Navodaya Appachan, known as the biggest showman of the Malayalam film industry, died at a private hospital in Cochin on Monday night after battling cancer for a long time. He was 81-years-old. Officially known as MC Punnoose, he was often referred to as ‘Navodaya Appachan’. He was battling prostate cancer for a few years. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. Family sources said the body would be taken to his own studio, Navodaya, and from there it would be taken to Chennai on Tuesday for the last rites to be performed on Wednesday. A director, producer and a film entrepreneur, Appachan changed the face of the Malayalam film industry by producing the first 3D film in the country My dear Kuttichaathan and also the first 70mm film Padayottam. He is also credited for directing the first cinema scope film in Malayalam. Click here to read more