Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Navas found dead in Kochi hotel room, police suspect cardiac arrest

Malayalam film actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Navas was found dead in a hotel in Chottanikkara here, police said. The incident came to light on Friday evening when the staff of the hotel, where Navas (51) was staying for a film shoot, alerted authorities. 

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said. Police suspect he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Kalabhavan's post-mortem is reportedly scheduled to take place at Kalamassery's Government Medical College Hospital on Saturday to ascertain the cause of the death. His body has been kept at the SD Tata hospital in Chottanikkara.

What happened

Reportedly, Kalabhavan was residing in the hotel as part of the shooting of a Malayalam movie, Prakambanam. The actor was supposed to check out of his room on Friday evening; however, he did not check out. The hotel staff went to check and found him unconscious in his room. 

According to the police, nothing suspicious was found in his room. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled his death.

Kalabhavan Navas' early life

Hailing from Kerala, Kalabhavan was born to theatre and film actor Aboobacker. He faced financial struggles in childhood, and later he became a mimicry artist with the renowned Cochin Kalabhavan troupe, which launched him as a prominent mimicry artist in Kerala. He made his acting debut in the 1995 film Chaithanyam. His brother, Niyas Backer, is also a mimicry artist and actor.

He worked in several films and television serials, including Mimics Action 500 (1995), Hitler Brothers (1997), Junior Mandrake (1997), Mattupetti Machan and Amma Ammaayiyamma (1998), Chandamama (1999), and Thillana Thillana (2003).

With inputs from PTI)