Kalabhavan Mani Dies at 45, Cops to Conduct Autopsy

Kochi: Popular Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani died after battling liver disease in Kochi on Sunday, confirmed his family. He was 45. An investigating team has reportedly been formed to probe the cause of death after the police registered a case of 'unnatural death' on the basis of a complaint. (Also Read: Kalabhavan Mani, So Long and Thanks For The Laughs)

The postmortem will be conducted at the Thrissur Medical College.

Tributes have been pouring in for the Mr Mani whose death has come as a rude shock for fans and is a big loss to the Telugu and Malayalam film industries.
 

A promising career is cut short. Kalabhavan Mani was multifaceted & popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family & fans: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 6, 2016

 

#kalabhavanmani Respects to a great performer!A Good friend.Will cherish time spent with him! Rest In Peace sir. pic.twitter.com/XMUC4OL1ZT

— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) March 6, 2016

 

Shocked to hear abt the death of Kalabhavan Mani sir. We worked together in Something Something. Such a wonderful person! RIP sir

— Jayam Ravi (@actor_jayamravi) March 6, 2016

 

Very sad 2 hear tat #KalabhavanMani is no more..super talented actor of malayalam cinema..he ws jus 46..v r losing too many talents off late

— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) March 6, 2016

 

RIP#KalabhavanMani - Man born in poverty rose to stardom, lived a simple life never ashamed of childhood, inspired all with his folk songs

— Sunil K Eapen (@sunil_eapen) March 6, 2016

 

The ethnic sound of Malayalam cinema is gone silent...irreparable loss RIP#KalabhavanMani

— resul pookutty (@resulp) March 6, 2016

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy condoled the sudden death and said that Mr Mani would 'live through his ballads and the numerous characters he played'. His predecessor and Left leader VS Achuthanandan said that the actor excelled at playing characters 'projecting the trials and tribulations of the weaker sections of the society.'

"He was always bold enough to say that he was a very strong Left sympathiser and his untimely loss is a huge loss to the film industry," he said.

Originally an autorickshaw driver, Mr Mani first shot to fame as a mimicry artist as part of the famous troupe Kalabhavan. But it was his role as a blind man in Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum that fetched him widespread acclaim and won him the special jury award at the national and the state level in 2000.

For the past few years, he was busy playing a baddie in Tamil films and character roles in the Malayalam industry.

He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

With Inputs From IANS