Malayalam Comedian Mamukkoya Passes Away

Popular Malayalam film actor and comedian Mamukkoya passed away on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to a hospital in Kerala. The actor, who was hospitalised after collapsing during the inauguration of a football tournament in Kozhikode, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest, followed by a haemorrhage. 

The former theatre actor made his big screen debut with Nilambur Balan’s Anyarude Bhoomi in 1979. His memorable comedic performances have been in his films with frequent collaborator Sathyan Anthikad. Their association started with the 1986 film Gandhinagar 2nd Street, which starred Mohanlal. Some of their other films include Mohanlal and Sreenivasan’s 1987 satire, Nadodikattu (Mamukkoya’s character Gafoor in the film attained cult status), Mazhavilkavadi, a 1989 comedy starring Jayaram, and Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, a 1988 romcom starring Jayaram and Sreenivasan. 

The actor won a special mention at the Kerala State Awards for his portrayal of a vulnerable father in Kamal’s Perumazhakkalam (2004). The actor, who was recently seen in Kuruthi (2021), Minnal Murali (2021), and Theerppu (2023), made his last appearance in Ashraf Hamza’s Sulaika Manzil, which released last week.