Kollam Ajith leaves behind unfinished movie project

Kollam Ajith's wish was to make a movie as a reminder the old generation actors were still there. (Screen grab of Kollam Ajith's interview to Manorama News channel)

Noted Malayalam actor Kollam Ajith, who made a mark as a ruffian in many superhit movies, passed away on Thursday morning. The news plunged many of his shocked colleagues into sorrow.

Ajith bid farewell to this world leaving behind an unfulfilled movie project, but the countless characters essayed by him in the Malayalam cinema since the mid 1980s is etched in the hearts of cinema lovers.

In an interview aired on Manorama News last year, the veteran actor had shared one of his biggest concerns about the latest trends in Malayalam cinema. “Trends in cinema have changed considerably and with unpleasant consequences too. The so-called new-generation cinema poses a big challenge to a line of actors belonging to the old generation. Is there a father, a mother or even a villain in these movies? I am just talking openly about something which many are afraid to speak on...” Ajith had rued.

He added that even senior artists like Janardhanan and Kaviyoor Ponnamma don’t find work anymore as there are no roles in the movies. “None of us has left the movies. So my next movie will be a reminder that we still exist here. The title of my movie would be ‘Njangal Ivideyokke Thanneyundu’ (We are all around here),” the actor had said.

He was featured on 'Pularvela' aired on Manorama News as part of the promotion of his second directorial venture 'Pakal Pole' last year.