Veteran Malayalam actor dies in train

KOCHI: Renowned film actor Madathipparambil Seshan Iyer Venkitaraman, popularly known as M S Tripunithura, died on a train at Shoranur in Palakkad District early on Wednesday morning, Railway sources said.

Tripunithura, 64 is survived by a wife and three daughters.  Tripunithura, who had been to Thalassery to attend a programme was returning to Kochi in a passenger train when he suffered exhaustion. Fellow passengers immediately took him to the Railway hospital, but his life could not be saved.

A commedian and a supporting actor, Tripunithura had acted in over 200 Malayalam films including hit films Oru Minnaminuginte Nurunguvattom,  Perunthachan, His Highness Abdullah, Sandhwanam, Bharatham and Yodha.

His first Malayalm film was Kadalamma. A stage actor, he had also won the Kerala State Best Actor award for his role in Mochanam.
 
Tripunithura began his career as a school teacher and taught mathematics at the FACT School in nearby Udyogamandal and Central School at Kadavanthra in the city.  He was a carnatic musician and had conducted several classical music concerts with his sister Gomathi Mahadevan, a
cine artist.

His body was brought to his residence at Tripunithura around 10.30 am. A large number of people thronged his house to have a last glimpse of the actor.

Veteran actress Santhakumari was among film personalities who paid homage to the departed actor. The funeral will be held in the evening.