TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains mention of death.Malayalam cinematographer Shaji Kumar passed away at the age of 57 on November 10, 2026, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. He had reportedly suffered a medical emergency on a film set in Alappuzha two days earlier.At the time, he was working on an upcoming film starring Dileep. His death marks the loss of a cinematographer whose work featured in several successful Malayalam films, including ‘Pulimurugan’, ‘Narasimham’ and ‘Odiyan’.According to Manorama News, Shaji Kumar received initial treatment in Alappuzha after collapsing on the film set. He was subsequently shifted to Ernakulam Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi. Although his condition had reportedly improved enough for him to be moved out of intensive care, he collapsed again while walking to the washroom. His condition deteriorated, and he later passed away.
Shaji Kumar’s journey in Malayalam cinema
Shaji Kumar made his debut as a cinematographer with the Malayalam film ‘Uthaman’ in 2001. He began working during the celluloid era and adapted to the industry’s transition to digital filmmaking. Over the years, he built a filmography of more than 50 movies across different languages and different genres.
Collaborations with leading Malayalam directors
Shaji Kumar frequently worked with directors such as Shaji Kailas, Joshiy, Vinayan and Vysakh. His collaborations with these filmmakers resulted in several commercially successful Malayalam productions.His film credits included ‘Pulimurugan’, ‘Narasimham’, ‘Naran’, ‘Odiyan’, ‘Pokkiri Raja’, ‘Madhura Raja’, ‘Pathonpatham Noottandu’ and ‘Ramaleela’. These movies featured some of Malayalam cinema’s prominent stars like Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dileep, Prithviraj Sukumaran and many more.
‘Pulimurugan’ and other notable film credits
One of Shaji Kumar’s widely recognised projects was Mohanlal-starrer ‘Pulimurugan’. The film made history by becoming the first Malayalam movie to cross the Rs 100-crore mark at the box office. His cinematography also featured in ‘Narasimham’, another major commercial success starring Mohanlal.He later worked on ‘Naran’ and ‘Odiyan’, among other projects. His credits also included the action entertainers ‘Pokkiri Raja’ and ‘Madhura Raja’, along with ‘Ramaleela’ and ‘Pathonpatham Noottandu’.
His work in Tamil films and upcoming projects
Beyond Malayalam cinema, Shaji Kumar also worked in Tamil films. He collaborated extensively with actor Prashanth and was part of projects such as ‘Ponnar Shankar’ (2011), ‘Mambattiyan’ (2011) and ‘Saahasam’ (2016). His cinematography for ‘Ponnar Shankar’ received critical appreciation.Shaji Kumar had completed work on upcoming Malayalam films, including ‘Athimanoharam’ and ‘Ottakkomban’. ‘Athimanoharam’ is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 24, 2026. His death comes weeks before the film’s planned release.He was also working on an upcoming Dileep-starrer in Alappuzha when he suffered the medical emergency. The project was among his final assignments.
