Innocent (actor)

Career

Innocent's mannerisms and diction is unique in Malayalam cinema and he wildly caught the attention of the Malayalam audience. This made him almost a phenomenon in the Malayalam comedy scene, also making him a hot favourite 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 make films without Innocent. He has proven his acting skills in serious and character roles in several films. He has been the president of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) for 12 years. He has held the post for the last four consecutive terms.

Innocent entered the film industry in 1972 with the movie Nrityashala. 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 500 films in a variety of roles, mainly in Malayalam. He has also acted in a few Tamil and Hindi films.

Innocent played key comedy roles in superhits like Ramji Rao Speaking, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony, Nadodikattu and Devaasuram. Innocent has also excelled in character and villain roles such as Keli,Kathodu Kathoram.

He proved his skills in other serious roles with a touch of laughter in films such as Kabooliwaala, Gajakesariyogam, Mithunam, Mazhavilkavadi, Manassinakkare, Thuruppugulan, Rasathanthram, and Mahasamudram. His effort, along with that of the superstars who starred in these films, played an important role in their success. His pairing with K. P. A. C. Lalitha was highly successful in movies such as Ponn Muttayidunna Tharavu, My Dear Muthachchan, Godfather and Manichitrathazhu.

Innocent is one of the most imitated actors of Malayalam cinema and mimicry artistes have brought him closer to women and children among his fans. The best example of this can be seen in the widely popular Maveli (Mahabali) comedy cassettes which are brought out by various mimicry groups annually in association with the Onam festival of Kerala in the past few years. These cassettes parodies Mahabali, a benevolent King in Kerala's mythology who is supposed to visit his subjects in Kerala every lunar year on the day of Onam. These cassettes tend to portray Maveli as a comic King who gets into all sort of troubles – script makes use of many contemporary issues in Kerala – on his annual arrival in Kerala. Mimicry artistes uses Innocent's voice to represent Maveli and all his mannerisms and idiosyncrasies in speech are deftly mimicked to generate laughter in the audience.

Innocent's participation in stage shows guarantees him a leading role as an anchor or performer. His Kathaprasangam (oratory combined with poetry) Olayaal Menjoru is one of the regulars in Gulf stage shows.

Innocent has published his memoirs: Njan Innocent. He has published three other books: Mazha Kannadi (collection of short stories), Chirrikku Pinnil (an autobiography) and Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward), an account of his experiences while undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Innocent also writes columns in magazines and newspapers.

Personal life

Innocent was born to Vareed Thekkethala and Margaret at Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala. He had his primary education from 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 after that. He has done many business like matchbox and leather business to make a living. Later he joined politics and became Municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda.

Family Details

Alice was Innocent's spouse and together they had a son named Sonnet. Sonnet also got married and has two children, Innocent Jr. and Anna. It is worth noting that Junior Innocent acted in a documentary portraying Innocent's childhood.

Political Journey

Death

Innocent fell ill on March 3rd, 2023 and was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital. As his condition worsened, he received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Innocent, a cancer survivor, remained in the hospital for nearly three weeks due to cancer-related complications, until his passing on March 26th, 2023 at the age of 75 in VPS Lakeshore Hospital located in Kochi, Kerala. His attending physician, Dr. V. P. Gangadharan, confirmed that his death was caused by COVID-19 complications.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

Kerala State Film Critics Award

Asianet Film Award

Other awards

Malayalam films

2016–1990

1970s–1980s

Story

Producer

Playback singing

* Kandallo – Sandram (1990)