THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam film industry’s veteran actor Poojapura Ravi passed away in Marayoor surrounded by his close relatives and daughter. The actor was 86 and was suffering from age-related ailments. Raveendran Nair aka Poojappura Ravi’s oeuvre covers an unachievable 4000 theatre roles and 800 roles in films. The actor was a native of Chengallur in Thiruvananthapuram.

The actor witnessed the transition of the Malayalam industry and was last seen in the 2016 released cult hit Guppy. Ravi was an unavoidable presence in Priyadharashan movies and is remembered mostly for his small cameo in the 1991 released 'Kilukam', where the iconic scene saw him beside Jagathy Sreekumar in a hospital bed skimming a newspaper. His other best performance comes in movies such as " Mazha Peyunnu Madalam Kottunu" and Poochakkoru Mukuthi", both helmed by auteur Priyadarshan.

He suffixed Poojappura into his name and made popular the place among the masses in Kerala. Whenever the mention goes for the place situated in the capital city, only two actors’ name crosses people's mind; one is Poojappura Ravi, and the other is Mohanlal.

The big jump for Ravi to movies came through S. L. Puram Sadanandan’s “ Oralkudi Kallanayi” which was appreciated much. Ravi thus discerned his niche as acting and tried to make it his forte. However, he endured a dismal start grabbing a few roles that merely clicked a chord with the public. This forced him to divert again from acting as he joined as an employee in Ganesh Electricals. Years passed and then the vital recognition happened; Legendary screenwriter Jagathy N K Achari intruded into Ravi's life and upended his prospects. Following Achari’s advice to not waste his time on other works, Ravi packed bags to join Kalanilayam Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. He worked with the theatre for ten years. There was no looking back since.

Poojappura Ravi leaving Poojappura after 40 years to settle in Marayoor, to be with his daughter got much discussed and was made news in Kerala. Ravi’s passing marks the end of an era; a talented actor who lived a life of commons, with not a tinge of conceit. Poojapura Ravi will be cremated in Thiruvananthapuram, his beloved abode.