Malayalam film producer, family in Dubai found dead

Santhosh Kumar, who owns the production company Souparnika Films in the south Indian state of Kerala, was a co-producer of hit Malayalam movie Madambi.

The decomposed bodies of a Malayalam film producer based in Dubai, his wife and daughter were found under mysterious circumstances in their flat on Tuesday.

According to family sources, the bodies of Santhosh Kumar, his wife Manju and daughter Gouri bore multiple stab injuries. The Dubai Police could not be reached for comments.

However, it is learnt that the case is being treated as a suicide pact involving the couple and their fourth grader daughter.

Some of the acquaintances suspected that Kumar had resorted to the extreme step due to huge financial liabilities. However, the exact reason for the gruesome incident is yet to be ascertained.

Police broke open the door of the flat near NMC Hospital in Al Nahda after a cousin of Kumar complained that nobody could contact the family since Thursday.

"All three bodies were found inside the bedroom. I heard there was no sign of a forced entry into the flat," a family friend told Khaleej Times.

Kumar, who owns the production company Souparnika Films in the south Indian state of Kerala, was a co-producer of hit Malayalam movie Madambi and remakes of classic hits like Neelathaamara and Rathinirvedham.

Family friends said Kumar, who also runs a general trading company in Karama, shifted to Dubai about five years ago.

The tragic incident sent shockwaves among the community members, especially those from the film fraternity. In 2011, a murder-cum-suicide pact in Ras Al Khaimah had taken the lives of three members of another family hailing from Kerala.

Khaleej Times