TRIPUNITHURA: Cartoonist Kerala Varma, 86, popularly known as Kevy in the cartoon circle, has died here.
Kerala Varma was a member of the Ananthapuram Kottaram in Harippad. He started his career with the Sanker's Weekly and later became the staff cartoonist of Eastern Economist.
His pocket cartoons, popularly known as Bharat Darshan, attracted many in the early 1960s and 70s. He was an active member of the Cartoon Akademi. He had sketched many controversial cartoons ridiculing Jawarhalal Nehru and the antidemocratic decisions taken by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency.
After his retirement from Delhi Cartoons, Kevy returned to his wife's house in Tripunithura. His wife Padmavathy Thampuran had predeceased him. Kerala Varma is survived by daughter Nandini Thampuran (BSNL). Kunjunni Raja is his soninlaw.
The cremation was held at the royal crematorium of the Kochi royal family here ?