T. N. Gopakumar

T. N. Gopakumar (1957 – 30 January 2016) was an Indian journalist. He was the news editor-in-chief of Asianet News. Gopakumar was also the producer and anchorperson of the popular weekly programme Kannadi on Asianet.[1]

T. N. Gopakumar
Born1957 (1957)
Suchindram, Kanyakumari, India
Died30 January 2016(2016-01-30) (aged 58–59)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Other namesT.N.G
Occupation
Spouse(s)Heather Gopakumar
Children2
Parent(s)
  • P. Neelakanda Sharma
  • L. Thankamma

Personal life

Gopakumar was born in 1957 in Shuchindram to Vattappallimadam P. Neelakanda Sharma, a Sucheendram Temple Sthanikar, and L. Thankamma. He had two siblings- T. N. Vijayam and T. N. Sreekumar.[2] He was married to Heather Gopakumar and the couple had two daughters, Gayathri and Kaveri.[3]

Career

He began his career with Indian Express and evolved as a journalist through tenures in Mathrubhumi, News Time, The Statesman and The Independent. During his association with the BBC, he was called in to take charge of the news division in the newly formed Asianet television channel.

Gopakumar also contributed to the literature and cinema of Malayalam. Apart from many articles and columns in periodicals, he wrote more than fourteen books. The premier among them were VOLgA tharam_gangngaL(വോൾഗാ തരംഗങ്ങൾ), AkampaTi sarppangngal(അകമ്പടി സർപ്പങ്ങൾ) and shudran (ശൂദ്രൻ). Notable among the many accolades he earned were the 1998 award for the best autobiography for shucheendram rEkhakaL[4] (ശുചീന്ദ്രം രേഖകൾ) and 2011 award for the best travelogue in Malayalam, both from Kerala Sahitya Akademy[5] for the work vOLgA tharam_gangngaL, Mahakavi Pandalam Kerala Varma Media Award (Kannadi-Asianet-, Shangumukham-Kalakaumudi) and the FCCJ Asian Journalist Award from Tokyo. He also directed the film Jeevan Masai. vErukaL, a noteworthy serial from Doordarshan, was directed by him.

He was also one of the favourite choices for mimicry artists in Kerala to imitate, due to his distinctive articulation of words and high bass voice.

Filmography

as director

Death

Gopakumar died in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 30 January 2016 at 3:50 AM, aged 58. He was suffering from cancer and was undergoing treatment for several months.[6] He was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam Crematorium. Being an atheist, there were no religious customs followed at his cremation. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

References
  1. "'Kannadi' completes 600 episodes on Asianet". The Hindu. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2008.
  2. "ടി.എൻ. ഗോപകുമാർ അന്തരിച്ചു..." Malayala Manorama. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. "Journalist TN Gopakumar dies at 58 | ഏഷ്യാനെറ്റ് വാർത്താ വിഭാഗം തലവനും കണ്ണാടിയുടെ അവതാരകനുമായ ടി എൻ ഗോപകുമാർ അന്തരിച്ചു; അകാല മരണം കരൾരോഗത്തിൽ നിന്നും മടങ്ങിവരുന്നതിനിടയിൽ; മാദ്ധ്യമ ലോകം കണ്ണീരൊഴുക്കുന്നു." MarunadanMalayali.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. "1998 Awards (in Malayalam)". Keralasahityaakademi.org. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  5. "Sahitya Akademi awards announced". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. "Senior journalist T.N. Gopakumar passes away". The Hindu Sen. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.