Actor "Oduvil" no more

Kozhikode, May 27 (UNI) Versatile Malayalam Actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan died following kidney failure at a private hospital here early this morning.

He was 62 and is survived by his wife and two children.

Popularly known as ''Oduvil'', Unnikrishnan, who was undergoing dialysis for the last one year, was admitted to the P V S hospital four days ago after his condition deteriorated.

His wife and close relatives were present at his side when he breathed his last at 0500 hrs.

Starting his career as a theatre artist, ''Oduvil'' forayed into the celluloid world in 1976 and was acclaimed as a character actor and comedian.

His performance as a hangman in Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee Adoor Gopalakrishnan's film ''Nizhalkooth'' won him the Kerala State Film Award. Many leading personalities including Adoor Gopalakrishnan, M T Vssudevan Nair, Mohanlal, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri, Sukumari and Sheela condoled the death.

The body has been taken to his native Vadakancherry in Thrissur District.

The funeral would be held with full State Honours at Ivormadam in Pampadi tomorrow.

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