Innocent Vareed Thekkethala

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (28 February 1948 – 26 March 2023), known mononymously as Innocent, was an Indian actor, film producer, writer and politician, who in a career spanning almost five decades has appeared in over 700 films predominantly in Malayalam cinema in addition to a few Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and English films, mostly in comedic roles. He is also the recipient of several awards, including three Kerala State Film Awards, a Kerala Film Critics Award, a Filmfare Awards South and seven Asianet Film Awards. He also won the prestigious Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020, for his book Irinjalakudakku Chuttum. In 1979, he was elected as the municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda municipality. Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a guild of Malayalam artists from 2003 to 2018.

In 2012, Innocent was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After overcoming the first stage of cancer, he returned to the silver screen in 2013 with films like Geethanjali. Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is a memoir written by Innocent while he was undergoing cancer treatment. Innocent wrote seven books based on his experiences at different phases of life with a humorous undertone. He also contributed to columns in numerous magazines and newspapers. In 2020, Innocent won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour for his book Irinjalakudaku Chuttum.

Early life Innocent was born at Irinjalakuda in the Thrissur district of Kerala to Margaret and Vareed of the Thekkethala house.

During the emergency years, Innocent made his way to Davanagere and joined his cousins George (studying medicine at JJM Medical College), Davis, and his brother Sunny who were managing the Shamannur Match factory. Later, he became the proprietor of the factory.

As Innocent was keen on the performance activities, he seized the opportunity to participate in Davangere, Kerala Samajam drama, and received audience approval in entertainment events.

Innocent left Davangere in 1974. He tried his hand at multiple businesses and jobs to eke out a living. From being a stationary owner to a wholesale sandal distributor to setting up a leather business to a cycle renting business to a cement supplier and also that of a coach cum manager of a volleyball team, a game he knew nothing about.

Growing up, he had a few conflicts with his father, Vareed, because his brothers continued to have an excellent education and became successful doctors, lawyers, and judges. After some time, he entered politics and became Municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda.

Film career Innocent entered the film industry in 1972 with the movie Nritashala. 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 700 films, mostly in comedy roles, predominantly in Malayalam. He has also acted in a few Tamil and Hindi films.

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

Innocent has played many comedy roles in movies like Ramji Rao Speaking, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony, Nadodikattu, Manichitrathazhu, Kalyanaraman, Chronic Bachelor etc. Innocent has also played several character and villain roles in movies such as Keli, Kathodu Kathoram.

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. He also appeared in roles with negative shades such as in Mazhavilkavadi, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu and Ganamela. Innocent won several awards, including Kerala State Film Award and Kerala Film Critics Award.

Other films include Kabooliwaala, Gajakesariyogam, Mithunam, Mazhavilkavadi, Manassinakkare, Thuruppugulan, Rasathanthram,Naran and Mahasamudram. His pairing with K. P. A. C. Lalitha was highly successful. They have acted together in many movies such as Ponn Muttayidunna Tharavu, My Dear Muthachchan, Godfather and Manichitrathazhu. Irinjalakudakku Chuttum won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020.

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

Illness and death On 3 March 2023, Innocent was suddenly hospitalised after feeling ill. He was placed under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after his condition turned for the worse. A cancer survivor, Innocent was in the hospital for nearly three weeks. He died at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on 26 March 2023, at the age of 75 of complications from COVID-19 as confirmed by Dr. V. P. Gangadharan who was treating him.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards 1989 – Second Best Actor – Mazhavil Kavadi, Jaathakam 1981 – Second Best Film (Producer) – Vida Parayum Munpe 1982 – Second Best Film (Producer) – Ormakkayi

Kerala State Film Critics Award 2009 – Best Actor – Patham Nilayile Theevandi

Asianet Film Award 2001 – Supporting Actor Award – Ravanaprabhu 2004 – Supporting Actor Award – Vesham 2006 – Best Actor in a Comic Role – Rasathanthram, Yes Your Honour 2008 – Supporting Actor Award – Innathe Chintha Vishayam 2010 - Character Actor Award -Kadha Thudarunnu 2011 - Character Actor Award -Snehaveedu, Swapna Sanchari 2013 – Lifetime Achievement Award

Other awards 2004 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam for Manassinakkare 2007 – Sathyan Award

Filmography

As actor

Malayalam films 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1972 Nrithasala News Reporter 1973 Football Champion Football Player Urvashi Bharathi Jesus Courtier in King Herod's court 1974 Nellu 1978 Randu Penkuttikal 1979 Vadaka Veedu

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Kochu Kochu Thettukal Sooryadaham 1981 Vida Parayum Munpe Varghese Radha Madhavam Ponnaranjanam Shubhayathra Ramettan Sasneham Eanasu Saandhram Paulo Rajavazhcha Ittoopp Gajakesariyogam Ayyappan Nair Ottayal Pattalam DIG Chandrashekara Menon Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam Ananthan Mukham Anthony Malayogam Rama Kurup Pavakkooth Chakkochen Kouthuka Varthakal Suryanarayana Iyer Dr. Pasupathy Dr. Pasupathi/Bhairavan Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum No.20 Madras Mail Narayanan Nadar[TTE] Kottayam Kunjachan Mikhael Kalikkalam Velayil Chandy Anantha Vruthantham Padmanabhan Champion Thomas Dr. Unnithan Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran Brahmarakshas Potti Kattu Kuthira Balakrishna Menon Purappad Lonappan 1991 Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Girijavallabha Panikkar Ulladakkam Kunjachan Sandesam Yaswanth Sahai Pookkalam Varavayi Pothuval Oru Tharam Randu Tharam Moonu Tharam Adithya Pilla Post Box No. 27 M.D Somashekaran Mimics Parade Fr. Tharakkandam Oru Vaakku Oreyoru Vaakku Kesava Pillai Maydinam Ouseph Kunjikuruvi ( Ammayude Swantham Kunju Mary ) Khandakaavyam Sundari Kakka Eagle Appukuttan/Murugadas Kuttapathram Kilukkampetti Scariah Kilukkam Kittunni Keli Lazer Kadinjool Kalyanam Panikkar Godfather Swaminathan Ganamela Sreedhara Panikkar Apoorvam Chilar Idanilam Pathrose Amina Tailors Lonappan Mashu Aakasha Kottayile Sultan Dr. Chenthrappinni Kanalkkattu Agni Nilavu Sakuni Anaswaram Immanuel Joseph Irrikku M.D. Akathudu Samuel Bhoomika Sivan Pillai Kalari Koshi Adayalam Police Officer Nagarathil Samsara Vishayam Ennum Nanmakal Ezhunnallathu 1992 Apaaratha SI Lonappan Ponnurukkum Pakshi Bhaskaran Utsava Melam Kamalasanana Kuruppu Snehasagaram Ramayyan Ente Ponnu Thampuran Varkey Kasargode Khaderbhai Fr. Tharakandam Nakshthrakoodaram Fr. Bhavanious Vasudha Pramanikal My Dear Muthachan K. P. Adiyodi Malootty Sankaran Makkal Mahathmayam Kuruppu Maash Ennodishtam Koodamo Family Doctor Aayushkalam Gopala Menon Kizhakkan Pathrose Pothen Upadeshi Adwaitham Seshadri Iyer Vietnam Colony K. K. Joseph Kallanum Polisum Mr & Mrs Kingini Kaazhchakkappuram Kallan Kappalil Thanne 1993 Addeham Enna Iddeham Venkalam Kandappan Sakshal Sreeman Chathunni Chathunni Midhunam Kurup Manichithrathazhu Unnithan Kabuliwala Kannas Injakkadan Mathai & Sons Inchakkadan Mathai Devaasuram Warrier Aagneyam Pappachan Bandhukkal Sathrukkal Ananda Kuruppu Oru Kadankatha Pole Aalavattam Porutham 1994 Pingami Iyengar Pavithram Erissery Chanakya Soothrangal Kuttan Pilla Pavam I.A. Ivachan Rajadhani SI Damodaran K. D. Pakshe Inashu Santhanagopalam Bheesmacharya Raghavan Sukham Sukhakaram Njan Kodiswaran Appunni 1995 Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan Pillai Thirumanassu Kunjan Pillai Raman Nair Pai Brothers Ganapathi Pai Mannar Mathai Speaking Mannar Mathai Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta Narayanankutty Kusruthikaatu Indira's Father Sakshyam Chittappan Keerthanam Mathewkutty Aashan No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North Kuriakose 1996 Thooval Kottaram Radhakrishnan Surya Puthrikal Lalanam Dr Sreekumaran Unnithan Kudumbakodathi N. D. Raman Nair Kireedamillatha Rajakkanmar Bharathan Excuse Me Ethu Collegila Kalliveedu Chittedathu Madhavan Nair Nandagopaalante Kusruthikal Harbour Father Sebastian Hitler Madhavan Kutty's father King Soloman Kinnam Katta Kallan Azhakiya Ravanan 1997 Superman Kochunni Aniyathi Pravu ChellappanMannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan Fashion Parade Ishtadanam Advocate Dharmapalalan ThambiRajathanthram Madhavan NairArjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum Arjunan Pilla Kalyana Unnikal Anthrayose Chandralekha Iravi Aaram Thamburan S.I. Bharathan Guest Appearance 1998 Vismayam Narayanan Harikrishnans Sundaran Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala Achuthan Nair Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu Maamachan Meenakashi Kalyanam Ayushman Bhava Amma Ammaayiyamma Kusruthi Kuruppu Kudumba Vaarthakal Sreekrishnapurathu Nakshathrathilakkam Manthrikumaran Sooryaputhran 1999 Ustaad Kunji Palu Udayapuram Sulthan Govindan Nair Aakasha Ganga Rama Varma Thampuran Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu Kaimal Independence Mythreyan Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Anthony

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Valliettan Ramankutty Kaimal Mr. Butler Captain K.G.Nair Life Is Beautiful Nambiar Sahayathrikakku Snehapoorvam Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal Jose Snehapoorvam Anna Swayamvara Panthal Shankarbhanu 2001 Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu Govinda Kamath Kakkakuyil Pothuval Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka Johnny Vellikala Uthaman Chacko Cherian Ravanaprabhu Warrier Ishtam Narayanan 2002 Snehithan Devassya / Devarunyam Devanamboodiripad Savithriyute Aranjanam Ravunni www.anukudumbam.com Phantom The Priest Jagathi Jagathish in Town Neelakandan Yathrakarude Sradhakku Paul Nandanam Kesavan Nair Nammal Shanmughan Kalyanaraman Ponjikkara Kesavan 2003 Chronic Bachelor Kuruvilla Vellithira Ittiyavira Balettan Achumama Pattalam Sivasankaran Nair Ammakilikkoodu Eradi Manassinakkare Chacko Mappila 2004 Thalamelam Kunjukuttan Thampuran Vamanapuram Bus Route Chandran Pillai Wanted Unni's Uncle Vettam K. T. Mathew Chitrakoodam Balan Kaazhcha Fr. Kuriakose Greetings Aravindakshan Nair Maampazhakkaalam Chandran's Uncle Vesham Pappan Made in USA Prof. Ponnachan PHD 2005 Achuvinte Amma Paulose Thaskara Veeran Eappachan Ben Johnson Udayon Rarichan Naran Kelappan Thanmathra Sukumaran Nair Bus Conductor Majeed 2006 Malamaal Weekly Joseph Anthony Fernandes Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Kittunni Lion Thomman Chacko Rasathanthram Manikandan Aashari Thuruppu Gulan Kochu Thoma Aanachandham Mahasamudram Velankanni Yes Your Honour Venugopal Baba Kalyani Car Dealer 2007 Inspector Garud Raghavan Big B Tomy Parekkaadan Vinodayathra Thankachan Aakasham Varghese Abraham Pathirikkodan July 4 Narayanan Potty Bharathan Effect Thankachan's father Mission 90 Days Sivaram's father Ali Bhai Khalid Ahemmed Sayivu Nasrani Fr.Pullikottil Katha Parayumbol Eepachan Muthalali 2008 Calcutta News Kerala samajam president Innathe Chintha Vishayam Emmanuel Jubilee Thomas Kora Apoorva Madampi Karayogam President Veruthe Oru Bharya Rajasekharan Bullet Kerala Police Philip Tharakan Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam Twenty:20 Kuttikrishnan 2009 Duplicate P Suresh Bhagyadevatha Mathew Palakkal Ee Pattanathil Bhootham Krishnan Patham Nilayile Theevandi Sankara Narayanan Kancheepurathe Kalyanam Balakrishnan Nair My Big Father Thomaskutty Colours Pushkaran Pillai Samastha Keralam PO Swantham Lekhakan Kaimal Evidam Swargamanu Divakara Kaimal, Revenue Secretary

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Pranchiyettan & the Saint Vasu Menon Kadha Thudarunnu Lasar Aagathan Lawrence Kanyakumari Express Minister Again Kasargod Khader Bhai Father Francis Tharakandam Cheriya Kallanum Valiya Policeum Pappy Appacha Nirappel Mathai Oridathoru Postman Gangadharan Cocktail Kalyan Krishnan Marykkundoru Kunjaadu Ittichan Muthalali 2011 Swapna Sanchari Achuthan Nair Oru Marubhoomikkadha Mathai Pachuvum Kovalanum Bhadranpillai Doctor Love Sathyasheelan Living Together Krishnaprasad Kartha Snehaveedu Mathai 2012 Doctor Innocent aanu Doctor Bhargavan Pillai Naughty Professor Mulavarikkal Francis Chattakaari Morris Kaashh Devasia Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O. Vikraman Nair Perinoru Makan Harischandran Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam Police Officer Arike Kalpana's father Husbands in Goa Nadar (TTE) Puthiya Theerangal Father Michael 2013 Oru Indian Pranayakatha Uthuppu Vallikkadan Punyalan Agarbattis John Thakkolkaran Geethaanjali Thankappan Philips and the Monkey Pen God 2014 Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 Mannar Mathai Malayalakkara Residency Polytechnic Chandrakumar Bhaiyya Bhaiyya Kochuveettil Chacko Njangalude Veettile Athidhikal Sreedharan Nagara Varidhi Naduvil Njan Davis Aamayum Muyalum Nallavan Thomson Villa Fr. Thomas Ambalakkadu 2015 Ennum Eppozhum Kariyachan Urumbukal Urangarilla Madhavettan Kanal Natesan Chirakodinja Kinavukal Mapranam Karayogam President T. P. V. Kurup 2016 Swarna Kaduva Lolappan Oppam Jayaraman's father 2017 Jomonte Suvisheshangal Palodan Georgettan's Pooram Narrator Pullikkaran Staraa Omanakshan Pillai GandhiNagaril Unniyarcha Chippy Kambhoji Punyalan Private Limited Voice Only Aana Alaralodalaral Pathrose 2018 Kuttanadan Marpappa Ummachan Njan Marykutty Priest Suvarna Purushan Rappayi Odiyan Gopi Mash 2019 Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu Bishop Lonappante Mamodeesa School Teacher Guest Appearance Driving License Himself Guest Appearance (voice only) Ganagandharvan Appukutta Panicker An International Local Story Parameshwaran Panikkar The Gambler Jack & Daniel Home Minister Koyapparamban Aakasha Ganga 2 Ramavarma Thampuran Photo Archive Munthiri Monchan Menon

2020s Year Title Role Notes 2020 Dhamaka Pauly's father 2021 Sunny Doctor Eerali voice only Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea Namath Kurup Tsunami Eepachan 2022 Makal Dr. Govindan Thirimali Devassy Kaduva Fr. Vattassheril

Other language films Year Title Role Language 1998 Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Retired Colonel R.C Nair Hindi 2003 Lesa Lesa Nair Tamil 2004 Nothing But Life Prof. Ponnachan PhD English 2006 Malamaal Weekly Anthony Hindi 2012 Shikari Sitharam Setu Kannada 2019 Naan Avalai Sandhitha Pothu Film producer Tamil

Story Pavam IA Ivachan (1994) Keerthanam (1995)

Producer Vida Parayum Munpe (1981) Ilakkangal (1982) Ormakkayi (1982) Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback (1983)

Playback singing Aanachandam – Gajakesariyogam (1990) Kandallo – Sandram (1990) Kunukupenmaniye – Mr Butler (2000) Onnam Malakeri – Kalyanaraman (2002) Chendakkoru kolundeda – Manassinakkare (2003) Sundarakeralam – Doctor Innocentanu (2012) SaMaGaReSa - Tsunami (2021)

Television