Legendary cinematographer Nivas has passed away today in his hometown Calicut.  An alumni of the Adyar Film Institute in Chennai, Nivas after making his mark in Malayalam served as the cinematographer for Bharathiraja's debut movie '16 Vayadhinile' and went on to collaborate with him in four other films  Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Solva Sawan (1978) and Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).

Nivas also turned director for the Tamil film 'Kallukkul Eeram' that had Bharathiraja playing the lead role along with Aruna as the heroine.  He then made four other films all in Tamil and stopped working in the late nineties.

Bharathiraja has expressed his grief calling Nivas a dear friend who was a pillar for his first five successful films.  Santhosh Shivan has stated that Nivas was an inspiration to him.

என் திரைப் பயணமான
16 வயதினிலே முதல்
தொடர்ந்து ஐந்து வெற்றிகளுக்கு துணை நின்ற பெரும் படைப்பாளி,
இந்திய திரை உலகின் மிகச்
சிறந்த ஒளிப்பதிவாளர்,
என் நண்பன் திரு. நிவாஸ்
மறைவு அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது
ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்கள்.

பாராதிராஜா pic.twitter.com/0gVZNeGxI3

— Bharathiraja (@offBharathiraja) February 1, 2021