Concealing news of T A Razaq’s death a disrespect, says Director Ali Akbar

Kozhikode: Film director Ali Akbar said those who concealed the death news of T A Razaq had disrespected the award winning script writer.

The director on Tuesday alleged that the news about the death of Razaq was concealed to pave way for the successful ‘running’ of ‘Mohanam-2016’, a star-night programme organized in Kozhikode on Independence Day.

“Razaq died at a private hospital in the city around 11.30am. However, the news was covered up so that it did not affect the function,” Akbar alleged.

He said that intentional cover-up was a gross disrespect to the artist, a state award winner. He added that the act of the artists in Kozhikode and those in the film industry was an injustice to Razaq.

‘Mohanam-2016,’ a tribute to Superstar Mohan Lal, was held on Monday at Swapnanagari here. It was conducted as a tribute the actor’s career and also to extend the helping hands to the artists who are struggling in their life.

Razaq, 58, died at a private hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for liver-related problems for over a month.

Razaq entered tinsel town as an assistant director through the movie Dhwani in 1987. He later shifted to script-writing and went on to create some of the memorable movies such as Kanakinavu, Ghazal,Perumazhakalam, Aayirathil Oruvan and Thalolam to name a few.

He had won State awards for best story and screenplay for Kanakinavu directed by renowned director Sibi Malayil in 1997. The film had also bagged the National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.

Razaq’s brother T.A. Shahid, scriptwriter, had died in 2012.