Filmmaker Siddique buried with state honours; top actors, politicians among thousands pay homage

Noted Malayalam director and screenwriter Siddique, who died a day ago, was on Wednesday laid to rest at a burial ground in a mosque near here with state honours.

The filmmaker, who had helmed numerous superhit Malayalam movies and Salman Khan-starrer Hindi film Bodyguard, was buried at the Ernakulam Central Juma Masjid in the evening with top actors and politicians among thousands turning up to pay homage to him.

Siddique, who was undergoing treatment at Amrita Hospital here for nearly a month for various ailments, died on Tuesday night after being hospitalised on the previous day following a heart attack. He was 63.

On Wednesday, his remains were kept at the Indoor Stadium in Kadavanthra during the day for the public to pay homage.

Top film stars like Mammooty, Jayasurya, Fahadh Faasil and the late directors close friend Lal as well as late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandys son — Chandy Oommen — were among the thousands who paid their last respects to him at the stadium.

Lal, who is also an actor and a director, broke down and became inconsolable after seeing his friend for one last time.

Born in Kochi, Siddique began his film career in the late 1980s.

He delivered several hit movies in the 1990s along with his friend Lal — who is also an actor and played lead roles in various hit films such as Thenkasipattanam, Thommanum Makkalum, and Salt and Pepper. The duo was popularly known as Siddique-Lal.

Siddique-Lal movies such as Ramji Rao Speaking, In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, Vietnam Colony and Kabooliwala were massive hits.

Siddique was also the director of many blockbuster movies, including Hitler, Friends, Chronic Bachelor, and Bodyguard, among others.

He directed the remake of his movie Bodyguard starring Salman Khan in Hindi, which was also a super hit.

In Tamil, it was titled Kavalan starring Vijay and did well at the box office.

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