Lal pens heartfelt note for ‘the best friend in the world’ Siddique: ‘Malayalis lost an exceptional person’

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by LAL (@lal_director)

Lal expressed that he felt as if a part of himself had perished when he descended the stairs of Amrita Hospital, where Siddique had breathed his last during treatment. “One half of Siddique-Lal was no more,” Lal wrote in Manorama Online.

“Roughly a month ago, I paid him a visit at the hospital. Witnessing him in that state felt like shadows enveloping my vision. Until then, I had never encountered Siddique in such a state. The sight of him with a grey beard was entirely new. He wore an oxygen mask, and his lips bore marks of injury. My own strength seemed to waver; it was difficult to believe that Siddique, who had consistently been a pillar of strength for me, was in this vulnerable state. He was the one who consistently offered support whenever I faced difficulties,” the actor-director recalled.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by LAL (@lal_director)

“We’ve frequently engaged in disagreements. Our story discussions were essentially debates. However, when two viewpoints clash, one is bound to be accurate. Our mutual approach was always to welcome that truth. This was the foundation of our strong connection. Finding another friend like him is out of the question for me. Nobody on this planet will ever have a companion like him,” Lal observed.

“I am not implying that Malayalam cinema suffered a major loss. I would rather express that Malayalis have suffered the loss of an exceptional person. He never erupted in anger or uttered harmful words about anyone. He refrained from alcohol and demonstrated remarkable self-discipline in his life. He harboured many feelings within, as he was determined not to cause harm to anyone. He refrained from confiding in anyone, keeping everything concealed, much like his illness,” he concluded.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by LAL (@lal_director)

“I didn’t just lose a friend; I lost the best friend in the world. If asked about the dearest companions on this planet, I always say me and Siddique,” Lal penned in the pages of Mathrubhumi as a tribute to his close companion.

Having formed a friendship at the age of 16, Siddique and Lal navigated every phase of life together for a considerable span. Even after their paths diverged, they remained steadfast in support of one another, offering artistic assistance in their respective cinematic journeys.

Consequently, for Lal, the loss was not limited to a friend, comrade, or brother; it equated to a part of his own being. Yet, when their mentor, director Fazil, arrived to pay his respects to his cherished pupil, Lal’s emotions overwhelmed him, prompting tears as he embraced Fazil.

The extent of Lal’s grief was palpable from his countenance. He experienced further emotional turmoil upon the arrival of Fazil’s son and actor Fahadh.