Overview
- The actor was rushed to a private Kochi hospital on Saturday and placed on ventilator support before suffering a cardiac arrest late that night that resuscitation efforts could not reverse.
- The hospital bulletin said he received ventilator support, antibiotics and dialysis during intensive care and that multiple life‑saving measures failed after the arrest.
- Thousands paid respects at Paravur Town Hall on Sunday and his final rites were held at his North Paravur home with police and state honours arranged by the Kerala government.
- Leading film figures and political leaders including Mammootty, Kerala CM V. D. Satheesan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued tributes while fans and colleagues shared memories of his comic and dramatic work.
- His death has renewed attention to his long career as a mimicry artist turned National Award–winning actor and director and to his chronic health struggles, including reported liver disease and a prior transplant, and has sparked criticism of intrusive media behaviour at the funeral.