Mon Sep 22 15:06:28 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, suitable for The Hindu, focusing on the passing of art director Makkada Devadas:
**Headline: Makkada Devadas, Veteran Malayalam Art Director, Passes Away at 78**
**Kozhikode, September 22, 2025:** Makkada Devadas, a celebrated art director known for his evocative set designs in Malayalam cinema, passed away in Kozhikode on September 21 at the age of 78. Devadas, whose career spanned three decades, contributed his artistic vision to approximately 100 Malayalam films and created title credits for over 300 films in Malayalam and Tamil.
Born and raised with an affinity for the arts, Devadas honed his skills under the guidance of his cousin, Puthalath Raghavan, and initially ran a studio in Kozhikode. Armed with a letter of introduction from Artist Namboodiri, he ventured to Madras (Chennai) to pursue a career in the film industry.
While his initial aim was to work with art director Rameshan, he found mentorship under P.N. Menon, and later S. Konnanatt, who helped him develop his talent for title design and art direction.
Devadas’s first independent project came in 1979 with P. Chandrakumar’s “Neeyo Njano.” However, it was his work on Padmarajan’s “Kallan Pavithran” (1981) that truly cemented his reputation. The film’s distinctive sets, particularly the memorable warehouse filled with vessels and antiques, were a testament to Devadas’s creative genius and played a significant role in the film’s success.
Beyond feature films, Devadas also contributed to the television industry, winning a State Television Award for his work on the tele-serial “Sulthan Veedu,” based on P.A. Mohammed Koya’s novel.
Devadas is survived by his wife, Thankam, and daughter, Premkala. His contribution to Malayalam cinema’s visual landscape will be fondly remembered.
First Piper 