Veteran actor-director E A Rajendran passed away in Pattathanam, Kollam, today at 71 after a prolonged illness. An alumnus of NSD and FTII, he began in theatre and acted in over 50 films since his 1981 debut Greeshman. His last film was Oru Perumkaliyattam (2023). He is survived by his wife Sandhya and son Divyadarshan. Funeral will be held in Thrissur Friday.