Diphan, director of Prithviraj's Malayalam film Puthiya Mukham, dies in Kochi

Noted Malayalam film director Diphan passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Monday, according to film industry sources. Aged 47, Diphan was not keeping well for the past three months and passed away on Monday morning in a private hospital.

He is survived by his wife and two children. A hospital spokesperson said Diphan had been undergoing treatment for the liver disease for quite some time. He was admitted to the hospital here on February 26. His condition worsened after he contracted pneumonia, he said.

Diphan in his brief career directed six films after turning an independent director in 2003 when he directed the political thriller The King Maker: Leader. After a gap of six years in 2009, he returned with Puthiya Mukham starring Prithviraj.

He then directed three films in 2012 which included Hero, SIM and his last was Dolphin Bar in 2014 which featured actor and BJP Rajya Sabha member Suresh Gopi.

Prithviraj took to Facebook to share his grief and wrote:

The post production work of his new movie Sathya starring Jayaram is in its final stage.