Innocent (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Innocent
Innocent in 2011
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 5 June 2014 (2014-06-05) – 23 May 2019 (2019-05-23)
Preceded by	K. P. Dhanapalan
Succeeded by	Benny Behanan
Constituency	Chalakudy
Municipal councillor of Irinjalakuda
In office 1979 (1979)–1982 (1982)
Acting
In office 1972 (1972)–2023 (2023)
Personal details
Born	Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (1948-02-28)28 February 1948 Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin, Dominion of India
Died	26 March 2023(2023-03-26) (aged 75) Kochi, Kerala, India
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Alice ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	1
Occupation	Actor writer politician producer singer
Years active	1972–2023

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (born February 28, 1948 – died March 26, 2023), known simply as Innocent, was a famous Indian actor, film producer, writer, and politician. He was best known for his funny roles in over 700 Malayalam films. He also acted in some Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, and English movies.

Innocent was considered one of the best comedians in Malayalam cinema. He also played serious or even villain roles in films like Mazhavilkavadi. He won many awards, including the Kerala State Film Award. From 2014 to 2019, he served as a Member of Parliament for the Chalakudy area in India.

Before becoming an MP, Innocent was elected as a town councilor for Irinjalakuda in 1979. He also led the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a group for Malayalam actors, from 2003 to 2018.

In 2012, Innocent was diagnosed with throat cancer. He bravely fought the disease and even wrote a book about his experience called Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward). He wrote seven books in total, often sharing his life experiences with a touch of humor. In 2020, he won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour for his book Irinjalakudaku Chuttum.

Early Life and Beginnings

Innocent was born on February 28, 1948, in Irinjalakuda, which is now part of Kerala. He was the fifth of eight children. He went to school in Irinjalakuda but stopped studying after the eighth grade. He then moved to Madras (now Chennai) to try his luck in the film industry, working as a production executive.

During a tough time in India, Innocent went to Davanagere. There, he joined his cousins and brother who were running a match factory. He even became the owner of the factory for a while. He loved performing and took part in local plays, which audiences really enjoyed.

In 1974, Innocent left Davanagere and tried many different jobs to make a living. He owned a stationery shop, sold sandals, started a leather business, rented out bicycles, and even supplied cement. He also coached a volleyball team, even though he didn't know much about the game! Later, he entered politics and became a town councilor.

Film Career Highlights

Innocent started his film journey in 1972 with the movie Nritashala. At first, he tried producing serious films, but they weren't very successful. Over his long career, he acted in more than 700 films, mostly in funny roles in Malayalam. He also appeared in a few Tamil and Hindi movies.

Innocent had a very special way of acting and speaking that made him unique in Malayalam cinema. This made him a favorite comedian and a popular choice for mimicry artists. Many top Malayalam directors, like Priyadarshan and Satyan Anthikkad, often included him in their films because of his popularity. He also showed his talent in serious and character roles. He served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) for 12 years.

Innocent starred in many popular comedy films, such as Ramji Rao Speaking, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony, Nadodikattu, and Manichitrathazhu. He also played important character and villain roles in movies like Keli and Kathodu Kathoram.

His on-screen partnership with actress K. P. A. C. Lalitha was very successful. They acted together in many movies, including Ponn Muttayidunna Tharavu and My Dear Muthachchan. His last film before he passed away in March 2023 was Philip's.

Books and Writing

Innocent was also a talented writer and wrote seven books. Some of his well-known books include Njan Innocent, Cancer Wardile Chiri, and Irinjalakudakku Chuttum.

• Cancer Wardile Chiri (Laughter in the Cancer Ward) is a book where he shared his experiences while being treated for throat cancer.
• Irinjalakudakku Chuttum won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020, showing his skill in humorous writing.

He also wrote articles for many magazines and newspapers.

Political Journey

In the 1970s, Innocent was involved in politics as the secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party in Irinjalakkuda. In 1979, he successfully ran for the Irinjalakkuda municipal council and won.

In 2014, Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency. He ran as an independent candidate, which means he wasn't officially part of a big political party, but he was supported by the Left Democratic Front (LDF). However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he lost to Benny Behanan.

Personal Life

Innocent married Alice on September 26, 1976. They had one son named Sonnet. Sonnet later had twin children, Innocent Jr. and Anna. Innocent Jr. even played a younger version of his grandfather in a documentary.

Illness and Passing

On March 3, 2023, Innocent became ill and was taken to the hospital. He had been a cancer survivor, having overcome throat cancer earlier in his life. After nearly three weeks in the hospital, he passed away on March 26, 2023, at the age of 75. Doctors confirmed that he died from complications related to COVID-19.

Awards and Recognition

Innocent received many awards for his acting and contributions to cinema:

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1989 – Second Best Actor for Mazhavil Kavadi and Jaathakam
• 1981 – Second Best Film (as Producer) for Vida Parayum Munpe
• 1982 – Second Best Film (as Producer) for Ormakkayi

Kerala State Film Critics Award

• 2009 – Best Actor for Patham Nilayile Theevandi

Asianet Film Award

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

Other awards

• 2004 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam for Manassinakkare
• 2007 – Sathyan Award
• 2008 – Annual Malayalam Movie Award (Dubai) for Outstanding Performance
• 2013 – TTK Prestige-Vanitha Film Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2019 – He is Distributing Awards Realtors Investors Summit

Filmography (Selected)

As Actor

Malayalam Films

• 1972: Nrithasala
• 1973: Football Champion, Urvashi Bharathi, Jesus
• 1974: Nellu
• 1978: Randu Penkuttikal
• 1979: Vadaka Veedu
• 1980: Kochu Kochu Thettukal, Sooryadaham
• 1981: Vida Parayum Munpe
• 1982: Idavela, Ormakkayi, Ilakkangal, Niram Maarunna Nimishangal
• 1983: Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback, Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla, Mouna Raagam, Changatham, Prathijnja
• 1984: Panchavadi Palam, Paavam Poornima, Koottinilamkili, Ente Nandinikkuttikku
• 1985: Irakal, Punnaram Cholli Cholli, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Kathodu Kathoram, Kandu Kandarinju, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Revathikkoru Pavakkutty, Nadodikkattu
• 1988: Vellanakalude Nadu, Chithram, Ponn Muttyidunna Tharavu, Pattana Pravesham
• 1989: Ramji Rao Speaking, Mazhavil Kavadi, Jathakam
• 1991: Sandesam, Kilukkam, Godfather, Vietnam Colony
• 1993: Manichithrathazhu, Kabuliwala, Devaasuram
• 1995: Mannar Mathai Speaking
• 1996: Hitler
• 1997: Aniyathi Pravu, Chandralekha
• 1998: Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, Harikrishnans
• 2002: Kalyanaraman, Nandanam
• 2003: Chronic Bachelor, Manassinakkare
• 2004: Kaazhcha, Vettam
• 2005: Achuvinte Amma, Naran, Thanmathra
• 2006: Rasathanthram, Thuruppu Gulan
• 2007: Vinodayathra, Katha Parayumbol
• 2008: Innathe Chintha Vishayam, Veruthe Oru Bharya
• 2010: Pranchiyettan & the Saint, Kadha Thudarunnu, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu
• 2013: Oru Indian Pranayakatha, Punyalan Agarbattis
• 2014: Mannar Mathai Speaking 2
• 2016: Oppam
• 2017: Jomonte Suvisheshangal, Punyalan Private Limited
• 2018: Odiyan
• 2019: Driving License (voice only), Ganagandharvan
• 2021: Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, Tsunami
• 2022: Makal, Kaduva
• 2023: Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, Philip's

Other Language Films

Story Writer

• Pavam IA Ivachan (1994)
• Keerthanam (1995)

Producer

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

Playback Singer

• 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 Appearances