Noted film maker Mani Kaul, who was considered one of the pioneers of new Indian cinema, died in New Delhi on Wednesday after prolonged illness.

Kaul, 66, is survived by two sons and as many daughters.

He breathed his last at 1 AM at his home in New Delhi after he was discharged from a hospital on Tuesday night, his family said.

Kaul, born in Jodhpur in Rajasthan to a Kashmiri family, was ranked among the film makers who contributed to new Indian cinema with their exemplary movies.

His uncle was well-known actor-director Mahesh Kaul.

Mani Kaul began his career with “Uski Roti” in 1969 which won him the Filmfare Critics Award for best movie and his other movies like “Ashad Ka ek Din”, “Duvidha” and “Idiot” also got awards.

A graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Kaul got National Film Award for Best documentary film “Siddheshwari” in 1989.

Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir, Dileep Padgaonkar, condoled the death and said “he had a luminous mind. He shed light on making innovative films.”

“Mani will be remembered as one of the pioneers, along with Kumar Shahni, of a parallel cinema movement in India. He was also a great teacher of Indian cinema and an accomplished Drupad singer,” he said.