Actor Murali passes away

Malayalam film industry lost yet another of its stalwarts when actor Murali passed away at a hospital in the city on Thursday after a brief illness. He was 55.

Murali had won the national award for best actor in 2001 for his performance in the film ‘Neythukaran’ directed by Priyanandanan. Some of his memorable performances were seen in ‘Amaram’, ‘Aadharam’, and ‘Panchagni’. He won state awards for his performances in ‘Amaram’ and ‘Aadharam’. Murali debuted into films from theatre and was part of the progressive theatre movement. A CPM member, he had contested the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from Alappuzha unsuccessfully. He was chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Academy at the time of his death. An acute diabetic, Murali was hospitalised in a serious condition on Wednesday evening. He is survived by his wife and daughter.