Veteran Malayalam actor, writer, and director P Balachandran passed away on Monday at about 5 a.m. The 70-year-old actor was ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment for brain fever for about 8 months. The final rites will be held this evening on the premises of his house at Vaikkom. He is survived by his wife Srilatha and children Srikanth and Parvathy.

Balachandran made his acting debut with the 1995 Mohanlal movie Agnidevan. In the meantime, he scripted many films including Ulladakkam, Pavithram, Punaradhivasam, and Kammattipaadam among others. His directorial debut was Ivan Megharoopan which won several honors at the Kerala State Film Awards 2011. 

Apart from movies, Balachandran is also known for his works in Malayalam literature and cinema. He had won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Professional Nataka Award in 1989 for the play 'Paavam Usman'. He was last seen in the recently released superhit movie Operation Java.