Thiruvalla (Kerala) July 30 (IANS) Veteran film personality John Sankaramangalam a former director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune died at a hospital near here on Monday said family sources.
He was 84 and he died due to age-related illness.
In his long career John won two National and four Kerala State Film Awards.
He also served as chairman and jury of many national and international film festivals and participated as an official delegate to a number of film festivals.
He was also an executive member of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television) association of the world s major film and television schools founded in Cannes in 1955 and was former vice chairman of Kerala Chalachithra Academy.
Born at Eraviperoor near here John after his education at the SB College and the Madras Christian College became a teacher.
But since his passion was films he joined the FTII. As a student in 1962 and after doing his diploma from there he entered the film industry and did four films besides several documentaries for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. His directorial titles include
"Saramsham" "Samandaram" "Aval Alpam Vaikippoyi" and "Janma Bhoomi".
Later he went on to become the director of FTII. Post retirement he was seen as an authority on the history of Indian films.

--IANS sg/rb/mr