Renowned actor and director, Marimuthu, who had recently graced the silver screen alongside Rajinikanth in the blockbuster hit “Jailer,” tragically passed away this Friday. At the age of 57, the seasoned actor suffered a fatal heart attack at 8:30 am in the morning, leaving the film industry in mourning. Marimuthu was in the midst of dubbing for his role as Aadhimuthu Gunasegaran in the popular Sun TV soap opera, “Ethir Neechal.”
Marimuthu embarked on his illustrious career with a supporting role in the 1999 Tamil film “Vaali,” starring the charismatic Ajith. His passion for filmmaking led him to assist director Vasanth on the movie “Aasai” in the same year, another Ajith starrer that featured Suvalaxmi and Prakash Raj in prominent roles. In a remarkable turn of events, Marimuthu made his directorial debut in 2008 with “Kannum Kannum,” a film headlined by Prasanna and Udhayathara. In this project, he not only wielded the director’s chair but also demonstrated his storytelling prowess by penning the story, screenplay, and dialogues, in addition to portraying a minor character.
Following his directorial endeavor, Marimuthu transitioned to portraying supporting characters in numerous Tamil films, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Some notable titles in his filmography include “Yuddham Sei” (2011), “Kodi” (2016), “Bairavaa” (2017), “Kadaikutty Singam” (2018), “Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum” (2021), and even a foray into Hindi cinema with a role in “Atrangi Re” (2021).
In 2014, Marimuthu ventured into directing once more, bringing “Pulivaal,” a gripping thriller starring Prasanna and Vemal, to the big screen. This film served as a remake of the 2011 Malayalam production, “Chaappa Kurishu,” itself an adaptation of the 2009 South Korean movie “Handphone.”
His most recent cinematic appearance was in “Red Sandal Wood,” released just this week, where he portrayed the father of the renowned actor Vishwanth, famous for his role in “Kabali.” It is worth noting that Marimuthu’s final on-screen performance can be seen in “Indian 2,” a highly anticipated project that he was part of.
As the industry mourns this great loss, preparations for Marimuthu’s final rites are reportedly underway in Madurai, his place of origin. He leaves behind a grieving family, survived by his wife, daughter, and son, who will forever cherish his enduring legacy in the world of cinema. Marimuthu’s contributions to Tamil cinema as an actor, director, and storyteller will be remembered with great admiration and reverence by fans and colleagues alike.