Malayalam Film Industry Loses Its Treasured Gem As Comedy Genius Innocent Dies

From Malayalam actors such as Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran to Mohanlam and politician Shashi Tharoor paid tribute and came together to mourn the death of 75-year-old legendary Malayalam comedy actor Innocent.

malayalam actor innocent

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala, known mononymously as Innocent, the veteran Malayalam actor, film producer, writer and politician, died at a private hospital in Kochi on March 26, 2023. With his demise, the Malayalam film industry has lost one of its most treasured gems. He was 75.

The actor, who has survived cancer in the past, had not been keeping well for some time and was admitted to the hospital on March 3 with respiratory problems. The entire Malayalam film fraternity has taken to social media to pay their tributes to Innocent and remember him and hundreds came together to mourn in Kochi’s town hall.

Innocent was known for his balance between subtlety and hyperbole and the precision with which he delivered one-liners softly. Born in 1948 to Vareed Thekkethala and Margaret in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, he acted in over 700 Malayalam films throughout his career spanning over five decades.

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Innocent’s Career

The deceased actor debuted in the film industry in 1972 with the film Nritashala. While he began his career with serious off-beat films, he later appeared in mostly comedy films and roles as the former did not churn out well.

His diction, mimic and mannerisms were so loved and became popular that veteran and legendary Malayalam directors like Priyadarshan, Satyan Anthikkad, Fazil and Kamal rarely made films without Innocent in them. Some of the most popular comedy roles of Innocent were in the films Ramji Rao Speaking, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony, Nadodikattu, Manichitrathazhu, Kalyanaraman and Chronic Bachelor, among several others. Besides comedy, Innocent has also played other charactera including villain roles in films such as Keli and Kathodu Kathoram.

Other popular films with Innocent’s phenomenal acting includes Kabooliwaala, Gajakesariyogam, Mithunam, Mazhavilkavadi, Manassinakkare, Thuruppugulan, Rasathanthram,Naran and Mahasamudram. He was often paired with K. P. A. C. Lalitha which went on to become highly successful and loved. Innocent was last seen in the film Paachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum.

Innocent’s Achievements

The late actor won several accolades throughout his lifetime including several Kerala State Film Awards, Kerala State Film Critics Award, Asianet Film Award and Filmfare Award, among several others. He has also been the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) for 12 years.

Innocent In Politics

During the 1970s, Innocent cut his teeth in politics as he became the Irinjalakkuda Mandalam Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. As a candidate endorsed by the Revolutionary Socialist Party, he ran for the Irinjalakkuda municipal council in 1979 and won. Innocent, an independent candidate backed by the LDF, won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency in the Thrissur district.

However, he lost the Lok Sabha elections 2019 to UDF candidate Benny Behanan.

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Innocent Family

Innocent is survived by his wife Alice son named Sonnet, and grandchildren named Innocent Jr. and Anna who are Sonnet's two twin children.

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