Singer and actor Zero Babu passes away

KOCHI: Playback singer, music director and actor KJ Mohammed Babu (80), who is popularly known as ‘Zero’ Babu passed away here on Wednesday. Babu breathed his last at around 12 pm at a private hospital in Ernakulam.

Babu came to the cinema through dramas. Babu attained fame as Zero Babu after he belted out the song ‘Open Zero’ in a play by the late P J Antony. Babu was a recipient of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and had held numerous stage shows in Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia. Babu has also sung in nearly 90 films and various plays. His first movie was the 1964 film 'Kudumbini'.

During his career, he had also collaborated with prominent artists /musicians, including maestro Devarajan, P J Antony, Dakshina Moorthy, Arjunan Master, P S Divakaran, K J Joy, Jithin Shyam, M A Majeed and Ponkunnam Varkey.

Babu is survived by wife Athikka Babu and children Suraj Babu, Sulfi Babu, Sabitha Salam and Deepath Nazeer. His funeral will be held at Ernakulam North Thottathumpadi Juma Masjid on Thursday at 11 am.