Popular Malayalam film art director Kitho breathed his last on Tuesday (October 18). He was 83. According to the reports, Kitho was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi due to kidney-related ailments. Reportedly the funeral was held at St Francis Xavier’s Church. Kitho is survived by his wife Lilly and two children Anil and Kamal.

Kitho has worked in over 30 Malayalam films as an art director and he has also produced the movie ‘Unnikrishnante Aadya Christmas’ which was released in the year 1988 and was helmed by the popular director Kamal.

As an art director, Kitho made his debut through the 1970 film ‘Ee Manohara Theeram’ which was directed by the veteran filmmaker IV Sasi. Being an established artist, Kitho has created several illustrations and painting sketches and has also tried new kinds of concepts at a time when computers were just making their entry into the graphics design area in films and advertisement fields.

Kitho also launched the film magazine named ‘Chitra Pournami’ along with the popular scriptwriter Kaloor Dennis who happens to be his childhood friend. Kitho has worked in films along with several notable filmmakers such as Jeasy, KG George, PG Vishwambharan, IV Sasi, KG Rajasekharan, Joshi, Sajan, and Sibi Malayil.

Some of the popular films for which Kitho handled the art direction includes ‘Ee Manoharatheeram’, ‘Oppol’, ‘Eeran Sandhya’, ‘Miss Pameela’, ‘Mimics 2000’, ‘Ambada Njaane’, ‘Asthram’, and Joshiy’s ‘Raktham which was released in the year 1981. Kitho’s last work was for the movie ‘Orma Mathram’ which was released in the year 2011 and was directed by Madhu Kaithapram.