THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran Malayalam film producer and one of the pioneers of the film society movement in Kerala, Kulathoor Bhaskaran Nair(83) passed away here on Monday. He was suffering from age-related illness for the last few weeks.

Bhaskaran Nair was known for his collaboration with director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and the two had floated the Chitralekha film society which introduced Malayalis to world cinema and influenced a generation of film enthusiasts. He was the producer of Adoor's 'Swayamvaram' and 'Kodiyettam' which won several national and state awards.

Bhaskaran had also directed around 30 documentaries and written novels such as Marthandavarma, Kuruthi and Karppoorapootu.

He was cremated at the Santhi Kavadam crematorium. He is survived by daughter BS Sindhu.