Innocent (actor)
Indian actor and politician (1948–2023) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (28 February 1948 – 26 March 2023), known mononymously as Innocent, was an Indian actor, film producer, writer and politician.[1] He predominantly worked in Malayalam films in addition to few Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and English films, mostly in comedic roles. In a career spanning more than five decades, he acted in more than 700 films and is considered one of the best comedians in Malayalam cinema.[2] He also appeared in roles with negative shades such as in Mazhavilkavadi, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu and Ganamela.[3] Innocent had won several awards, including Kerala State Film Award and Kerala Film Critics Award. He served as the Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) of India representing Chalakudy constituency.[4]
Innocent | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
In office 5 June 2014 (2014-06-05) – 23 May 2019 (2019-05-23) | |
Preceded by | K. P. Dhanapalan |
Succeeded by | Benny Behanan |
Constituency | Chalakudy |
Municipal councillor of Irinjalakuda | |
In office 1979 (1979)–1982 (1982) | |
Acting | |
In office 1972 (1972)–2023 (2023) | |
Personal details | |
Born | Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (1948-02-28)28 February 1948 Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin, Dominion of India |
Died | 26 March 2023(2023-03-26) (aged 75) Kochi, Kerala, India |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse |
Alice (m. 1976) |
Children | 1 |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1972–2023 |
In 1979, he was elected as the municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda municipality.[4] Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).[5] Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a guild of Malayalam artists from 2003 to 2018.[6][7]
In 2012, Innocent along with his wife, was diagnosed with throat cancer. After overcoming the first stage of cancer, he returned to the silver screen in 2013 with films like Geethanjali.[8] Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is a memoir written by Innocent while he was undergoing cancer treatment.[9] Innocent wrote seven books based on his experiences at different phases of life with a humorous undertone.[10] He has also contributed to columns in numerous magazines and newspapers.[11] In 2020, Innocent won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour for his book Irinjalakudaku Chuttum.[12]