Popular Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani dead

KOCHI: Equally gifted in dancing and singing, popular Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani could make his audience laugh and cry and did that for almost a quarter of century before his art was stilled as he passed away at a private hospital here on Sunday. He was 45.

Mani burst into the Malayalam film industry in 1993 by first mimicking practically every film star the industry has seen as part of famous mimicry troupe Kalabhavan - which earned him his prefix. He was however first noticed in the film “Sallapam” in 1996 and after that, through his characteristic laugh and dialogue delivery, never had to look back and went on to act in Tamil and Telegu films.

Naturally gifted, Mani proved his mettle in the film “Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum” where he played the title role of a blind man. It won him the special jury award at the national and the state levels in 2000.

For the past few years, he was busy with Tamil films, mostly playing the villain. Apart from acting in around 200 films, he sang in 25 films.

He was admitted to a private hospital two days ago, suffering from liver and kidney-related ail ments. He was undergoing treat ments on and off.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy condoled the sudden unexpected demise and said that Mani.

Mani is survived by his wife and a daughter.