Innocent (actor)

Innocent
Innocent in 2011
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
5 June 2014 (2014-06-05) – 23 May 2019 (2019-05-23)
Preceded byK. P. Dhanapalan
Succeeded byBenny Behanan
ConstituencyChalakudy
Municipal councillor of Irinjalakuda
In office
1979 (1979)–1982 (1982)
Personal details
Born
Innocent Vareed Thekkethala

(1948-02-28)28 February 1948
Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin, Dominion of India
Died26 March 2023(2023-03-26) (aged 75)
Kochi, Kerala, India
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
Alice
​
(m. 1976)​
Children1
Occupation
  • Actor
  • writer
  • politician
  • producer
  • singer
Years active1972–2023

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 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]

  1. ^ "Legendary actor Innocent passes away". The Times of India. 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference debut was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Best Comedians of Mollywood". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Innocent | National Portal of India". 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  5. ^ "In Kerala, Left backs Independent Innocent". The Indian Express. 7 March 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  6. ^ "ചിരിച്ചും ചിന്തിച്ചും ചിരിപ്പിച്ചും ഇന്നസന്റ്‌" (in Malayalam). mangalam.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. ^ "അഭിനയത്തിൽ മാത്രമല്ല, സംഘടനാ പാടവത്തിലും ഏറെ മുന്നിൽ; അമ്മയുടെ പ്രസിഡന്റായത് 18 വർഷം തുടർച്ചയായി". 24 News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Innocent diagnosed with cancer; takes a break from films". The New Indian Express. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ "From wreaths to laughter: Innocent's inspirational journey through cancer". OnManorama. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Innocent apologises for actors' action". The Hindu. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  11. ^ "Actor Innocent to call it quits as AMMA President at end of term". The News Minute. 31 March 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  12. ^ Muringatheri, Mini (27 March 2023). "A laughter that defeated even cancer". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Actor Innocent bags Kerala Sahitya Akademi's best humour award". OnManorama. Retrieved 27 March 2023.