Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (28 February 1948 – 26 March 2023), known mononymously as Innocent, was an Indian actor, film producer, writer and politician.[1]
Innocent | |
|---|---|
_2011.png) Innocent in 2011 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 5 June 2014 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | K. P. Dhanapalan |
| Succeeded by | Benny Behanan |
| Constituency | Chalakudy |
| Municipal councillor of Irinjalakuda | |
| In office 1979–1982 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Innocent Vareed Thekkethala 28 February 1948 Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin, Dominion of India |
| Died | 26 March 2023 (aged 75) Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Alice (m. 1976) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1972–2023 |
He predominantly worked in Malayalam films in addition to a 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 won several awards, including Kerala State Film Award and Kerala Film Critics Award. He served as a Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) of India representing Chalakudy constituency.[4]
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 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[8] After overcoming the first stage of cancer, he returned to the silver screen in 2013 with films like Geethanjali.[9] Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is a memoir written by Innocent while he was undergoing cancer treatment.[10] Innocent wrote seven books based on his experiences at different phases of life with a humorous undertone.[11] He also contributed to columns in numerous magazines and newspapers.[12] In 2020, Innocent won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour for his book Irinjalakudaku Chuttum.[13]
Early life
Innocent was born on 28 February 1948 to Margaret and Vareed of the Thekkethala house in Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin (present-day Kerala).[14][4] He was the fifth child and third son of his parents, who had eight children. He had his primary education at Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda, and Sree Sangameswara NSS School, Irinjalakuda. He studied till eighth grade and discontinued his studies as he could not cope with studying. Innocent went to Madras (then) for his acting career and worked there as a production executive.[15]
During the emergency years, Innocent made his way to Davanagere and joined his cousins George (studying medicine at JJM Medical College), Davis, and his brother Sunny who were managing the Shamannur Match factory. Later, he became the proprietor of the factory. To get detailed insight into his early struggles and making of Innocent, the actor, please refer: My contemporary Cousin in thefreshblog.com
As Innocent was keen on the performance activities, he seized the opportunity to participate in Davangere, Kerala Samajam drama, and received audience approval in entertainment events.[16]
Innocent left Davangere in 1974. He tried his hand at multiple businesses and jobs to eke out a living. From being a stationary owner to a wholesale sandal distributor to setting up a leather business to a cycle renting business to a cement supplier and also that of a coach cum manager of a volleyball team, a game he knew nothing about.
Growing up, he had a few conflicts with his father, Vareed, because his brothers continued to have an excellent education and became successful doctors, lawyers, and judges. After some time, he entered politics and became Municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda.[17]
Film career
Innocent entered the film industry in 1972 with the movie Nritashala. At first, he produced a few serious offbeat films, but he was not successful. In the long span of his career, Innocent has worked in more than 700 films, mostly in comedy roles, predominantly in Malayalam. He has also acted in a few Tamil and Hindi films.[18]
Innocent's mannerisms and diction is unique in Malayalam cinema and he wildly caught the attention of the Malayalam audience. This made him one of the best in the Malayalam comedy scene, also making him a hot favorite for mimicry artistes. His popularity can be gauged from the fact that many frontline directors in Malayalam (like Priyadarshan, Satyan Anthikkad, Fazil and Kamal) rarely made films without Innocent. He has proven his acting skills in serious and character roles in several films. He has been the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) for 12 years. He has held the post for the last four consecutive terms.[19]
Innocent played has played many comedy roles in movies like Ramji Rao Speaking, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony, Nadodikattu, Manichitrathazhu, Kalyanaraman, Chronic Bachelor etc. Innocent has also played several character and villain roles in movies such as Keli, Kathodu Kathoram.[20]
Other films include Kabooliwaala, Gajakesariyogam, Mithunam, Mazhavilkavadi, Manassinakkare, Thuruppugulan, Rasathanthram,Naran and Mahasamudram. His pairing with K. P. A. C. Lalitha was highly successful. They have acted together in many movies such as Ponn Muttayidunna Tharavu, My Dear Muthachchan, Godfather and Manichitrathazhu.[21][2] Philip's was his last film before his death in March 2023.
Books
Innocent has authored seven books: Njan Innocent, Cancer Wardile Chiri, Irinjalakudakku Chuttum (memoirs), Mazha Kannadi (collection of short stories), Chirrikku Pinnil (autobiography) and Kalante Delhi Yathra Anthikkad Vazhi are some of them. Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is an account of his experiences while undergoing treatment for throat cancer.[22][23] Irinjalakudakku Chuttum won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020.[24]
Politics
Innocent was the Irinjalakkuda Mandalam Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party during the 1970s. He had contested the Irinjalakkuda municipal council elections as Revolutionary Socialist Party-backed candidate in 1979 and had won that election.[5] He was rumoured to be a Left Democratic Front (LDF)-supported independent candidate from the Irinjalakkuda assembly constituency in the 2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections but this did not happen.[25] Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency in Thrissur district as an independent candidate supported by the LDF.[5]
Innocent lost in the Lok Sabha elections 2019 to UDF candidate Benny Behanan.
Personal life
On 26 September 1976, Innocent married Alice; they had a son named Sonnet. Innocent Jr. and Anna are Sonnet's twin children. Childhood Innocent was played by Innocent Jr. in a documentary. [26]
Illness and death
On 3 March 2023, Innocent was suddenly hospitalised after feeling ill.[27][28] He was placed under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after his condition turned for the worse. A cancer survivor, Innocent was in the hospital for nearly three weeks. He died at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on 26 March 2023, at the age of 75[29] of complications from COVID-19 as confirmed by Dr. V. P. Gangadharan who was treating him.[30]
Awards
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
- 1989 – Second Best Actor – Mazhavil Kavadi, Jaathakam
- 1981 – Second Best Film (Producer) – Vida Parayum Munpe
- 1982 – Second Best Film (Producer) – Ormakkayi
- 2009 – Best Actor – Patham Nilayile Theevandi
- 2001 – Supporting Actor Award – Ravanaprabhu
- 2004 – Supporting Actor Award – Vesham
- 2006 – Best Actor in a Comic Role – Rasathanthram, Yes Your Honour
- 2008 – Supporting Actor Award – Innathe Chintha Vishayam
- 2010 - Character Actor Award -Kadha Thudarunnu
- 2011 - Character Actor Award -Snehaveedu, Swapna Sanchari
- 2013 – Lifetime Achievement Award[31]
- Other awards
- 2004 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam for Manassinakkare
- 2007 – Sathyan Award[25]
- 2008 – Annual Malayalam Movie Award (Dubai) for Outstanding Performance
- 2013 – TTK Prestige-Vanitha Film Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2019 – He is Distributing Awards Realtors Investors Summit[32]
Filmography
|
As actor
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Malayalam films
1970s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Nrithasala | News Reporter | [2] |
| 1973 | Football Champion | Football Player | [33] |
| Urvashi Bharathi | |||
| Jesus | Courtier in King Herod's court | ||
| 1974 | Nellu | ||
| 1978 | Randu Penkuttikal | ||
| 1979 | Vadaka Veedu |
1980s
1990s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Thoovalsparsham | Shishubalan | |
| Thalayanamanthram | Daniel | ||
| Superstar | Devasyya | ||
| Vacation | |||
| Rosa I Love You | |||
| Paadatha Veenayum Paadum | |||
| Enquiry | |||
| Panthayakuthira | [34] | ||
| Radha Madhavam | |||
| Ponnaranjanam | |||
| Shubhayathra | Ramettan | ||
| Sasneham | Eanasu | ||
| Saandhram | Paulo | ||
| Rajavazhcha | Ittoopp | ||
| Gajakesariyogam | Ayyappan Nair | ||
| Ottayal Pattalam | DIG Chandrashekara Menon | ||
| Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam | Ananthan | ||
| Mukham | Anthony | ||
| Malayogam | Rama Kurup | ||
| Pavakkooth | Chakkochen | ||
| Kouthuka Varthakal | Suryanarayana Iyer | ||
| Dr. Pasupathy | Dr. Pasupathi/Bhairavan | ||
| Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum | |||
| No.20 Madras Mail | Narayanan Nadar[TTE] | ||
| Kottayam Kunjachan | Mikhael | ||
| Kalikkalam | Velayil Chandy | ||
| Anantha Vruthantham | Padmanabhan | ||
| Champion Thomas | Dr. Unnithan | ||
| Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran | |||
| Brahmarakshas | Potti | ||
| Kattu Kuthira | Balakrishna Menon | ||
| Purappad | Lonappan | ||
| 1991 | Kizhakkunarum Pakshi | Girijavallabha Panikkar | |
| Ulladakkam | Kunjachan | ||
| Sandesam | Yaswanth Sahai | ||
| Pookkalam Varavayi | Pothuval | ||
| Oru Tharam Randu Tharam Moonu Tharam | Adithya Pilla | ||
| Post Box No. 27 | M.D Somashekaran | ||
| Mimics Parade | Fr. Tharakkandam | ||
| Oru Vaakku Oreyoru Vaakku | Kesava Pillai | ||
| Maydinam | Ouseph | ||
| Kunjikuruvi ( Ammayude Swantham Kunju Mary ) | |||
| Khandakaavyam | |||
| Sundari Kakka | |||
| Eagle | Appukuttan/Murugadas | ||
| Kuttapathram | |||
| Kilukkampetti | Scariah | ||
| Kilukkam | Kittunni | ||
| Keli | Lazer | ||
| Kadinjool Kalyanam | Panikkar | ||
| Godfather | Swaminathan | ||
| Ganamela | Sreedhara Panikkar | ||
| Apoorvam Chilar | Idanilam Pathrose | ||
| Amina Tailors | Lonappan Mashu | ||
| Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Dr. Chenthrappinni | ||
| Kanalkkattu | |||
| Agni Nilavu | Sakuni | ||
| Anaswaram | Immanuel Joseph | ||
| Irrikku M.D. Akathudu | Samuel | ||
| Bhoomika | Sivan Pillai | ||
| Kalari | Koshi | ||
| Adayalam | Police Officer | ||
| Nagarathil Samsara Vishayam | |||
| Ennum Nanmakal | |||
| Ezhunnallathu | |||
| 1992 | Apaaratha | SI Lonappan | |
| Ponnurukkum Pakshi | Bhaskaran | ||
| Utsava Melam | Kamalasanana Kuruppu | ||
| Snehasagaram | Ramayyan | ||
| Ente Ponnu Thampuran | Varkey | ||
| Kasargode Khaderbhai | Fr. Tharakandam | ||
| Nakshthrakoodaram | Fr. Bhavanious | ||
| Vasudha | |||
| Pramanikal | |||
| My Dear Muthachan | K. P. Adiyodi | ||
| Malootty | Sankaran | ||
| Makkal Mahathmayam | Kuruppu Maash | ||
| Ennodishtam Koodamo | Family Doctor | ||
| Aayushkalam | Gopala Menon | ||
| Kizhakkan Pathrose | Pothen Upadeshi | ||
| Adwaitham | Seshadri Iyer | ||
| Vietnam Colony | K. K. Joseph | ||
| Kallanum Polisum | |||
| Mr & Mrs | |||
| Kingini | |||
| Kaazhchakkappuram | |||
| Kallan Kappalil Thanne | |||
| 1993 | Addeham Enna Iddeham | ||
| Venkalam | Kandappan | ||
| Sakshal Sreeman Chathunni | Chathunni | ||
| Midhunam | Kurup | ||
| Manichithrathazhu | Unnithan | ||
| Kabuliwala | Kannas | ||
| Injakkadan Mathai & Sons | Inchakkadan Mathai | ||
| Devaasuram | Warrier | ||
| Aagneyam | Pappachan | ||
| Bandhukkal Sathrukkal | Ananda Kuruppu | ||
| Oru Kadankatha Pole | |||
| Aalavattam | |||
| Porutham | |||
| 1994 | Pingami | Iyengar | |
| Pavithram | Erussery | ||
| Chanakya Soothrangal | Kuttan Pilla | ||
| Pavam I.A. Ivachan | |||
| Rajadhani | SI Damodaran K. D. | ||
| Pakshe | Inashu | ||
| Santhanagopalam | |||
| Bheesmacharya | Raghavan | ||
| Sukham Sukhakaram | |||
| Njan Kodiswaran | Appunni | ||
| 1995 | Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan | Pillai | |
| Thirumanassu | Kunjan Pillai Raman Nair | ||
| Pai Brothers | Ganapathi Pai | ||
| Mannar Mathai Speaking | Mannar Mathai | ||
| Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta | Narayanankutty | ||
| Kusruthikaatu | Indira's Father | ||
| Sakshyam | Chittappan | ||
| Keerthanam | Mathewkutty Aashan | ||
| No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North | Kuriakose | ||
| 1996 | Thooval Kottaram | Radhakrishnan | |
| Surya Puthrikal | |||
| Lalanam | Dr Sreekumaran Unnithan | ||
| Kudumbakodathi | N. D. Raman Nair | ||
| Kireedamillatha Rajakkanmar | Bharathan | ||
| Excuse Me Ethu Collegila | |||
| Kalliveedu | Chittedathu Madhavan Nair | ||
| Nandagopaalante Kusruthikal | |||
| Harbour | Father Sebastian | ||
| Hitler | Madhavan Kutty's father | ||
| King Soloman | |||
| Kinnam Katta Kallan | |||
| Azhakiya Ravanan | |||
| 1997 | Superman | Kochunni | |
| Aniyathi Pravu | Chellappan | ||
| Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan | |||
| Fashion Parade | [35] | ||
| Ishtadanam | Advocate Dharmapalalan Thambi | ||
| Rajathanthram | Madhavan Nair | ||
| Arjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum | Arjunan Pilla | ||
| Kalyana Unnikal | Anthrayose | ||
| Chandralekha | Iravi | ||
| Aaram Thamburan | S.I. Bharathan | Guest Appearance | |
| 1998 | Vismayam | Narayanan | |
| Harikrishnans | Sundaran | ||
| Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala | Achuthan Nair | ||
| Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu | Maamachan | ||
| Meenakashi Kalyanam | |||
| Ayushman Bhava | |||
| Amma Ammaayiyamma | |||
| Kusruthi Kuruppu | |||
| Kudumba Vaarthakal | |||
| Sreekrishnapurathu Nakshathrathilakkam | |||
| Manthrikumaran | |||
| Sooryaputhran | |||
| 1999 | Ustaad | Kunji Palu | |
| Udayapuram Sulthan | Govindan Nair | ||
| Aakasha Ganga | Rama Varma Thampuran | ||
| Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu | Kaimal | ||
| Independence | Mythreyan | ||
| Chandranudikkunna Dikhil | Anthony |
2000s
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Valliettan | Ramankutty Kaimal | |
| Mr. Butler | Captain K.G.Nair | ||
| Life Is Beautiful | Nambiar | ||
| Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam | |||
| Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | Jose | ||
| Snehapoorvam Anna | |||
| Swayamvara Panthal | Shankarbhanu | ||
| 2001 | Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu | Govinda Kamath | |
| Kakkakuyil | Pothuval | ||
| Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka | Johnny Vellikala | ||
| Uthaman | Chacko Cherian | ||
| Ravanaprabhu | Warrier | ||
| Ishtam | Narayanan | ||
| 2002 | Snehithan | Devassya / Devarunyam Devanamboodiripad | |
| Savithriyute Aranjanam | Ravunni | ||
| www.anukudumbam.com | |||
| Phantom | The Priest | ||
| Jagathi Jagathish in Town | Neelakandan | ||
| Yathrakarude Sradhakku | Paul | ||
| Nandanam | Kesavan Nair | ||
| Nammal | Shanmughan | ||
| Kalyanaraman | Ponjikkara Kesavan | ||
| 2003 | Chronic Bachelor | Kuruvilla | |
| Vellithira | Ittiyavira | ||
| Balettan | Achumama | ||
| Pattalam | Sivasankaran Nair | ||
| Ammakilikkoodu | Eradi | ||
| Manassinakkare | Chacko Mappila | ||
| 2004 | Thalamelam | Kunjukuttan Thampuran | |
| Vamanapuram Bus Route | Chandran Pillai | ||
| Wanted | Unni's Uncle | ||
| Vettam | K. T. Mathew | ||
| Chitrakoodam | Balan | ||
| Kaazhcha | Fr. Kuriakose | ||
| Greetings | Aravindakshan Nair | ||
| Maampazhakkaalam | Chandran's Uncle | ||
| Vesham | Pappan | ||
| Made in USA | Prof. Ponnachan PHD | ||
| 2005 | Achuvinte Amma | Paulose | |
| Thaskara Veeran | Eappachan | ||
| Ben Johnson | |||
| Udayon | Rarichan | ||
| Naran | Kelappan | ||
| Thanmathra | Sukumaran Nair | ||
| Bus Conductor | Majeed | ||
| 2006 | Malamaal Weekly | Joseph Anthony Fernandes | |
| Kilukkam Kilukilukkam | Kittunni | ||
| Lion | Thomman Chacko | ||
| Rasathanthram | Manikandan Aashari | ||
| Thuruppu Gulan | Kochu Thoma | ||
| Aanachandham | |||
| Mahasamudram | Velankanni | ||
| Yes Your Honour | Venugopal | ||
| Baba Kalyani | Car Dealer | ||
| 2007 | Inspector Garud | Raghavan | |
| Big B | Tomy Parekkaadan | ||
| Vinodayathra | Thankachan | ||
| Aakasham | Varghese Abraham Pathirikkodan | ||
| July 4 | Narayanan Potty | ||
| Bharathan Effect | Thankachan's father | ||
| Mission 90 Days | Sivaram's father | ||
| Ali Bhai | Khalid Ahemmed Sayivu | ||
| Nasrani | Fr.Pullikottil | ||
| Katha Parayumbol | Eepachan Muthalali | ||
| 2008 | Calcutta News | Kerala samajam president | |
| Innathe Chintha Vishayam | Emmanuel | ||
| Jubilee | Thomas Kora | ||
| Apoorva | |||
| Madampi | Karayogam President | ||
| Veruthe Oru Bharya | Rajasekharan | ||
| Bullet | |||
| Kerala Police | Philip Tharakan | ||
| Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam | |||
| Twenty:20 | Kuttikrishnan | ||
| 2009 | Duplicate | P Suresh | |
| Bhagyadevatha | Mathew Palakkal | ||
| Ee Pattanathil Bhootham | Krishnan | ||
| Patham Nilayile Theevandi | Sankara Narayanan | ||
| Kancheepurathe Kalyanam | Balakrishnan Nair | ||
| My Big Father | Thomaskutty | ||
| Colours | Pushkaran Pillai | ||
| Samastha Keralam PO | |||
| Swantham Lekhakan | Kaimal | ||
| Evidam Swargamanu | Divakara Kaimal, Revenue Secretary |
2010s
2020s
Other language films
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Doli Saja Ke Rakhna | Colonel Vincent | Hindi |
| 2003 | Lesa Lesa | Nair | Tamil |
| 2004 | Nothing But Life | Prof. Ponnachan PhD | English |
| 2006 | Malamaal Weekly | Anthony | Hindi |
| 2012 | Shikari | Sitharam Setu | Kannada |
| 2019 | Naan Avalai Sandhitha Pothu | Tamil |
Story
- Pavam IA Ivachan (1994)
- Keerthanam (1995)
Producer
- Vida Parayum Munpe (1981)
- Ilakkangal (1982)
- Ormakkayi (1982)
- Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback (1983)
Playback singing
- Aanachandam – Gajakesariyogam (1990)[39]
- Kandallo – Sandram (1990)
- Kunukupenmaniye – Mr Butler (2000)
- Onnam Malakeri – Kalyanaraman (2002)
- Chendakkoru kolundeda – Manassinakkare (2003)
- Sundarakeralam – Doctor Innocentanu (2012)
- SaMaGaReSa - Tsunami (2021)
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Innocent Kadhakal | Himself | Asianet |
| 1994 | Chithrageetham | Host | Doordarshan |
| 2005-2006 | Innocent Kadhakal | Host | Amrita TV |
| 2013 | Point blank | Guest | Asianet News |
| 2016 | J B junction | Guest | Kairali TV |
| 2016 | Badai Bungalow | Guest | Asianet |
| 2016 | Comedy Carnival | himself | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2017 | Comedy super night 2 | guest | Flowers TV |
| 2017 | Star Chat | Guest | WE TV |
| 2018 | Top Singer | Celebrity Judge | Flowers TV |
| 2018 | Nakshatra thilakkam | Guest | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2018 | Chaya Koppayile kodum kattu | Mentor | Mazhavil Manorama |
| 2019 | Utsavam Super Star | Mentor | Flowers TV |
| 2019–2021 | Comedy star season 2 | Judge | Asianet |
| 2020 | Kudumbavilakku | Himself | Asianet |
| 2020-2021 | Comedy Masters | Judge | Amrita TV |
| 2021 | Anchinodu Inchodinchu | Guest | Surya TV |
| 2021 | Top Singer season 2 | Celebrity Judge | Flowers TV |
| 2021–2023 | Eenangalude Gandharvan | Judge | Flowers TV |
| 2021–2023 | Funs opon a time | Judge | Amrita TV |
| 2021–2023 | Music Ulasavam | Judge | Flowers TV |
References
Further reading
External links
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