The five men on the hills, raising their glasses together, could be just any gang chilling out on a cold day. Except, these are all known faces for Malayalis, actors of great calibre who are no longer with us. Bharat Gopy, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Murali, and James Chacko are seen laughing together in this scene from the 1985 film Chidambaram that is now being circulated with a new label – Heaven.
Innocent is the last of the five men to pass away, dying of COVID-19 related complications on Sunday, March 26. He was 75 years old and had been a part of Malayalam cinema for more than five decades. While he played varied characters, Innocent was most known for his unique brand of comedy, helped by the singsong dialect of Thrissur and an adorable set of expressions.
The others in that scene from Chidambaram were all known for their very different methods of acting. Gopy was a favourite choice of filmmakers creating offbeat cinema. With his long hair and balding head, he’d play unconventional characters, unabashed to be loud in his gestures and speech.
Nedumudi Venu, who passed away in October 2021, was mourned a lot, with long tributes paid for the many emotions he so easily brought to the screen. His unique voice, the sadness that came with it, the songs he sang, the ease with which he switched between mean and comic characters, are all terribly missed.
Murali died in 2010, leaving behind a bunch of likeable and hated characters, all of which were equally appreciated for the authenticity he brought to them. A man of the theatre, whose voice cracked when he cried on the screen and a man who made you laugh with him, Murali was undoubtedly one of the best Malayalam cinema had.
James Chacko, an actor who worked in more than 150 films playing many supporting characters in his three-decade-long career, too was part of that iconic scene.
The film Chidambaram was made by legendary director and cartoonist G Aravindan. Led by late Smita Patil, who made her Malayalam debut in it, and Sreenivasan, the film is considered a classic. It won the National Award for Best Feature and five State Awards.