Top character artist and actor par excellence Murali (55), passed away today (Aug 6) evening around 8.20 pm at the PRS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Murali who was highly diabetic, was admitted after a kidney failure followed by a massive heart attack.

Last week he had just come back from Cape Town in South Africa, where he was shooting for Tamil superstar Suriya’s Aadhavan, directed by K.S Ravikumar and produced by Udayanidhi Stalin.

At the time of his death, Murali, a CPI (M) sympathizer was the Chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy. Four time state award winner for Adharam (1992), Kanakinavu (1996), Thalolam (1998) and Neyuthukaran (2001), and best supporting actor for Amaram (1992).

Some of his best roles are as villain characters like Rajan of Panchagani, the fisherman of Amaram, the lorry driver of Valayam, as the suspicious brother in Venkalam, the boat man of Chambakulam Thachan, as CPI minister in Lal Saalam and so many other memorable roles in a career spanning 30 years.

The funeral will take place tomorrow evening at 5 pm with state honours, till then his body will be kept at the VJT Hall in Thiruvananthapuram. For Malayalam film industry it comes as a shock three deaths in the last 45 days- Lohitadas, Rajan.P. Dev and now Murali, all talented people who have given a lot for good cinema.