhoorathu Kannu Nattu (1984), where he worked alongside his long time friend and collaborator Lal. Siddique along with Lal, famously referred to as the ‘Siddiqe- Lal’ duo even to this day in Kerala, worked on the scripts of many successful films like Pappan Priyapetta Pappan (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), and Kakkotthikavile Appoppan Thaadikal (1988).
The duo’s career took off in the year 1989 when they joined hands as a directorial team to make comedy classics like Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1992) and Kabooliwala (1992).This four-year run of films is undoubtedly considered to be one of the most successful directorial pairings in Malayalam cinema history.