KOCHI: Well-known Malayalam film director P N Menon died here yesterday after prolonged illness, family sources said.

He was 83 and is survived by wife and two daughters.

Menon came into cinema as an art director and poster designer and then branched into directing films.

Considered a pioneer of Malayalam parallel cinema, Menon's 1969 film ''Olavum Theeravum'' (The wave and the shore) heralded the new wave movement of the 1970's and eighties in Malayalam films. It also won the Kerala state award for the best film.

The veteran director was bed-ridden for the past few years and was staying with one his daughters at Panampilly nagar here.

His other well-known film 'Chembarathy' (Hibiscus flower) was made from a script written by Malayatoor Ramakrishnan.

Menon's other films are 'Rosi', 'Kuttyedathi', 'Chayam', and 'Archana Teacher'.