Malayalam actor Kalasala Babu dies, Mohanlal and Mammootty express grief

Kalasala Babu, who was 68, had been undergoing treatment for the past three months. He died on cerebral hemorrhage.

Noted Malayalam actor Kalasala Babu died on Sunday in a hospital in Ernakulum, reports Mathru Bhoomi. He was 68. The actor, who had been under treatment for the past three months, died due to cerebral haemorrhage.

Kalasala Babu is known for his role in films such as Kasthuriman, Runway and Pokkiriraja. (YouTube)

Kalasala earned a name for himself with films like Two Countries, Runway, Balettan, Kasthuriman, Perunmazhakkalam, Thuruppu Gulan, Pachakkuthira, Chess, Pokkiriraja and Mallu Singh. Kalasala was particularly known for his acting in negative and character roles.

A multi-faceted actor, Babu had tried his hand in all three major formats of acting -- theatre, movies and television serials -- in his career spanning over three decades. Beginning his acting career as a theatre artist, Babu later shifted his focus to tinsel town with the movie, Inaye Thedi, in 1977.

After honing his skills with major theatre groups like Kalidasa Kalakendra, owned by thespian O Madhavan, Babu started a troupe of his own, ‘Kalasala,’ and came to be known in the industry as Kalasala Babu.

He had donned major and minor roles in over 100 films. The negative roles in Dileep-starrer Runway, Mammootty’s Thuruppugulam and Lohitadas-directed Kasthuriman made him hugely popular among Malayalam movie buffs.

Son of famous Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Mohiniyattam dancer Kalyanikutty Amma, the actor is survived by his wife Lalitha and two children -- Sreedevi and Viswanathan.

Actors Mohanlal and Mammootty offered condolences at his passing.

With PTI inputs

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