The News Minute | December 26, 2014 | 9.55 am IST

Malayalam comedian cum actor N.L. Balakrishnan passed away on Thursday in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. He was 72. In November he was diagnosed with cancer.

A professional photographer, he had worked as a still photographer in over 170 films, working under famous directors of the Malayalam cine industry like G. Aravindan, Adoor GOpalakrishnan, K.P. Kumaran and Lenin Rajendran.

He also had an eleven-year stint as a photographer with Kerala Kaumudi newspaper.

His entry into acting was in 1990 in the movie Ammanam Kili. He is known for his roles in Orkkapurathu, Joker, Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal and Pattanapravesham.