T.N. Krishnankutty, a pioneering cinematographer in Malayalam cinema (the film industry of Kerala, India's southwestern state), died on Monday in Alappuzha at the age of 96. He began his career in 1960 on the film Umma and went on to shoot more than 70 films over a 25-year span, including Ladies Hostel, the debut feature of celebrated director Hariharan. His death marks the passing of one of the foundational figures of Malayalam cinema's formative era; he is survived by his wife and three children.