Tamil director Vikram Sugumaran, known for Raavana Kottam and Madha Yaanai Koottam, passed away on Monday (June 2) after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while travelling from Madurai to Chennai. He was 47.

Sugumaran, an acclaimed writer and filmmaker, made his directorial debut with the 2013 Tamil film Madha Yaanai Koottam. He started out as an assistant director to Balu Mahendra and also acted in some Tamil films, including Kodiveeran and Vetri Maaran’s debut Polladhavan. He also wrote the dialogue for Vetri Maaran’s Aadukalam.

According to reports, Sugumaran was returning via bus from Madurai after narrating a script to a producer. On the way, he experienced severe chest pain and was rushed to the closest hospital. The doctors, however, could not resuscitate him.

Actor Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, who starred in Raavana Kottam, condoled the director’s death on social media, writing on X, “RIP, dearest brother Vikram Sugumaran. I’ve learnt so much from you & will always cherish every moment. Gone too soon. You will be missed,” he wrote.

Sugumaran is survived by his wife and children.