Actor Innocent laid to rest

Veteran Malayalam actor and former MP Innocent was laid to rest at St Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda at 10 am, today.

The funeral procession began from his residence ‘Parppidam’ and the last rites were performed with complete state honours, on Tuesday.

Innocent (75) died on Sunday at Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Kerala. The actor was admitted to the hospital on March 3 with respiratory problems.

“He was under our care and treatment since March 3, 2023. Covid related respiratory issues along with multiple organ failure and a cardiac arrest led to his death,” the hospital said in a statement.

The board at 10 pm on Sunday, decided to remove the life-sustaining Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and his death was confirmed at 10:30 pm.

Innocent was one of South Indian cinema’s greatest talents and one of the undisputed kings of comical wit.

He acted, produced movies and also wrote books – about his childhood, his movie days and his battle and win against cancer. He was an MP of Chalakudy, Kerala and the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

The veteran actor was diagnosed with cancer some years ago and also tested Covid positive thrice in the past three years.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan eulogised Innocent in a post on Facebook. “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 said in his post.

Thousands paid homage to the actor at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kochi on Monday. Notable celebrities from politics and cinema paid tributes to the actor: Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Mammootty, Mohan Lal, Jayaram, Manju Warrier, Indrajith, Dulquer Salman, Kunchacko Boban, Prithviraj, Janardhanan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kunjan, Mukesh, R Bindu, K Rajan, P Prasad, opposition Leader V D Satheesan, CPM state secretary M V Govindan and many more paid their respects.

The actor is survived by wife Alice, son Sonnet, daughter-in-law Rashmi, and their children Innocent Junior and Anna.

(Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

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