KOCHI: Actor Jose Prakash, who had the satisfaction of being honoured with the J C Daniel award on Friday, passed away on Saturday, the end coming with dramatic impact as if in a script conceived to perfection for the many roles that he had played out in reel life.
For, Jose Prakash waited for his entire life to earn such a recognition, and a day after it came, the story of his life was over. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was supposed to present him the award on Sunday afternoon.
Jose Prakash, 86, had been hospitalised since last Sunday following a low count in his blood sugar. The actor was also affected by other old-age illnesses.
He is survived by daughters Elsamma, Gracy, Susan, Jasmine and sons Rajan Joseph and Shaji Joseph.
He lost his wife Philomina (Chinnamma) in 1993. His body will be kept at his younger son Shaji’s house at Thottumukkam in Aluva. It will be brought to Ernakulam Town Hall at 8 am on Monday for the public to pay homage. The funeral will be held at the St Mary’s Basilica cemetery at 11 am.
Born in Kottayam in 1925, Jose Prakash began his career in the Malayalam industry as a singer in 1953 through the movie Shariyo Thetto in which he did a small cameo. His major break was the movie Bhaktha Kuchela (1961). It was the sophisticated antagonist characters that made him popular. The actor took a break from the industry after 2003 as ill-health began to take a toll on him. He had acted in more than 350 films in Malayalam.