I suggested Innocent for 'Aviduthepole Ivideyum' role: Mammootty
Here are some famous dialogues by Innocent
"Thats how my friendship with Innocent started and evolved into a deeper bond. That was how Shathru films' Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback fell into my lap. Directed by K J George, in the film placed in the backdrop of the film industry, I played Prem Sagar, who plays a hero in a film within the film. Later it was the collaboration of Mohan, Innocent, and Sreenivasan that resulted in Oru Kadha Oru Nunakadha. That film in which I played Professor Mohandas, helped in cementing my friendship with Innocent."
"My friendship with Innocent who spoke in undiluted Thrissur slang strengthened over time. And being a junior in that circle of film friends, I hung around as a listener and observer. Gradually I started getting better roles. In the John Paul scripted Avidathepole Ivideyum headlining me and Mohanlal, I played the role of Anirudhan who worked as a salesman. When they were casting for the role of Thrissur businessman Lonappan, I was the one who suggested Innocents name. And in his characteristic style, he made the scene between us entertaining," he said, while adding that he went on to do several combination scenes in various films over the years.
"In 1995, when AMMA was being formed, Innocent was at the forefront. When they were planning to reshuffle the administration, Innocents name was suggested for the position of president. Everyone thought he had the ability to handle any difficult situation calmly which will turn out to be an asset to the organisation.
Innocent would make up stories about everyone. He made sure the person he weaved a story about would hear it first. And it was repeated to others only after he made sure the person laughed at the story first. He would change the main character according to the listener. So when he narrated a story to me, Mohanlal would be the main character and vice versa. More often Innocent would be the main character of his stories. He was only interested in making us laugh and he was someone who never gossiped or said anything malicious about anyone.
When you evaluate him as an actor, there are so many characters that come to your mind that only Innocent can pull off. I can think of so many characters in the films we collaborated on. Every now and then, without any special reason when he comes into my mind, I call him. I had called him before he was hospitalized.
With his demise, we have lost an individual, actor, organizer, social worker, and friend. So have I. A person cannot possibly don many hats in his life. He can only be himself. But Innocent was able to play several roles in real life and nurture friendships. Thats why so many people thronged to pay their last respects to him. He will always be a poignant but happy memory for us. Someone who always spread happiness wherever he went. What more can he earn in life than the laughter he was able to spread even in the dreary cancer ward?," he signed off.
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Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 4:33 am