Innocent (actor)

Innocent
MP
Member of Parliament for Chalakudy
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Preceded by K.P. Dhanapalan
Personal details
Born Innocent Vareed Thekkethala
(1945-02-28) 28 February 1945
Irinjalakuda, India
Nationality Indian
Spouse(s) Alice
Children Sonnet
Parents Vareed Thekkethala, Margaret Thekkethala
Occupation Actor, politician
Website innocent.net.in

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (ഇന്നസെന്റ് വറീത് തെക്കേത്തല) (born 28 February 1948), popularly known as Innocent, is an Indian film actor and politician. He was born in Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district of Kerala, India. He is one of the most successful and leading comedy actors of Malayalam cinema. He is noted for his witty mannerisms and dialogue delivery in the typical Thrissur accent.[1]

In 2013, Innocent was diagnosed with throat cancer (lymphoma) and was hospitalized.[2] But sources close to him stated the cancer was in its early stages for which he duly took treatment.[3] Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency, comprising 3 assembly constituencies in Thrissur district and 4 assembly constituencies of Ernakulam district, as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] Innocent also writes columns in magazines and newspapers.

Personal life

Innocent is born to Vareed Thekkethala and Margaret at Irinjalakuda, Kerala on February 28, 1945. 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.[7]

He is married to Alice and has a son Sonnet. Sonnet is married with two children Innocent Jr. and Anna. Junior Innocent has acted in a documentary as Innocent's childhood.[8]

Political life

Innocent was the Thrissur District Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party during the 1970s. He had contested in the Irinjalakkuda municipal council elections as Communist Party of India-backed candidate in 1979 and had won that election.[4] 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.[9] Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency in Thrissur district as an independent candidate supported by the LDF.[4]

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

Kerala State Film Critics Award

Asianet Film Award

Other awards

Filmography

As an actor

Malayalam films

2015–1990
Year Film Character
2015 Kanal
Urumbukal Urangarilla Madhavettan
Ennum Eppozhum Kariyachan
2014 Thomson VillaPriest
Aamayum Muyalum Nallavan
Nagara Varidhi Naduvil Njaan
Njangalude Veettile Athidhikal
Bhaiyya Bhaiyya
Polytechnic
Malayalakkara Residency
Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 Mannar Mathai
2013 Philips and the Monkey Pen God
GeethaanjaliThankappan
Punyalan Agarbattis John Thakkolkaran
Oru Indian Pranayakatha Uthup Vallikkadan
2012 Puthiya Theerangal Father Michael
Husbands in Goa Nadar (TTE)
ArikeKalpana's father
Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam Police Officer
Perinoru Makan Harischandran
Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O.
Kaashh Devasiya
Chattakaari Morris
Naughty Professor Mulavarikkal Francis
Doctor Innocent aanuDoctor Bargavan Pillai
2011 SnehaveeduMathai
Living TogetherKrishnaprasad Kartha
Doctor LoveSathyasheelan
Pachuvum KovalanumBhadranpillai
Oru MarubhoomikkadhaMathayi
Swapna SanchariAchuthan Nair
2010 Marykkundoru KunjaaduIttichan Muthalali
CocktailKalyan Krishnan
Oridathoru PostmanGangadharan
Pappy AppachaNirappel Mathai
Cheriya Kallanum Valiya Policum
Again Kasargod Khader BhaiFather Francis Tharakan
Kanyakumari Express Minister
Aagathan Lawrence
Kadha Thudarunnu Lasar
Pranchiyettan & the SaintVasu Menon
2009 Patham Nilayile Theevandi
Ee Pattanathil Bhootham
Bhagyadevatha
Duplicate P Suresh
2008 Twenty:20
Veruthe Oru Bharya
Madampi
Jubilee Kora
Innathe Chintha Vishayam Emmanuel
"Calcutta news" Kerala samajam president
2007 Katha parayumbol Eepachan Muthalali
Ali Bhai Khalid Ahemmed Sayivu
Mission 90 Days
Inspector Garud Raghavan
2006 Baba Kalyani Car Dealer
Mahasamudram
Thuruppu Gulan Kochu Thoma
Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Kittunni
Rasathanthram Manikandan Aashari
2005 Bus Conductor
Thanmathra Sukumaran Nair
Naran Kelappan
Udayon Rarichan
Thaskara Veeran Eappachan
Achuvinte Amma Paulose
2004 Made in USA Prof. Ponnachan PHD
Vesham Pappan
Maampazhakkaalam Chandran's Uncle
Greetings Aravindakshan Nair
Kaazhcha Fr. Kuriakose
Chitrakoodam Balan
Vettam K. T. Mathew
Wanted Unni's Uncle
Vamanapuram Bus Route Chandran Pillai
Thalamelam Kunjukuttan Thampuran
2003 Manassinakkare Chacko Mappila
Ammakilikkoodu Eradi
Pattalam Sivasankaran Nair
Balettan Achumama
Vellithira Ittiyavira
Chronic Bachelor Kuruvilla
2002 Kalyanaraman Ponjikkara Kesavan
Nammal Shanmughan
Nandanam Kesavan Nair
Yathrakarude Sradhakku Paul
Jagathi Jagathish in Town Neelakandan
Phantom The Priest
Savithriyute Aranjanam Ravunni
Snehithan Devassy
2001 Ishtam Narayanan
Ravanaprabhu Warrier
Uthaman Chacko Cherian
Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka Johnny Vellikala
Kakkakuyil
Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu Govinda Kamath
2000 Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal Jose
Life Is Beautiful Nambiar
Mr. Butler Captain K.G.Nair
Valliettan Ramankutty Kaimal
1999 Aakasha Ganga
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil
Udayapuram Sulthan Govindan Nair
Ustaad Kunji Palu
1998 Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu Maamachan
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala Achuthan Nair
Harikrishnans Sundaran
Vismayam Narayanan

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1970s–1980s

Other language films

Year Film Character Language
2012 Shikari Kannada
2006 Malamaal Weekly Anthony Hindi
2004 Nothing But Life Prof. Ponnachan PhD English
2003 Lesa Lesa Tamil
1998 Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Colonel Nair Hindi

Story

Producer

Playback singing

References

  1. "ചിരിച്ചും ചിന്തിച്ചും ചിരിപ്പിച്ചും ഇന്നസന്റ്‌". mangalam.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  2. "കാന്സര് ഇപ്പോള് ഞങ്ങളുടെ കൂടെയില്ല". mangalam.com. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. "Innocent has cancer". Archived from the original on 1 November 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "In Kerala, Left backs Independent Innocent". The Indian Express. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  5. "Movies | Interviews |". Manorama Online. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. Innocent (December 12, 2013). "Cancer Wardile Chiri". Mathrubhui Books. p. 127. ISBN 9788182661110. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  7. http://cinidiary.com/people.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=18&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=
  8. "Mangalam Varika 15 Oct 2012". mangalamvarika.com. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Innocent".
  10. "16th Ujala Asianet Film Awards 2014 – Winners List". Metromatinee.com. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  11. "TTK Prestige-Vanitha Film Awards: Shobhana, Prithviraj win best actor, actress awards". Kerala9.com. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  12. Archived 9 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. http://en.msidb.org/songs.php?tag=Search&singers=Innocent&limit=5

Further reading

External links

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