(2 November 2005 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Veteran journalist and celebrated author V K Madhavan Kutty died in New Delhi due to a massive heart attack. He was 71.

Kutty, who was based out of New Delhi, has edited Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi. Kutty was also the founder director Malayalam television channel Asianet. As an author, he had a number of publications to his credit, including the latest "The Unspoken Curse" which was released on 29 October.

A Padma Shree recipient, Kutty has written a series of articles based on his experiences with Indian leaders. He was one of the survivors of the Kumaramangalam plane crash in 1973. His travelogues, based on his travels with Indian leaders abroad, are equally popular.