The Hindu : Ratheesh dead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Ratheesh dead

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 23. The noted actor, Ratheesh, died here this morning. He was 49. Ratheesh, who has turned a busy TV artiste, was staying at Venpalavattom on the suburbs of the city.

Ratheesh felt uneasy at around 8 a.m. while having breakfast and was rushed to a private hospital but soon breathed his last. A native of Kalavoor in Alappuzha, Ratheesh is survived by wife Diana and four children, Parvathy, Padmaraj, Padma and Pranav.

The body was taken to Kalabhavan for the public to pay homage. The Kerala State Film Development Corporation Chairman, P.V. Gangadharan, the actors, Sreevidya, Captain Raju, Maniyan Pillai Raju, Praveena and Valsala Menon, the directors, K.K. Rajiv and Shyama Prasad, and the producer, G. Suresh Kumar, were there among those who paid homage. Mr. Gangadahran, in his condolence message said that Ratheesh had made many characters notable through his performance. He was more of a family friend.

Ratheesh had recently shifted to Thiruvananthapuram once he turned busy in television serials. `Manal Nagaram' was his first serial. He had been acting in `Venal Mazha' directed by K.K. Rajeev.

His last film was `Shivam' directed by Shaji Kailas. The close resemblance of the character with a prominent politician in the State had even sparked off a row.

Ratheesh made his debut in cinema through `Palangal' directed by the late Bharathan in the Eighties. He first played the lead role in `Thusharam' directed by I.V. Sasi. Since then Ratheesh registered his presence in Malayalam cinema doing plum roles. This was despite the fact that Soman, Sukumaran and Jayan were reigning supreme. His role of a medical representative in `Ulkkadal' directed by K.G. George had won critical acclaim.

The death of Jayan made his ascension to the title roles easy. Notable among his roles was the one as an MLA in Sasi's `Ee Nadu.' He had deftly played the cunning politician who has strong nexus with the underworld.

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