Malayalam actor Innocent of ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’ fame passes away at 75

Veteran Malayalam actor Innocent Vareed Thekkathala, popularly known as Innocent, breathed his last at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi on Sunday, March 26. He was 75. According to a report by the Times Of India, the actor was admitted to the hospital a week ago, following a cancer relapse. The actor also complained of an acute throat infection.

The 'Doctor Pashupati' actor's remains would be kept at the Rajeev Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kadavanthara from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and at the Irinjalakkuda Municipal Town hall from 1:00 pm to 3.30 pm, for the public to pay their last respects. A funeral service will be conducted at the St Thomas Cathedral Church at Irinjalakkuda, according to a Times Of India report.

In an interview with PTI, the hospital revealed that the former MP was infected with Covid and had several comorbidities, such as respiratory issues, multiple organ failure, and heart failure. He was also put on pulmonary support.


Innocent was a cancer survivor. In 2012, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Three years later, he revealed he was cancer-free and wrote a book, ‘Cancer Wardile Chiri' or 'Laughter in the Cancer Ward’, about his experience of living with cancer.

Several Mollywood celebrities, such as Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and high-profile politicians such as Khushbu Sundar, and politicians, such as Shashi Tharoor, took to Twitter to mourn his death.

Sukumaran tweeted, "End of an iconic chapter! Rest in peace, legend." Incidentally, Innocent was last seen in Sukumaran's action adventure 'Kaduva'.
Salmaan took to Instagram to pay tribute to the veteran actor. The 'Sita-Ramam' star wrote, "We lost the brightest star n our constellation. You made us laugh till we cried. You made us cry till our insides hurt. You were an actor of the highest calibre." Describing the late actor as "family" and as "his childhood", he described how the former was like an uncle to him and his sister Surumy. and regaled them with stories.

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Tharoor also paid a moving tribute to the late actor. Taking to Twitter, the politician described him as "brilliantly inventive, and gifted actor and a fine human being."
Actress-politician Khushbu Sundar mourned his demise on Twitter. She wrote, "Devastated!! We have lost a great actor. Moreso a great human being. What a legend he was. With the passing away of #Innocent Sir, we have lost a priceless gem. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and his followers."
The late actor was also mourned by the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Taking to Facebook, the CM wrote that aside from being a "spontaneous actor", Innocent was a public activist who changed other's lives for the better. ""Kerala will remember with gratitude that Innocent, who always had a left-wing mindset, became a Lok Sabha candidate at the request of the Left Democratic Front and after winning, prominently raised Kerala's demands in Parliament," he wrote.
Innocent made his silver screen debut in 1972 with the comedy 'Niritshaala' (Dance Hall). One of the most prolific actors in Mollywood, he acted in more than 700 movies in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada languages. A versatile actor, he was brilliant both as a comic relief as well as a villain. He portrayed the role of an antagonist in films such as 'Keli' and 'Kathodu Kathoram'. He proved his comic timing in iconic films such as 'Ramji Rao Speaking', 'Vietnam Colony', 'Kilukkam' etc. He was a three-time recipient of Kerala State Film Awards.