Noted Malayalam director and screenwriter Siddique has suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment for various ailments at a private hospital here, hospital sources said here on Tuesday. His condition is said to be critical, they said. Siddique (63) suffered the heart attack on Monday as he was recovering from various ailments, including liver-related issues and pneumonia, at the hospital. The filmmaker, who had helmed numerous super hit Malayalam movies, had been undergoing treatment at the private hospital for over a month for various ailments. "He is in a critical condition and on ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support," hospital sources told PTI. ECMO provides respiratory support when a person's lungs and heart are not performing adequately. Siddique delivered several hit movies along with his friend Lal, who goes by a single name, and the two were popularly known as Siddique-Lal. Their movies Ramji Rao Speaking, In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, Vietnam Colony and Kabooliwala were massive hits. Siddique is also the director of blockbuster movies including Hitler, Friends, Chronic Bachelor, and Bodyguard, among others. He directed the remake of his movie Bodyguard, starring Salman Khan, in Hindi, which also became superhit. In Tamil, it was titled Kavalan starring Vijay and did well at the box office.
