Veteran Malayalam film actor and politician Innocent passed away at 10.30 p.m. on 26th March at the Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi due to COVID-19-related respiratory issues leading to organ failure and cardiac arrest. He was 75 and had been critical for the last few days. He was known for his comedy and was a favourite of the masses and classes alike. His typicality was his Thrissurian slang which made him a darling of the public. He had the capability of letting a variety of emotions come on his face in a matter of seconds. His varied emotions, mannerisms, sing-song style of dialogue delivery and slang made him a darling of the audience.
Innocent was a cancer survivor. He dabbled into politics and won the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 as an independent candidate supported by the Left, from the Chalakudy constituency. In 2019, he was defeated by a Congress candidate. Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists for a number of years, giving up the post after suffering from cancer and due to his entry into politics.
Not only did Innocent make people laugh with his antics on screen but was also a comedian in real life, narrating funny incidents and anecdotes. He also wrote light-hearted books about his illness.
On hearing news of his demise, actors, producers, directors and politicians rushed to the hospital. Some of them were seeing crying bitterly.
He had acted in more than 700 films in a career spanning over five decades. He played hero, villain, supporting character roles and, of course, comic roles in films. Among his well-known films and web series were Godfather, Ramji Rao, Mazhavilkavadi, Manichithrathazhu, Dr. Pasupathy, Kabuliwala, Devasuram, Nadodikattu and Kilukkam. He had also produced some Malayalam films like Vida Parayum Munpe, Ormakkayi and Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback. Innocent had written stories for films like Param IA Ivachan and Keerthana, in both of which he played the lead roles. He was seen in Makal and Kaduva in 2022. His Paachuvum Albuthavilakum is unreleased. He also worked in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films in the latter part of his career.
Innocent’s last rites will be performed today (27th) at 5.30 p.m. at the Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Cathedral Church.