This filmmaker has given more hits than SS Rajamouli and Rohit Shetty, regarded one of India's most successful directors

Filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani, Karan Johar, SS Rajamouli and Rohit Shetty are regarded as some of the most successful directors of Indian cinema, and the list also includes likes of Subhash Ghai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. However, there’s another name that has a lot more experience than them and it’s Malayalam director J Sasikumar.

He has directed 140 films out of which 60 are successes. After making over 140 films in a span of three decades, the director retired and passed away at the age of 86 in Kochi in 2014. He began his career as a villain and transcended into film direction.

J Sasikumar honoured with J C Daniel Award

Back in 2013, the filmmaker was selected for Kerala’s highest film honour J C Daniel award, the state’s version of nation’s topmost film honour, Phalke award.

Sasikumar, who holds a record for directing as many as 141 films, was known for his box-office hits of the 1960s and 70s, most of them featuring Kerala’s “ever green” hero Premnazir in the lead role.

The award, instituted in memory of father of Malayalam cinema J C Daniel, was announced by minister for cinema K B Ganesh Kumar.

The annual award, given for outstanding contributions to Malayalam cinema, carries a purse of Rs 1 lakh, citiation and memento. The selection was made by a jury headed by music director M K Arjunan.