Innocent is an actor with unparalleled, wonderful versatile acting skills in the Malayalam Cinema who has depicted very large number of Supporting roles and Character roles brilliantly for the last four decades.He has also acted in a few Kannada,Tamil and Hindi films as well.This extrovert personality is also a politician and at present is the Lok Sabha Member of the Chalakkudi Constituency in Kerala.He has also served as the President of the Malayalam Movie Artistes Association (AMMA) for 12 years.In the 80’s he was a producer of a few Malayalam films also.
It is a blessing for the viewers of Malayalam Cinema to get such an actor with immense humor sense who is excessively brilliant to portray characters with a comedy touch.He has played numerous comedy characters effectively well which always makes the audience exultant and at the same time he could handle serious roles also quite nicely.The repletion of the characters happens always because of Innocent‘s shrewdness to display the exact emotional expressions and movements most suited for that particular character. His unique mannerisms, the style and accent of his Malayalam dialogue delivery,face expressions which displays any type of emotions fantastically well are all his best qualities loved by the audience and always receives accolades.
Innocent was born at Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur District on February 28, 1945.Before entering film field in 1972 by the film ‘Nrithasala’ he was a businessman.He got established as a supporting actor by acting in films like‘Urvashy Bharathy(73),Nellu(74),Randu Penkuttikal‘ and many more.
In 1981 he produced the hit film ‘Vida Parayum Munpe‘ which was directed by Mohan in which Nedumudi Venu and Prem Nazir acted in lead roles.That film received thesecond Best film Award from the Kerala Government.Next year in 1982, he along with one of his friends produced another hit film ‘Ormakkayi‘ which also received second Best Film Award from Kerala Government.Then he produced the films ‘Ilakkangal, andLekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback’.Those films also earned much attention from viewers as well as critics.
When he used to get lengthy, well noted supporting roles consecutively in the 80’s he concentrated mainly in the acting career rather than producing films.
In the film ‘Kathodu Kathoram‘ directed by Bharathan in 1985 which was a super hit film his role as ‘Rappayi’ earned much attention.Mammootty and Saritha were the leading pair of that film.
In the film ‘Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam‘ directed by Sathyan Anthikkad in 1986, he portrayed Kunji Kannan Nair, who lent some money to the hero character ‘Panikker’ of Mohanlal.Panikker wanted to give the money back and tries to sell his other house situated in the City and the consequences are the theme of the film.Mohan Lal,Karthika,Thilakan,M.G.Soman,KPAC Lalitha etc acted in that film.
In the film ‘Mazhavil Kavady‘ directed by Sathyan Anthikkad he acted as ‘Sankarankutty Menon’, the maternal Uncle of the hero character portrayed by Jayaram.This hilarious film earned much appreciation from the viewers and critics.Jayaram,Innocent,Urvashy,Sithara,Krishnankutty Nair,Mamukoya etc acted in it.
He was the center figure of the films ‘Gaja Kesari Yogam’,’Ramji Rao Speaking,Mannar Mathai Speaking,Dr.Pasupathy’ etc. which were all entertainers with ample comedy scenes.
Innocent acted in almost all the films directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and Priyadarshan.The roles he handled in their films are unforgettable also.
One of his excellent comedy roles was in the film ‘No.20 Madras Mail‘ in which he acted as a railway Ticket Examiner and acted along with Mammootty and Mohan Lal.
His role as the baby sitter in the film ‘Thooval Sparsam‘ in which he acted along with Jayaram,Mukesh,Sai Kumar and Suresh Gopi was very much liked by the audience.
In the film ‘Kilukkam‘ which was a blockbuster movie directed by Priyadarshan, Innocent acted as the servant of a retired Judge.Revathy making fun of him by telling that he got Lottery Prize and in that excitement the pranks performed by innocent created nice comedy.
In the blockbuster film ‘Devasuram’ he acted as ‘Warrier’, the caretaker of Mangalasseril Neelakantan (Mohan Lal) which was a serious role which he handled fantastically well.
In the film ‘Manichithra Thazhu‘ directed by Fazil, his character gets scared when went for supervising painting work being done in a big old mansion and the consequences such as his wife trying to wear an amulet around his waist were superb comedy.KPAC Lalitha acted as his wife in this film.
In the film ‘Godfather‘ his role as ‘Swamynathan’, the son of ‘Anjooran’ (N.N.Pillai) created much laughter when he pretended he was not Swaminathan to his father to hide the truth about his marriage and at the same time earned the sympathy from the audience also.
In the film ‘Midhunam‘ as the elder brother of Sethumadhavan (Mohan Lal) he was excellent and received much accolades and appreciation.
In the Film ‘Hitler‘ he acted as Madhavankutty’s (Mammootty) father.Sbobhana,Mukesh,Ilavarasi,Vani Viswanath,Jagadeesh etc acted in this blockbuster film.
In the film ‘Bus Conductor’ directed by V.M.Vinu, his character ‘Kunjakka’ was responsible for solving the misunderstandings happened in the family and to regain the harmony.
In the film ‘Rasathanthram‘(2006) he acted excellently well as the master carpenter ‘Manikantan Asary’.Mohan Lal and Meera Jssmine were the main leads.
In the film ‘Pappy Appacha‘ (2010) he acted as Mathai, the father of Pappi(Dileep).The movie was directed by Mamas.
In the successful film ‘Ennum Eppozhum‘ directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and released in March 2015, Innocent depicted a Post Master, who is the neighbour of Deepa (Meera Jasmine).
There are numerous other films in which he portrayed unforgettable roles like ‘Vietnam Colony,Ravana Prabhu,Thalayana Manthram,Vadakku Nokki Yanthram,Keli,Vesham,Innathe Chintha Vishayam’ and so on.
Innocent is recipient of Asianet Best Supporting actor Award in the year 2001,2004,2006 and 2008.He received Lifetime Achievement Award from Asianet Awards in the year 2013.He received Lifetime Achievement Award from ‘TTK Prestige-Vanitha Awards in 2013.
Selected Filmography
Vida Parayum Munpe
Idavela
Panchavady Palam
Kathodu Kathoram
Kandu Kandarinju
Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street
Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam
Oridathu
Sarvakalasala
JalakamThaniyavarthanam
Ramjirao Speaking
Mazhavil Kavadi
Gajakesariyogam
Thalayanamanthram
Dr.Pasupathy
Kottayam Kunjachan
Sandesam
Amina Tailors
Ulsava Melam
My dear Muthachan
Ayushkalam
Midhunam
Kabuliwala
Inchakkadan Mathai & Sons
Devasuram
Pakshe
Harbour
Hitler
Harikrishnans
Chithavishtayaya Shyamala
Akasa Ganga
Life Is Beautiful
Kakkakuyil
Ishtam
Balettan
Manassinakkare
Vettam
Vesham
Udayon
Yhuruppu Gulan
Madampi
Twenty 20
Pappy Appacha
Marykkundoru Kunjadu
Oru Marubhoomikkadha
Dr.Innocent Aanu
Chattakkari
Arike
Puthiya Theerangal
Punyalan Agarbathies
Geethanjali
Polytechnic
Ennum Eppozhum