End of the age of #Innocent laughs. If there was someone who could disarm with comedy, melt your heart with a laugh, and make your realise that life is to be lived with a smile, it was #Innocent . Even cancer stood by twice as he wasn’t done yet. There will never be another.
This loss feels so personal. Growing up in Mumbai in the 90s, when Asianet became a window to everything back in Kerala, it was Innocent’s comedy through Sunday movies that rooted one to Kerala. Kilukam, Ponmutta, Ramji Rao, Manar Mathai, Mithunam, Gajakesariyogam, endless list
Innumerable moments of sitting by oneself or with dear ones laughing, often for the 15th time seeing the same scene. Many a time it was just his expressions sans any dialogues that resulted in guffaws
His dialogues are now part of daily life, being used as often to describe day to day situations and conundrums. It is a bridge to the past, a bridge to connect hearts that hold him dear. No Malayali can ever forget what Innocent’s presence on the screen or on any stage meant
There was a natural anticipation of light heartedness and non contrived humour. He brought the small stuff alive, like the simple scene of a man entering his home while updating his curious wife on what happened, or the act of a common man having won a lottery
He defined Malayalam comedy for many of us. There have been many others but there will never be another #Innocent. Kittunni, Panicker, Driver Chathukutty, Shankarankutty Menon, Swaminathan, can go on and on. He lives on through his work, in his hearts, in our lives and laughs
One of the most painful experiences during airport security clearance is the “short listed” tray. It means you get to do a one to one with a really customer friendly CISF person. I usually do a clinical segregation into trays but six sigma failed this morning
Ahead of me were a young couple, also in the short listed speed dating queue. They seemed new to the whole thing. Seemed like they had more metal stashed away inside their bags than all of Woodstock. Here are some things that emerged
Metal trinkets. Bag full of coins. Odd looking charger, clutching onto which was another odd looking charger. Keys. Some more keys. Bag full of safety pins, hair pins, grenade pins too I suspect. Guess Khakhra had decided to take the day off