Veteran director Joe Simon dies of cardiac arrest at film chamber meet in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Veteran Kannada filmmaker Joe Simon, who directed several Sandalwood's hits including Vishnuvardhan "Sahasa Simha", died in the city Friday following cardiac arrest. He was 80.Simon collapsed around 4.30pm during an emergency executive committee meeting at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce here. According to members present, he actively participated in discussions, offering suggestions on future plans and even proposing that a celebratory programme be organised. "Shortly after stepping out of the meeting hall, he went and sat on the attendant's chair, and he suddenly collapsed; it was a severe cardiac arrest," a member of KFCC told TOI. Some of his movies include Hongkongnalli Agent Amar, Snehada Kadalalli, Ravivarma, Simha Jodi and Oorige Upakari.