Innocent(actor)

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (born 28 February 1948) is an Indian actor and politician. He predominantly works in Malayalam cinema in addition to Hindi, English, Tamil, and Kannada films, mostly in comedic roles. He has acted in more than 750 films and is considered one of the best comedians in Malayalam cinema. He has also appeared in villainous roles, such as in ''Mazhavilkavadi'', '' Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu'' and '' Ganamela''. Innocent has won several awards, including three Kerala State Film Awards. He served as the Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha of India representing Chalakudy constituency.

In 1979, he was elected as the municipal councilor of irinjalakkuda municipality. Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a guild of Malayalam artists from 2003 to 2018. He has written books based on his memories, and columns in magazines and newspapers.

Early life

Innocent was born on 28 February 1948 to Vareed Thekkethala and Margaret in Irinjalakuda, Travancore-Cochin (present-day Kerala), India. He is the fifth child and third son of his parents, who had eight children. He had his primary education at 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 as he could not cope with studying. Innocent went to Madras (then) for his acting career and worked there as a production executive and during that time he acted in a minor role in the movie ''Nellu'', which was one of his earlier movies. He fell ill and came to Davangere in the 1970s for treatment for Typhoid, where his cousins George (studying medicine at JJM Medical College), Davis, and his brother Sunny were running the Shamannur Match factory, in Davangere. Later, he was an active partner in the working 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.

He left Davangere in 1974, set up a leather business, then a cycle renting business to make a living. 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 joined politics and became Municipal councilor of Irinjalakuda.

Film 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 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 make 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 has held the post for the last four consecutive terms.

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 in Malayalam cinema and mimicry artists 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 satirise 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 (Mahabali) as a comic King who gets into all sorts of troubles – the script makes use of many contemporary issues in Kerala – on his annual arrival in Kerala. Mimicry artists use 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.

Books

Innocent has authored five books: ''Njan Innocent'', ''Cancer Wardile Chiri'', ''Irinjalakudakku Chuttum'' (memoirs), ''Mazha Kannadi'' (collection of short stories) and ''Chirrikku Pinnil'' (autobiography). ''Cancer Wardile Chiri'' (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is an account of his experiences while undergoing treatment for throat cancer. ''Irinjalakudakku Chuttum'' won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020. Innocent also writes columns in magazines and newspapers.

Politics

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

He lost in the Lok Sabha elections 2019 to UDF candidate Benny Behanan.

Personal life

He married Alice on September 26, 1976, and have a son, Sonnet. Sonnet is married, with two children, Innocent Jr and Anna. Innocent Jr has acted in a documentary as Innocent in childhood. Both Innocent and his wife are cancer survivors.

Awards

; Kerala State Film Awards
* 1989 – Second Best Actor – Mazhavil Kavadi
* 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

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