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Innocent (actor) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth28 February 1948

Age75 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceIrinjalakuda, Thrissur, Travancore-Cochin (now Kerala), India

ProfessionActor, Writer, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAlice

FamilySon - Sonnet Parppidam; Father - Vareed Thekkethala; Mother - Margaret; Fifth of seven children

Innocent (actor) Biography

Innocent Vareed Thekkethala was a celebrated Malayalam actor, writer and politician known for his comic timing, distinctive Thrissur dialect and a long, hy

Early life and background
Innocent Vareed Thekkethala was born on 28 February 1948 in Irinjalakuda, then part of Travancore-Cochin and now in Kerala. He grew up in a Catholic family as the fifth of seven children and attended local schools including Little Flower Convent High School, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School and Sree Sangameswara NSS School. Formal schooling ended for him at around class eight.

From a young age he showed an affinity for performance. He first took to the stage in primary school and became known among classmates for mimicry and participating in skits. Those early experiences, and his involvement with a cultural organisation that staged late-night rehearsals, set the tone for his future in theatre and film.

Struggling years and early attempts
Innocent moved to Madras (now Chennai) in 1969 to pursue opportunities in cinema. His film debut came in 1972 with the Malayalam film Nrithasala in a small role as a news reporter. Meagre earnings in those early years forced him to return home by 1971 and try several business ventures to support his family, including a match-box factory, a leather business and a cycle-rental enterprise, none of which turned into lasting success.

He and his family lived modestly while he worked to establish himself in films. At one point he even pledged his wife Alice’s gold ornaments to finance the production of Vida Parayum Munpe (1981), a film he produced. Those years also included stints living in a small lodge in Kodambakkam while continuing to audition and accept small roles.

Career
Innocent steadily built a reputation in Malayalam cinema through the 1980s and 1990s. He gained wider recognition with roles in films such as Ilakkangal (1982) and Avidathe Pole Ivideyum (1985), and achieved a major breakthrough with the 1989 comedy Ramji Rao Speaking, in which he played the theatre owner Mannar Mathai. His comic timing, trademark mannerisms and Thrissur-inflected delivery made him a popular figure with audiences.

While best known for comedy, his range included negative and character roles in films like Mazhavilkavadi (1989), Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu (1988) and Ganamela (1991). Notable titles across his career include Kathodu Kathoram (1985), Nadodikattu (1987), Kilukkam (1991), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1992) and Devaasuram (1993).

Innocent’s work extended beyond Malayalam cinema. He appeared in the 1998 Hindi film Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, the 2006 Hindi comedy Malamaal Weekly, the Telugu film Swagatam (2008), Tamil films such as Lesa Lesa (2003) and Naan Avalai Sandhitha Pothu (2019), the bilingual Nothing but Life (2004) and the bilingual Shikari (2012). His final film credit listed here is Kaduva (2022), where he played Fr. Vattasseri.

Writing and honours
Innocent was also an accomplished writer. He authored five books: Njan Innocent, Cancer Wardile Chiri, Irinjalakudakku Chuttum, Mazha Kannadi and Chirrikku Pinnil, the latter serving as an autobiography. Cancer Wardile Chiri draws on his own experience as a cancer patient. His literary work earned recognition when Irinjalakudakku Chuttum received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2020.

He received numerous film awards over the years, including Kerala State Film Awards, Kerala State Film Critics Award, several Asianet Film Awards and a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam. He was honoured with lifetime achievement awards and other accolades for performance and contribution to cinema.

Politics and public service
Alongside his film career, Innocent was active in politics. In the late 1970s he was associated with the Revolutionary Socialist Party and served as Thrissur District Secretary and later as a municipal councillor in Irinjalakuda from 1979 to 1982. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chalakudy and served as Member of Parliament from 2014 to 2019. In 2019 he contested the Chalakudy seat on a Communist Party of India (Marxist) ticket but was not elected.

From 2003 to 2018 he served as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), stepping down citing workload and other commitments.

Public profile
Innocent’s public persona combined humour, memorable screen characters and an active role in industry organisations. He also attracted controversy in 2017 for remarks about the casting couch that prompted public criticism and a subsequent clarification from him about the intent of his comments.

Health and passing
In 2013 both he and his wife Alice faced cancer diagnoses; he underwent treatment for throat cancer. In March 2023 he contracted a respiratory infection following Covid-19 and was hospitalised. Innocent died on 26 March 2023 at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi. The reported cause of death was multi-organ failure and a heart attack. He was 75 years old.

Latest updates
At the end of his career he remained a prominent figure in Malayalam cinema, with his last listed film role in Kaduva (2022). His books, film performances and public service left a lasting imprint on Malayalam cultural life.
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Recent Work

Kaduva

Played the role of Fr. Vattasseri in this 2022 Malayalam film.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Broke through with Ramji Rao Speaking (1989) as Mannar Mathai
  2. President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), 2003–2018
  3. Elected Member of Parliament from Chalakudy (2014–2019)
  4. Author of five books and winner of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour (2020)
  5. Winner of multiple state and industry film awards, including a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Innocent (actor) born?

28 February 1948

What is Innocent (actor) known for?

Actor, Writer, Politician

What is Innocent (actor)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Innocent (actor) married to?

Alice