Kerala Police have registered a case of unnatural death in connection with the passing away of Malayalam film actor Kalabhavan Mani after traces of methyl alcohol were found in his body. The actor’s rest-house has been sealed by the police for further investigation.
The 45-year-old actor was admitted to Amrita hospital in Kochi two days ago, with a liver-related ailment. He died on Sunday evening. Reportedly, a postmortem would be conducted today at government medical college, Thrissur, after which the body would be handed over to the relatives. Later, the body would be kept on public display in Thrissur and Chalakkudy.
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Born in Chalakkudy in Kerala in 1971, Mani worked as an autodriver in the town, before he ventured into full-time acting profession. He started as a mimicry artiste and singer with Kerala’s famous Kalabhavan troupe. His first film, Samudayam, released in 1993. He rose to fame with his negative role in Lohithadas’ Sallapam (1996). His comic roles in commercial cinema were highly popular, and the lead role in Vinayan’s Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum bagged him a state award for the best actor and a National Award (special jury mention) in 1999. He has acted in over 200 films in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
Reportedly, Mani, an LDF sympathiser, was planning to contest the forthcoming Assemblyelections from his constituency.