Renowned Malayalam producer Achani Ravi passes away at 90, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan pays tribute

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Malayalam producer and industrialist K Ravindranathan Nair, popularly known as Achani Ravi in movie circles, passed away at the age of 90. The family sources informed that the film-maker died due to age-related ailments. The late award-winning producer, who bankrolled several classic and art house movies, was an advocate of the New Wave movement in Malayalam films.

The late producer, who was a prominent figure in the Malayalam film industry, backed many projects directed by legendary film-makers such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G Aravindan, P Bhaskaran, and A Vincent, among others. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan were among the first ones to condole his death — in conversation with local media. The Kerala CM said that Achani Ravi, who was a hardcore movie fan, played a significant role in elevating the standards of Malayalam cinema at a time when investing in critically-acclaimed movies was rare.

Besides being a film producer, he owned a cashew business. He was known for his production banner General Pictures, which was established in 1967 after taking over the family cashew business. General Pictures played a significant role in Malayalam cinema in the later decades.

The first film released under his banner was the Sathyan-starrer 'Anweshichu Kandethiyilla'. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Achani Ravi produced a series of critically-acclaimed movies that left a lasting impact on the industry and the audience. One of his notable films is 'Achani', which was released in 1973, and earned him popularity.