Kerala CM Pinayari Vijayan condoles Innocent's demise; Calls him an indelible part of cultural memory

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid tribute to actor Innocent who passed away on Sunday. Taking to his social media handle, Vijayan wrote, "The passing of actor, parliamentarian, and fellow comrade Innocent leaves us deeply saddened. His effortless onscreen performances and strong political interventions have made him an indelible part of our cultural memory. In mourning with family, friends, and fellow film lovers."

Innocent was 75. The actor, a cancer survivor after he was detected with the deadly disease as far back as 2012, had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi for the last two-and-half weeks for breathing issues. He is survived by his wife, Alice and two children.

The actor was known for his comedy roles, unique style and dialogue delivery in a career spanning over four decades and 500 films. Innocent was also a former member of Lok Sabha from 2014-19, winning the seat from Kerala's Chalakkudy constituency as an independent candidate backed by the Left. He also served as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for several years.

He is also the author of five books, including Njan Innocent and Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward), where he narrates his experiences while undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Irinjalakudakku Chuttum won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020.